The Sweet Toothed Dragon

Kric? …the call to the storytellers circle, Krac ! — we are ready.

My most successful interactive story for children aged 4 through 9 with a presentation/teacher guide at the end).

During this time of social distancing, and in anticipation of it soon being over, I am reminded of an interactive fantasy story that I wrote and have often performed. A perfect activity for a small group of children: ages 4 through 9.

This is an original story that I had ad libbed for my son when he was young and was a favorite for all ages in my performances.

At the end of the story, read on for some guideline that have served me well when I’ve presented this story to groups of children. It is perfect for any size of group (for when such gatherings return)

Enjoy!

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The Sweet Toothed Dragon, A Fantasy Story by Kevin S Moul

A long time ago, a terrible drought fell upon the Kingdom of Shen. As the rivers dried up, and the crops wilted in the fields, the people became anxious.

The old and wise king that ruled over the land of Shen knew that a mighty dragon caused the lack of rain. The evil creature’s fiery breath was so hot—the rain clouds evaporated before they could reach their land.

This was no ordinary dragon. His fierce power came from a magical diamond tooth. 

The King had another problem. He had no children and therefore no heir to succeed him on the throne.

He had an idea and issued a royal proclamation:

Hear ye! Hear ye!… to the person who can capture the Dragon’s diamond tooth

 the Kingdom of Shen shall also be theirs

This was a time in history of quests and adventures. Many dashing young Princes came forth to face the challenge.

One tried with a spear, another with bow and arrow, one even with a large bucket of water.

Each Champion eventually ran screaming from the dragon’s lair–singed and beaten.

All this time, a young girl, the baker’s daughter, took great interest in the failed attempts.

Known to her friends as Truffle, they watched as she devoted all her time to learning as much as she could about the Dragon.

At night she hid outside the window of the tavern, listening to the adult’s stories.

By day, she asked questions of anyone that would speak to her. Her young friends worried, as she would no longer join them in their play.

One afternoon, she was sitting watching her father in the Bakeshop as he experimented with a new recipe when a brilliant idea popped into her head.

“That’s it,” she screamed, startling her father so much that he dropped the bowl of flour he was carrying, letting it crash onto the floor. With a ‘whoosh’ she sped through the flour dust that hung in the air, leaving nothing more than a trail of white footprints.

 That afternoon, she visited all the merchants in the market, and the neighboring farms, gathering many special herbs and cocoa. 

Her father and the villagers watched as she locked herself in the bakery. All the next day they heard banging, clanging, and wonderful aromas wafted through the window.

When she finally came out, she loaded up her father’s cart with straw and four of the most gigantic, delicious looking chocolates you could ever imagine.

With a tip of her hat and a wave, she set off to see the dragon. When the villagers asked how she would succeed with only chocolate, she answered with a mysterious

“I hear he has a bit of a sweet tooth,” and would say nothing more.

Meanwhile, the dragon was getting more and more upset. Every day it seemed some hapless fool would disturb his nap. 

On this particular day, he heard the cart in the distance, for Dragons have excellent hearing. With a hiss, black smoke curling out of his giant nostrils, he grunted and prepared to send another challenger fleeing from his cave.

As the cart drew closer, the Dragon noticed something was different. Between the great puffs of smoke, a wondrous smell caught his attention. Dragons have an even better sense of smell than hearing.

Still upset about having his nap interrupted, he was only willing to open only one great eyelid. It surprised him to see a young girl leading the cart.

She boldly walked up to him and made an announcement. “I come from the village of Shen. As it is our King who has caused you so much bother, I bear gifts and a promise that you will be left alone.”

“A gift?” mumbled the dragon. This was worthy of a second great eyelid to open. “What have you brought?”

The heat from his breath made Truffle’s hair curl, the ends singed ever so slightly.

“I bring four of the most delicious chocolates in all the land, flavored with garden herbs of mint, peppermint, spearmint, and wintergreen.” The dragon had never had chocolate before, but the aroma from the cart was getting stronger and the dragon was yet to have his afternoon snack.

“Fine,” said the dragon. “Leave the cart and be off.”

“No, Lord Dragon, I cannot. With your immense power, the heat of your breath would melt the chocolate before you could get close to the cart. Perhaps, if I were to toss them to you, the full experience could be enjoyed.”

This seemed to the dragon like an excellent suggestion, so he agreed.

