Kangaroo Haven

No comment.
BK

I never used to read children's stories but now that I have a newborn, I've started to take a look at them. And this one was worth looking at. You do a beautiful job making the wallabys come alive. I think it's an important book not only because it's a fun read but because it has a hidden message that acts have consequences as well as all creatures need respect and love. Well done. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

This is awespome and I think Emmy-lou is a very cute little character. Me thinks Bruno will be a companion that they will all have to rely on but we will have to wait and see. I just love this. But, I must agree with JenniferThorne. Chapter four is a repeat as is 5. Perhaps you have made an error and just put it on twice in here. You should take a look at it. Looking forward to reading four when it is up and running.

I don't know if this is just a glitch on my computer, but everything after page three is page one repeated again and again...

I loved the first page, and I could see my daughter loving it. But, I found the jump from 'real' to 'talking animals' to be a bit jarring. If I had been able to read past page three it might have resolved itself, but after getting invested in the little girl I found it difficult to switch to the joeys.

However, your writing is excellent, and your descriptions have just enough to give a feeling of place without getting too purple. I'll be sure to get my daughter reading it tonight.

Backed!

Dina
Baby Grand

I just adore this book! 'Wobblies' - love it!
Backed with pleasure.
Shalini xx

Hysterical cover for staters - what a cute behaved ROO! I read the first two chapters and can almost predict the calamity here - this is a great middle school read - love the idea of two of them Marly and Carly and Amber is so adorable with Amber thinking eight is soooo old! This has the makings of a children's bestseller and one of the best things about is so far it is real and doesn't have fairies and dragons and vampires (not that those are bad themes just over done) A real breath of fresh air!!
BACKED 100%

Liz
The Cheech Room

I like the idea of their being a mishievious sugar glider in the mix. That makes for an interesting read. Just one thing here....In this paragraph, I think you have used the word...'open' too many times in a very short passage. Perhaps you can replace one with another word that gives the same affect. A wonderful funny second chapter that had me laughing. This Sugar Glider is certainly a bit of a trouble maker, but I can already see that this story is going to be a big hit with the kids. A sheer delight. I like reading some kids books and this seems to be one of those I am definately going to enjoy reading.

This is a very endearing first chapter that introduces us to the two ophaned Kangaroos and the family who look after them. Very well written with great dialogue that you have down pat. I was smiling the whole way. Can't think of a thing to say to improve on this so I am off to the next chapter.

I always think that children will empathise more with animals if they read stories from the animals point of view, as you will see from my own book. This is delightful and am happy to back it

Tracy, I read your first chapter. The story seems so cute and cuddly. I can see my little niece being totally engrossed in your book.

Sincerely backed.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

Children, especially girls, who are the main book readers anyway, are going to love this. It also has a real ring of truth about it that I like, and it reminds me of my animal rescue attempts as a child. Backed with pleasure.
BADD

Where did you get the pic of the cover? this pic will make your book to success. Your story is unique. Backed with pleasure.

Kangaroo Haven. How can you get the pic of the cover? It is so cute and will make your book to come to success. This is a unique story I ever read. Backed with pleasure.

Ilove your book - I'll b ack it - I think that children would love it because it teaches them about animals. You might look at my books too SO- thanks and goodluck!

This is wonderful. I would love to see this published. I wish you every success with it. Backed, Sana x

Where did you get that adorable cover? Perfect. Exciting and funny animal tales (sorry) , beautifully written. backed. Lynn

The animal personalities come to life, the tale heart warming and well-structured with pacy dialogue and excellent descriptions. Kangaroo Haven is an engaging, delightful read that's fun for the entire family on story night. Both on my shelf and Today's Pick I Like for 2/25/10: http://newandgoodreading.blogspot.com/2010/02/todays-pick-i-like-22510.html

L. Anne Carrington, "The Cruiserweight"

I am an animal lover and I loved this story. I'm sure my grandchildren would love it, too. Backed.

Hi Tracey,
This is a fabulous story that is bound to catch every animal loving child’s heart. Absolutely captivating and beautifully written.
The animal personalities are so very real and the story so sound . wonderful work. Who could resist the sugal glider Emy-Lou and the remaining cast .
Seriously backed with my very great pleasure
Dawn ; ARK

Hi Tracy
I backed this last week as I thought it was just great. Nice idea and beautfully realised. A real winner.
Hope you're tip top,
JG Reynolds (Head, Heart & Trousers).

A very heart-warming story. Children would love it.

The kicking scene they would find delightful, I am sure.

Tim Chambers
Moonbeam Highway: With Apologies to Miguel de Cervantes.

