FINLEY AND MILO - THE TREE HOUSE DETECTIVES

Beautiful story. So easy for young children to understand. It also has a lot of fun and excitement for them. Well done.
Perhaps you could spare a few minutes to look at my picture book story.

Carole-roundrobin1

Hello, K.T.Day !

I'm really enjoying your book so far, I love your imagery. It makes me happy when I read it.

Hi K.T.,I just got done reading your story and found it delightful. And speaking as an artist I could see that it would be a joy to illustrate, especially the talking badger in the blue striped pyjamas. I can see it done in water colour. : )

A delightful tale and just long enough for a bedside read to make the little one nod off. I hope you manage a series I would but it for the younger grandchilden. Backed with pleasure.

Sue Mackender
Knowing Liam Riley

Hello K.T. A story with two great pals and their dogs. I like the way they react to everything as children would. I don't know if you want to check the chapters, but I got the same story on 1 & 2. Best of luck with the book! mariecapri

FINLEY and Milo: What a fun adventure! Two little boys using their imaginations and finding something better than what they were thinking.

A couple things: First, I wanted more. You have a talking badger and then the story ends. You can't leave it hanging there (well, you can because you're the author, but you know... :)). Second, you have tree house, but not much time spent in it. Maybe they can see the footprints from the tree house (with the binoculars?). Hoist the dogs up in a basket and they can be a part of it. Finally, when you don't have a lot of words to spare, I would think you would need to use them sparingly. :) Mum can tell them to just put on their boots and then they can put on their Wellies (you don't need Wellington and Wellies). Also, mystery, mystery and mysterious are used in close proximity.

That being said, loved their use of an animal tracks book. I imagined the tree house with a book shelf with cool books like that on it. Next adventure: African Safari or Deep Sea Fishing or Pirate Treasure. Since you have introduced the talking badger (and made it fantasy), the boys wouldn't have to leave the tree house to be detectives...all they need is their imaginations, which obviously are great.

Well done!

Heidi
Pearl Edda

I was always trying to build a tree house when I was a child and suppose children still do. And as for the detectives, they're more interesting than many of the adult versions. Brilliant. Backed. Lynn

KT -

This is a wonderful piece of MG fiction - very likable characters and enough mystery and surprises to keep younger readers thoroughly engaged.

Delighted to back Tree House Detectives, and I would love it if you could share your thoughts on my book.

Best of luck with your book, and thanks.


-Jeff Lee
THE LADIES TEMPERANCE CLUB'S FAREWELL TOUR

This is a good children's book. Your characters are engaging. You know schoolagers love surprises at the end of chapters and you' give them that. Will make this a fun independent read. I’m adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

Finley and Milo

Ok, it’s written for 2-7 year olds so I tested it on mine! Now a pair of more honest and difficult kid critics I have yet to meet. Their opinion (and they don’t always agree) is often very insightful and can be cruel to a point of them questioning my mental state in reading (my word) condescending book to them. Sooo have I built this up enough? You nailed it, they loved it!

Very cute the Tree House detectives. Children would love this one. I would add some more decriptions though to create more atmosphere. How old are the detectives. Describe the mother. The two puppies can have attributes as well but that's my humble opinion. Hope you got graphics to match this clever book

backed days ago

Kate, I went through the other "chapters" looking for more, but it's the same story. Good job. I can see my little niece getting totally into your work.

Happy to back this.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

Great story - footprints in the snow can create such intrigue. Milo and Finley come across as characters that kids will easily relate to. I do have one question: If the footprints came first, and do belong to the badger, why does he tell them that they woke him from hibernation? He must have been awake already. Or am I being dim?
Anyway, lovely tale. Backed.
Simon

Great characters perfectly geared toward a target audience sure to appreciate the obvious energy and joyful sense of fun you've invested this story with. No problem at all giving this a spin on my shelf.

Jonathan
MARTUK ... THE HOLY

Greetings, Kate!

I enjoyed the delightful read of Finley and Milo- The Treehouse Detectives. I think it is scripted perfectly for its targeted audience. Nothing like meeting a badger in blue pyjamas! I wasn't sure if this was intentional or not, but the Footprints story is the same story told throughout every chapter. I also noticed a few quotation marks which were out of place here and there in the story. I don't mean to sound nit-picky. We are all here (hopefully) to help and encourage one another. Your story is wonderful! Fix the out of place punctuation and maybe consider adding a few more stories in with Footprints, and it would make for a brilliant complete package!

Kudos to you, Kate!