Opening his mouth ever so slightly, the Baker’s daughter tossed the first chocolate into the dragon’s mouth. The Dragon’s eyes went wide with amazement at the incredible mint flavor that burst forth.

“Another, I must have another.”

For the second chocolate, the dragon opened his mouth wider. The spearmint flavor danced on his taste buds, bringing a great smile to the dragon’s jaw.

Have you ever seen a Dragon smile? It doesn’t happen often.

With a great flourish and a twist of the neck, the Dragon opened its mouth wide to receive the third chocolate.

At the back of his mouth, Truffle could see the shining diamond tooth.

“Hurry! The last one is melting.”

Without hesitation, the dragon opened wide to receive the last of the wondrous morsels. Truffle with great concentration hurled it, aiming directly at the diamond tooth.

As the Dragon’s jaw closed with an expectation of soft, silken chocolate—a howl of pain erupted.

For hidden within the chocolate was a jagged rock. The crushing force of the jaw closing broke the diamond tooth free. Shaking its head in agony, the tooth flipped onto the ground.

Quick as a wink, Truffle leaped forward, taking it in her hands. She was instantly on the run.

The dragon seeing the deception inhaled a giant breath, ready to incinerate the fleeing girl.

However, all that appeared was a tiny wisp of smoke.

With the influence of the mint, spearmint, and wintergreen—a cooling of such power had extinguished his once great flame.

The dragon’s next effort was to give chase. Though having consumed four gigantic chocolates, his tummy was so swollen; even his powerful wings could not move him.

Admitting defeat, the dragon slumped into the dust and Truffle vanished down the mountain road.

Upon Truffle’s return there was much celebration and in time, she became a great queen (and a brilliant pastry chef).

And all learned a great lesson, especially the dragon—to never take candy from a stranger.

Presentation/Teacher Guide for The Sweet Toothed Dragon

The Sweet Toothed Dragon lends itself to interactive storytelling where the children act out in an improv style (suggest also in mime) the key parts of the story. 

Four to Five Children (ages 5-9) are given the basic duties of their role. It will require them to listen and respond to the narrator.  Narrator can assume the role of the Dragon.

Space 10’ x 12’ preferably slightly raised area (unless the audience is seated on the ground)

Blocking

            The Dragon is seated off center at the front of the performance area, the remaining cast are lined up to one side off stage. Narrator provides cues for the children to play their part, they then return to the side of the stage.

It is highly recommended that the children ‘mime’ their roles.

            A puppet is recommended but can be ‘role-played’. Dragon begins by sitting lazily on the floor, eventually standing, then ‘dramatically’ with a wide open mouth, catch the flying truffles. On the last one, exhibit pain, spit out the tooth, etc. Then exaggerate being too full to move.

            “Truffle” can pretend to go around the audience asking for herbs and spices and can also act out ‘baking’. In the last scene, she grabs the imaginary tooth and runs away.

            Each Knight can mime the action of their weapon, then run away in fear. Kids enjoy pretending their ‘bottom’ is on fire.

Cast

Narrator        Adult Storyteller (or older child capable of reading the story and knowing when to pause and allow the actors to play out their roles.)

Non-Speaking roles (responding to the narration)

Truffle                        The Baker’s daughter (this may be converted to a Baker’s son though the original intention of the story was the hero being a girl)

Dragon (or puppeteer)

            Knight #1 Imaginary Bow and Arrow

            Knight #2 Imaginary Sword

            Knight #3 Imaginary Bucket of Water

Props

            Dragon Puppet (optional) “Folktail Dragon” by Folkmanis, Inc

            Non-lethal weapons (for simplicity and focus, recommend these be imaginary)

            Four light bean bags, table tennis balls, or similar light object to emulate the truffles

Suggested treat to be passed out at the end of the performance

            Mint flavored chocolates or candies to emphasize the ‘cooling’ properties.

Vocabulary for discussion

            Drought

            Wilted

            Evaporated

            Proclamation

            Truffle, the flavored chocolate specialty (not the much-prized fungus)

            (Explaining this latter ‘morsel’ can be directed at the parents)

            Deception

Potential concerns to parents

            It is a fantasy story that includes magic

            Comic acting of ‘hostility’ and the use of imaginary weapons to subdue the dragon

The Sweet Toothed Dragon

Story written and performance guidelines developed by Kevin S Moul

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