Leo and his cousin Mimi discover a world of fables and fairy tales inside an old music box. Check out The Key to Rondo by Emily Rodda.
Author: Emily Rodda
Leo Langlander has inherited his late Aunt Bethany’s music box. Painted on the sides are intricate scenes of forests and cottages, dragons and castles, a quaint little town and its countless inhabitants.
Don’t Break the Rules
Every year, Aunt Bethany played the music box for the family, never forgetting to repeat the rules of its handling: “Turn the key only three times. Never turn the key while the music is playing. Never pick up the box while the music is playing. Never close the lid until the music has stopped.” But when Leo’s obnoxious cousin Mimi comes to visit, she decides to bend the rules; she turns the key four times.
The Magical Music Box
At first, nothing happens. Then Leo finds butterflies in his room—the same butterflies that are painted on the music box! He breaks the rules himself, turning the key four times again to prove that he hasn’t gone crazy. Before his eyes, the butterflies peel away from the box and return once the music has stopped. But soon, butterflies aren’t the only creatures surfacing from the box. An evil queen emerges, steals Mimi’s precious dog and returns to her painted world.
The World of Rondo
Mimi is determined to get her dog back. She and Leo follow the queen into the music box and discover a whole world of fables, fairy tales and fascinating creatures. While searching for the dog, Leo and Mimi must figure out who they can trust.
The Bottom Line
Emily Rodda, author of the Deltora Quest series, has delivered another amazing adventure. The Key to Rondo is fascinating, fun and magical. It offers just the right mix of fantasy and reality. Rodda cleverly incorporates a humorous cast of fairy tale characters like the three little pigs and the troll on the bridge. Don't miss the sequel--The Wizard of Rondo.
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