Shalom,

Teric Darken

(K - I - L - L FM 100 / U-Turn Killur / The Sisterly Shenanigans of Doopie Piper & Sissy Pants)

This was a great break from some th eintense stuff I have been reading recently. Finley and Milo are great characters, very lovable and engaing. Happy to read and share this with the grandkids. Didn't notice any glaring typos etc. Looking forward to seeing the pictures eventually. Jim Darcy Serpent's Blood

Hey, this is great. I'm not a teacher so can't comment knowledgably on this but it's the kind of thing I'd have loved reading to and with my son when he was younger. Nice bit of a frisson of excitement without being too scary. Seemed like a good use of words with enough repetition etc. I like it and am backing it with pleasure. Nice to see a book for younger readers here.

I enjoyed your style, its neat with excellent support from the setting and voice
The writing is stellar and descriptions compelling
I think you made some great choices with the characters and dialogue. People will find this book very relatable. Your opening strikes a mighty blow—intense. I found the plot interesting and characters compelling.

I wish you all the best

Scott
The Esrevinu Chronicles/Secrets of the Elephant Rocks

interesting, I have small kids, so they'll appreciate this.

I love this - it takes me back to my two boys when they were that age! WOW - well written and polished! This is one of those "read to me" kind of books - with funny different voices! So good! BACKED!

Liz
The Cheech Room

I love this - it takes me back to my two boys when they were that age! WOW - well written and polished! This is one of those "read to me" kind of books - with funny different voices! So good! BACKED!

Liz
The Cheech Room

I love this - it takes me back to my two boys when they were that age! WOW - well written and polished! This is one of those "read to me" kind of books - with funny different voices! So good! BACKED!

Liz
The Cheech Room

Enchanting little tree house detectives I hope they get more adventures.

K

Finley & Milo: The Tree House Detectives -

K.T.,

This is an enchanting story for children. The dialogue between Finley and Milo carries the young reader effortlessly to the chance discovery of the footprints in the snow and, what more magical place for a police procedural [said tongue-in-cheek] to busily ensue than from a tree house!
The talking badger took me back to my childhood Rupert Bear books, with Algie Pug, Pong Ping and Rupert on similar harmless adventures.
There is an easy rhythm to the prose which almost lulls the reader along, so that at no stage is the reader distracted by intricacies of self-conscious description. Your description seems there to advance the story and storytelling, it occurs to me, is your greatest strength here.
I can imagine the bottom lip of many a little lad and lass falling agape in wonderment, all wanting to read on. Backed for a story which can harmlessly engage, excite and absorb children when, in today's world, this distraction is what so many need.
Ray
(A Child from the Wishing Well)

Four kids of my own, one who is six currently. Good work!

John WIckey
Future's End

FINLEY & MILO:

Kate,

This is an absolutely delightful story, well written in clear, precise prose, realistic and yet with a lovely unusual twist.

A few commas missing in the dialogue but that is easily fixed, and I thought it might be an idea to briefly describe the detective's hat, being the kind of detail kids like and might like to copy.

I'm sure the little ones are going to love this, and I wish you all the luck with the series.

Backed.
Sheila (Pinpoint)

FINLEY & MILO:

Kate,

This is an absolutely delightful story, well written in clear, precise prose, realistic and yet with a lovely unusual twist.

A few commas missing in the dialogue but that is easily fixed, and I thought it might be an idea to briefly describe the detective's hat, being the kind of detail kids like and might like to copy.

I'm sure the little ones are going to love this, and I wish you all the luck with the series.

Backed.
Sheila (Pinpoint)

This is intelligent and well-written. I think my grand-kids are going to love it. And they area lot smarter than I was at their age and know what they like to read or have read to them (she’s the three year-old). A major plus is your illustrations are lovely. On my shelf.

i like this, reading it makes me feel like im sitting listening to the children talking, its great, backed

alison

Hi Rachel,
Thankyou for your comments. As you will know Badgers are mostly nocturnal although some do venture out during the day.
British badgers almost certainly do not hibernate, but they may spend a few days underground to conserve energy if temperatures fall considerably and food is difficult to find.
The Badger in Finley and Milo has simply gone to sleep after a long night. You won't find many Badgers wearing blue striped pyjamas either but that's the lovely thing about a childs imagination. Hope this makes things a little clearer for you.

Kate

Hi KT,

I like the Tree House Detectives, but the plot has a basic flaw in it - how can the badger have been hibernating and leaving footprints in fresh snow at the same time? There's no reader as fiercely logical as a small child!

Have fun working it out!


Rachel

This is a perfectly charming piece. I have two sons in the target age range and I would be very pleased to read this with them.

Very nicely done.

Charming! The illustrations on your web site are charming also. Best of luck, Jedward (Knut)

Hi KT,

I like the Tree House Detectives, but the plot has a basic flaw in it - how can the badger have been hibernating and leaving footprints in fresh snow at the same time? There's no reader as fiercely logical as a small child!

Have fun working it out!


