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Editor’s second children’s book goes to press

A regional daily editor is preparing to send his second children’s book to print – as a young reader created another new character for the series.

Northern Echo chief Peter Barron hopes that black-toothed Ruth Black – a tale of a girl who never brushes her teeth – will be released in the summer.

It is the next episode in his Monstrous Morals series, and was approved for print after the success of the first in the series – Fartin’ Martin Sidebottom: The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Breaking Wind.

Peter also ran a competition in the paper appealing to youngsters to dream up a new character for the series, which was won by 11-year-old Ellie Tweddle with her idea of Repeater Peter, a boy who cannot stop burping and who is attacked by giant burping frogs.

Competition winner Ellie Tweddle with her headteacher Angela Foster, illustrator Dave Wright (left) and author Peter Barron (right)

Peter said he liked Ellie’s idea would make for a “funny and scary” book.

“I thought the name Repeater Peter was clever and it fits with the philosophy behind the series – to help parents deal with their children’s bad habits in a fun way,” he said.

“The illustrator, David Wright, also liked the fact that Repeater Peter is attacked by giant burping frogs – he thought it was a visually strong idea.”

The book will be written at some point in the future, as there are already 12 Monstrous Morals stories waiting to go – and thanks to the success of Fartin’ Martin, the publisher has given the next installment the green light.

“We’re hoping Black-toothed Ruth Black will be available in the summer,” he added.

“The publisher has given it the go-ahead based on sales of the first book but it’s a question of how quickly the illustrator can get the artwork finished. I’m trying to apply gentle pressure!”

The front cover of Fartin' Martin, the first in regional daily editor Peter Barron's childrens book series Monstrous Morals