The Adventures of Barcode The Zebra and Other Stories

ARISE, AUTHONOMY GHOST!

Ease those weary, withered limbs from your coffin. Push away the stone from the mouth of the tomb.

You have one last task to perform. One last, sacred shelf to confer.

Whether you were plugger, spammer, gusher or troll, whether you flirted or fought in the forum or beavered away in the shadows, now is the time for your resurrection.

One last time. Marshall your strength, muster the last vestiges of your power and carry out your final Authonomy act:

Back my book, MIRROR IN THE SKY.

Then, only then, you may rest easy in your Authonomy grave.

Nick Poole2 (formerly known as NickP)

I think your book would be an easy and fun read for young kids. Keep writing! (Love the cover by the way)

I thought your book was darling. I would also be willing to read this to my grandchild.

Dear Colin,
I really liked the story. There are not many books I find good to read for my children. I would buy yours. I hope the publisher helps you with lots of images that are really attractive to the children, and me :) I love pictures! I also wrote a book for children, I also intented for parents to read. There is a little bit of suspense and drama, in a search to preserve the environment and save the family values. I will put your book on my watchlist. All the best! Bruna

on my bookshelf. but agree with other comments here - good illustrations, and shorter.... fun to read

Marvelous stuff! Just what the kids need - why hasn't this been picked up already?

Read the first two Colin, and they are delightful. Obviously crafted and written with great skill. Highly original and a real joy to read. I will be back to read the rest.

Hi sorry...
Dont know why I didnt comment on the main things...
the pace was great, very cute,great rhyming:::charming! Sorry Spanish computer hence the errors in my spelling

Hi.
Yes Zebra did remind me of Dr seuss, although this stands original on its own. I have a young daughter and along with illustrations she would love this. I must say i had a brief look at the others but I think this is by far your strongest. I can see this in schools and as a great family read book. Well done. Poetry is not easy. I will keep yo on by watchlist and read more as you upload. Dont forget to shameless plu...it does help. it took me ages to get Hoppin read!

Hi . will add to watchlist and read next few days:: Great cover by the way!

Colin - this is a wacky idea. I've just read the zebra one. It's cute and funny (my favourite line is 'It's hard to swing gracefully... when you've got zebra's knees' which immediately conjures up an image of a nobbly-kneed zebra hanging from a trapeze in a tutu!).

My major concern on reading this was that I got out of breath. It's kind of like a young children's picture book that you work through, with mounting tension and excitement, to reach a conclusion. But in that case, the conclusion would have come about half way through the length of this. Aside from the length affecting my ability to inhale, it also makes it difficult for you to sustain that interest in the same way that a shorter version would. I wonder if you should think about cutting these up into smaller stories within stories, so you could build,, sustain and conclude the interest in smaller chunks. Does that make sense?

I'm not sure your comparison with Doctor Seuss is quite right. Seuss is much more fantastical and whimsical, with made up creatures and lands. Although the idea of Barcode is obviously quite fantastical he is at least a real animal, doing real-ish things. Dr Seuss also manages to sustain lengthy stories by repeating phrases and events so the reader is tied in. Perhaps you could try that as well?

But like Doctor Seuss and the kids picture books I mention above, this could really work with some fun illustrations to accompany the more comical scenes. Is that something you are planning?

Overall, I really like this. But I wonder how you could best position it to get a publisher. My guess is to split into smaller chunks and try and sell as individual picture book stories.

Hope that helps. Good luck!