This is a darling book beautifully realized. It's a contemporary Black Beauty. Good for you.

Mark R. Trost
"Post Marked."

Enchanting. I think this is very well written I like the change of point of view. It makes the animals even cuter when they have voice. I would love to read this to my granddaughters I’m sure they would love it. Toughrly enjoyable.
Sue Mackender
Knowing Liam Riley

I've always had a soft spot for wallabies, what with kangaroos getting most of the attention. And I can see kids loving this.Very enjoyable, easily readable.
Just a double 'hammock' in the last paragraph of chap 3 - maybe remove the 2nd one as it's obvious what the joey's scrambling out of.
Cheers,
Simon

Hi Tracy,

I like how you have structured this story. Introducing the 'wobblies' through Amber, and then, in chapter two, moving to the animals' p.o.v. This is a delightful story of cheeky bush creatures and one 'scary' dog. Kids will love this. Glad to back, Jacqui Christensen (William's Revenge)

I love the subject matter of your story. It is truly unique. Not many stories with these types of characters and setting and what kid doesn't love cute, cuddly austrailan animals?

Dear Tracy Moore,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I skipped to chapter three to cover less-traveled ground and was rewarded by Marly fearing his head will be engulfed by dog fangs. You have a fun description of Bruno and his salivary prowess. He engages in friendly banter with Emmy-Lou, and you make him interesting with his fear. You also foreshadow going outside, which I assume means reintegration into the bush. Oh, and you have “tufts” twice in one paragraph.

I enjoyed your story and wished you’d uploaded more. Bravo! Backed.

Best wishes,
Alan Marling

This is an enchanting story, and one I would love to read to my daughter when she is older. Your writing is clear and accessible and the animals have wonderful traits of their own. I see someone commented earlier that they don;t like talking animals. Well, I'm pretty sure it did alright for Babe and Bugs Bunny. No, this is wonderful and I want a talking sugar glider of my own. Wonderful. keep up the good work.x

Oh I like this, all the animals I know and are native to Australia coming alive in their own adventure.

This is definitely a story I know my daughter would love and relate too.

I have seen people I know hand rear kangaroos so all of this was familiar to me.

Just great...

Jo xx

Spoilt

Hi Tracy, Charming and lithely written. I especially liked how you switched into the animals talking with each other. The part about Bruno being afraid of certain things was funny - good dog character there. I can see how this would be enamoring for children, reading about the wallabies growing, and because kangaroos are such different creatures. I got to Chapter 4 but that seemed a rewrite of Chapter 1? A pleasure to shelve - Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

So cute. You should definitely write some more. Backed for encouragement to do so! Paddy

Very nice as far as it went. Fun for young children and a good way for them to learn about Australian fauna--I learned a thing or two myself. I particularly enjoyed Bruno and was looking forward to meeting The Boss. I take it you're still working on this; hence, the repeat chapters? I'll back it now for promise.
Niobrara Kardnova (The Trouble with Wives)

Just so that you know, I have my own way of commenting. Instead of reading through and then commenting at the end I am making notes as I go along just as if I was looking at a book in a shop or a library. I only ever comment as a reader anyway, and this seems to work quite well and apart from anything else, it is fun. Hope you are happy with that.

If this is a return read, I will comment on grammar etc., but only in an effort to be helpful and I trust that you will accept these comments in the same spirit as they are given.

You made me say AAAAAAw in the first flippin paragraph. This reminded me of the scenes we saw of rescued joeys after the fires last year.

Ah – I am now into chapter 2 and you have them talking – what a shame – from my point of view. I don’t do talking animals. I have just refused to back another book for the same reason. I am really in a quandary now. Your writing is proficient and the dialogue is amusing and sounds “natural” it’s just the old Disney computer graphicy thing, it makes me cringe. Tell you what, why don’t I back you for the first chapter and the fact that it is a wallaby rescue story and we keep it just as our secret !!

Cute, cute, cute! I like how you switch point of view to the animals. Very endearing and charming.
The first three chapters are wonderfully written. I noticed all the chapters after 3 are repeats. If you put more on, I would love to read them!
Good job,
Voni

Thanks for your comment. I would like to say that I have only downloaded the first 3 chapters on site. I am developing the characters in the following chapters which are full of action and adventures while the joeys settle in and begin to explore. Hope once I download them that you will approve.

Hi Tracy

I think this is note perfect for the audience you are aiming for. It has all the right cuteness. However, you also need a strong narrative, where your young characters have real adventures and grow. I wasn't convinced that you'd plotted this story to do that, though it's early days.

