The Wizard's Dog

By: Eric Kahn Gale

Narrated by: Graham Halstead

Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

For fans of The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom comes an offbeat, comedic spin on the Excalibur legend told from the point of view of a talking dog who wants to be a magician!

Meet Nosewise. He's spunky. He's curious. And he's a dog who can't understand why his packmates Merlin and Morgana spend all day practicing magic tricks. If it's a trick they want, he's the dog to ask! He can already Sit!, Stay!, and Roll Over!

But there's no way Nosewise is Stay!ing when his master and best friend, Merlin, is kidnapped. There's nothing Nosewise won't do to get Merlin back, even if it means facing the strange Fae people and their magic-eating worms or tangling with the mysterious Sword in the Stone. But it may take more than sniffing out a spell to do it!

Nosewise's hilarious escapades and steadfast loyalty get him and his companions through King Arthur's Dark Ages.

©2017 Eric Kahn Gale (P)2017 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“An ingenious and entirely credible (at least dog lovers will agree with this) twist on the familiar tale.” (Kirkus)

“An entertaining adventure full of humor and magic.” (Booklist)

“Nosewise is one of the silliest narrators around.” (The Bulletin)

Man’s best friend

This novel is a Sword in the stone retelling. This is a fun middle grade tail of a dog who saves his master with magic and his trusty nose. This is a great book for anyone who wants an enjoyable read.

A wizard dog/a wizard’s dog

This book was adorable and I loved every moment. Who wouldn’t want to teach their dog magic tricks and real ones at that? Well, actually, Merlin isn’t so sure about it but sometimes the master is wrong and the dog is right. This is a fun book that really brings out the best in man’s best friend. It’s the start to a series I would have loved as a kid and is one I love as an adult. It’s clever, and funny, and an ode to the love of a dog. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book.

Cute

The idea was very cute, and I liked the personality of Nosewise. From an adult perspective, the story line was a little weak, but this would make a great story for a young adult to read.
The narrator was very good, and brought a lot of personality to the story. I’d recommend it, as long as you’re not looking for the next epic adventure story.

A pleasant respite from dark magic tales

Uncomplicated and unpretentious spin on the Legend of King Arthur and Camelot. Suitable and entertaining enough for kids AND adults. I especially like how main characters are realistically rendered. This was a nice, brief break from the hyper-realistic superhero/supernatural fare I usually gravitate towards. Recommend!

We Don’t Always Know Who We are in this World - Lady of the Lake

Filled with descriptive similes and personifications, A Wizard’s Dog is a creative introduction to classical literary figures like Merlin, Morgana, Arthur (circa Sword from the Stone/Excalibur), all from Nosewise’s (that cute pooch on the cover!) POV.
Nosewise is an extraordinary dog in a typical canine way. So kudos to the author for getting into a dog’s head and explaining why humans are strange beings and why Nosewise is smarter than us. He debated the simple confusion about “stranger danger” and how some strangers are harmless and good, a topic that parents reading to or with children can discuss in more depth.
Nosewise is our hero, but he is not thrusted into the role because of a prophecy or devine intervention. He simply wants his master to return and resume life as his best friend (and feed him, probably!)
Although I am a cat person by life’s funny coincidences (no pooper scooper needed, walks in inclement weather, dirty paws to clean off the floors), I indulged in this delightful retelling.
Listening to the author’s note at the end - where he also feels dogs are above felines (who can clean themselves) was worth losing a star, but my cats rolled their eyes and giggled at the delusion, so I allowed the rating to remain.
Graham Halstead, narrator, like Nosewise, was extraordinary. His voice talents surpassed my expectations and was comparable to the voices of our icons from when I was the Made for TV movie Merlin (which I have on DVD and still love, nearly 2 decades later.) It was easy to know who was speaking during my constant pauses while I listened and tended to real life.
A highly recommended family friendly book. Excellent story telling, fascinating characters (cheer the heroes and boo the villains), easy to follow plots, and creative world building for those new or familiar with the medieval setting. A Wizard’s Dog was thoroughly edited and stands as a proud accomplishment for author Eric Kahn Gale.

Good Book

I liked this book when I read it in 6th grade, it was a little fast. I recommend this book to anyone who needs a short book with a decent story.