Rachel

Hi KT, I had to laugh at the end of this, brilliant imagination, kids are going to love it. A badger in a blue pyjamas and he wants a cup of tea. I'd love to see the drawing for this, I do some illustration myself and I love looking at others artwork. You built suspense nicely for kids here, with the two boys waiting on the tiger, really enjoyed this and I think its a winner with kids, I can see the badger in blue pjs as a character that can span many books as well as Milo and finlay. On my shelf. Helena (A Load of Rubbish)

KT,
Cover: It looks like it could be very good...wondering why you don't have it the right way? I can fix that if you email it to me and make it fit the Autho stamp better.
Pitches: Short=sound a bit basic and not really much about what is in the book...A picture book here? I wish we could! I'd love to see the pictures...you should post a link to where they're posted online- if they are. Long=No need to repeat the short I'd say. Once you get to the Finley&Mile stuff it sounds like it could be good
Text:
Oh...this is very good and I SO WISH I could see the illustrations.
I was just discussing with my wife how unfair it is that children books like this have to compete with LitFic or Scifi, etc.
Wishing you the best of luck!!!!
-=Bradley

I enjoyed this and could have envisaged reading it to my little ones when they were younger. It's a long time since I personally met a talking Badger in blue striped pyjamas and that was on my way back from the pub! My only concern in these politically correct times is whether publishers will like the fact that they disobey their mum's instructions and go into the woods...of course children do this all the time, but wonder whether it's still encouraged these days. (Though I did it all the time...it was half the fun) I looked at the illustrations, which are really cute. Good Luck with it.

[Finley and Milo]
Hmmm... They are fun to read and even more fun to tell out loud. Great story telling you have there. THe end might be a bit abrupt, but apart from that, well done.

Backed.

Peter
(A Shadow In A Shady Country)

Love the bit about the puppies waiting at the door. I think this will educate not only children but their parents, that great fun can be had by a child mostly living in the world of imagination. No need for computer games when you've mysterious footprints in the snow. Marvellous. backed. lynn

Very sweet! My little monkeys have moved on to Percy Jackson and Just Grace, but would've loved these a few years back! I'd love to see the artwork that goes along :)

Backed.
Dan.
Eunice and Ethan

Backed.

Jesse - Savant

This is a sweet book and I can see the series becoming popular with the little one's. I visited your website and your illustrations would be marvelous with this picture book. I will surely buy it for my little girl when she turns two. backed
Rakhi (Sir William...)

I was a bit worried when I saw the word count, I thought 13,000 words was way too long for this type of illustrated book, so relief when I realised you had just re-uploaded to meet the required word count. Of course 1200 words is an ideal length, its an easy read and will be great with lots of colourful illustrations. Backed

Kate,

I'm returning your read of Appetites. Thank you again for your support of my work.

I see there's just the one story here at the moment, but it's nice and simple. Ideal for younger children. The sort of piece I'd imagine being read aloud by parents.

One thought, your opening two sentences could be combined, something like:

Finley and Milo live in the countryside their mummy and daddy and two playful puppies called Bo and Woody.

this would avoid any confusin about who the 'they' in the second sentence applied to.

Happy to give this a spin on the shelf.

Hello KT. So how on earth can one critique this? It can't be done. It's perfectly charming, and I can literally picture it as a picture book, if that makes any sense. For toddlers and whatnot. I dunno what constitutes a winner in your particular genre. Is it the artwork that puts it over the top? You must have to go through totally different channels in order to get this sort of thing published, I imagine. I guess the only thing to ask you is: What happens next? Does the badger ransack the tree house when he doesn't like the tea? Or does he try to sell the kids insurance or lecture them on diversifying their financial portfolios?

Of course, I'm kidding. Frankly, I couldn't believe it when I saw you backed my book. You're much too sweet a lady to be backing the profane likes of Antagony. I'm a little embarrassed about it.

All the best with this!

Cheers

John

I think this is a perfect little tale. And having seen your examples of your drawings I can see how you will really bring this book to life. I have a 2 year old niece and I'd happily buy this book for her when it's published!
David
Bailey of the Saints.

I have three kids under the age of five, so I'm qualified to give an opinion, I think :P

It's a very cute story! My only suggestion is to look into dialogue punctuation. You were missing it a few times here, and other times you used a period where a comma was needed. i made this same mistake at first too. If you need more help with it, let me know :)

Just one comment - I want more!!!! What happens next, who is the badger....Backed

Jane Holyoake (The Spiral Pendant)

Loved the badger. Especially the pyjamas. Backed.

Humourous, clever and engaging.
Backed!

KT,

Finley and Milo has a lot of charm, and is sure to be a hit with your target audience.

More than happy to back this.

Regards

NA 'A Red Sky in Morning'