Shelved

John Booth

A delightful story, my son loves animal tales and this one would be gladly added to the list. I think a few illustrations here and there would be good.

Backed,

ww Lisa

A Fine Line

A delightful story, my son loves animal tales and this one would be gladly added to the list. I think a few illustrations here and there would be good.

Backed,

ww Lisa

A Fine Line

Hi Tracy

I think this is note perfect for the audience you are aiming for. It has all the right cuteness. However, you also need a strong narrative, where your young characters have real adventures and grow. I wasn't convinced that you'd plotted this story to do that, though it's early days.

Shelved

John Booth

Hi Tracy, I love your idea for the animal shelter for wallabies. I know it's a subject kids will love reading about. I hope you will carry this project forward. I can see with your repeat chapters that you've really just begun. I'll just mention a couple things that came to mind as I was reading (and I hope you might do the same as you read my manuscript). First, I thought the book would be mainly about Amber as the first chapter opened, since you begin with her point of view. As the story unfolds, I'm wondering what Amber's part will be -- is there some challenge she will face, something she really wants or struggles with, a reason for us to care what happens next in her story. And also, I didn't really understand why she was crying. Seems like she's used to orphaned animals in her day-to-day life -- is there some particular reason for the tears. I have heard in workshops that it's best to save the tears for very special moments like when Bambie's mother dies. Then we are pulled into the fun world of the "wobblies" and enjoy their unfolding characters. This is perhaps where you might want to start the story since it seems you are going to mainly be taking us on their adventures. Your writing is solid and well done; I would just suggest you decide where to focus. I think it's got tons of potential. I'm sure you have the skill to finish this well. Good luck! Sandy

This is just lovely! I love that you chose wallabies...what an under appreciated animal of Australia. You bring heart to these animals and your writting is simple and elegant. Reminded me a lot of how I felt the fist time I read Charlottes Web. This will definitely be on my book shelf at home once it hits the books stores. Well done! Backed!

Tawn Anderson (Providence)

I read your story and loved the characters. It kind of reminded me of the story "Babe" which was about a small piglet and his farm animal friends. I also liked it since it seem to come from Australia which is the setting of my next story bundle "Graham tthe Aussie Angel and Other Good Stories" I just need to write one more short story for it. Best wishes.

An absolutely marvelous story, and a great ideaTracy. It really hits the childs spot in my heart, as I am sure it will do to everybody who reads Kangaroo Haven. I actually backed your book some days ago, but it was one of those which escaped without a comment. Being so busy, I admit to losing a few on the way through. So I have now put that right at your request. It is a wonderful book, well written, and deserves good success. Good Luck.
Norman. The Witch of Hambone Bk.3. and Muddledydo.

A delightful read. You've chosen a subject any child would love and crafted a gem of a story. I love your characterizations, especially those of the wallabies. This will appeal to a broad audience. Backed, with admiration.

I like the feeling you create right off the bat. Normally I would have never picked a book off the shelf that was about wallabies, it just wouldn't come to mind living where I do. But you make them seem so cute and cuddly that I immediately take interest. Great writing!

Kathryn

a lovely kids book.
Backed
Ellen, helena mam not good at at the commenting bit, helping helena out in her hour of need.
Best of luck
a Load of rubbish

This really is a great little story. I grew up in Australia and I would have LOVED to read this book when I was 8 or 9. Lots of children will want to be Amber and mother the little joeys. Your writing is very clear and easy to read - uncluttered - and It flows nicely. Good luck with this. GJ

Hi Tracy nice beginning, this seems like its going to be a really good kids read. I love the wallabies and the appearance of the second one, all kids love pets and Ambers excitement is great when her mother says they can keep him, then pushes her to keep both. Love the names Marly and Carly. This is a nice set up and I think you'll have kids hooked from the off, i wonder what adventures these two can get themselves into. On my shelf. Helena (A Load of Rubbish)

This isa very sweet book which children of the right age will love. You draw a very likable, real, little girl in Amber, whom other eight-year-olds will find it easy to relate to. Then you take us into the heads of the various animals, and allow us to hear them speaking to each other. Carly and Marly are very lovable, and Emmy-Lou, with her mischievous nature, adds more than a spice of fun to the story. Her trick in pretending that Bruno is a fierce dog works well, leaving your readers laughing and relieved; and acting as a great hook at the end of the second chapter. You have a pleasant, friendly narrative voice, and your style is smooth and easy-to-read. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

This is so cute! I could see it as a Pixar movie and I would love it! You've hit your target audience perfectly (and us adults too). There is a message mixed in too, always a plus in my opinion with a book like this. Keep up the good work!

Missy