Guest Post: Captain Petes New Crew, by The Twins
A Note from Fatty: Guess who’s going to be on Fat Cyclist for a LIVE web chat a week from today? JOHAN BRUYNEEL, that’s who. Yes, that’s right. Johan Bruyneel — the Director of Team RadioShack and the man Phil Liggett told me is arguably the best team director of all time — is going to be right here, where you can ask him questions directly.
To make sure you’re here for this live event, be sure to mark your calendar: Wednesday, March 23 at 5:30PM (ET) / 4:30PM (CT) / 3:30PM (MT) / 2:30PM (PT).
This is pretty freaking huge, if you ask me.
Another Note from Fatty: One of the great things about the fact that this blog is mine is that I can put whatever I want on it. For example, last weekend my nine-year-old twins decided to write and illustrate their own book. It was so awesome that I wanted to share it with the world. So today’s guest post is Captin Stews Petes New Crew.
Note that you can see a larger version of each page by clicking the image.
The twins will be reading comments today.
Enjoy the book!
Once there was a pirate named Pete. He was tired of swabbing the deck. So he went off to find his own crew, so he could be captain.
So the captain said: fine. But there’s only one way off, the plank!
Pete said: What?!? So you built this thing without an exit?!?
Yes, said the captain. And I’m not steering this boat to shore.
Pete said: FINE! I’ll walk the plank! So he did.
As Pete was swimming to shore he had to fight off ferocious sharks!
And refuse to marry a mermaid.
And battled a sea monster.
Finally he got to shore.
He started working right away. He found an old axe he could use to get wood for his ship.
He also collected sap for glue in an old bucket he found, and in leaves.
Finally he had everything he needed to build his ship! When the ship was done it was magnificent.
So Pete started to row. He wasn’t going very fast, but he was going.
Soon after Pete hit a rock, the ship started sinking! A nearby elephant saw him so he jumped onboard. He sucked up water in his trunk and pit it back out. He kept doing so until Pete Landed it.
They both quickly fixed the ship then they got the rest of the water out. Pete asked for his name. It was Shorty.
Pete asked Shorty if he wanted to be part of the crew. Yes! said Shorty.
A little while after, they saw someone swimming. Ahoy! it called. Can I climb aboard? His name was Mr. Jeepers. After a little, he asked to be part of the crew.
Of course! cried Pete.
A while after they got REALLY hungry. So they landed to find food. They stumbled upon Carrots the Bunny. She shared her carrots with them so Pete asked, Do you want to be part of our crew?
Totally! Said Carrots.
After that they stumbled upon Candy Island! So they landed in search of one more crew member. A marshmallow poked its head out of a hole and said, Are you people friendly?
Sure! They all said. WAnna join our crew?
OK, said Marshy the marshmallow.
So Captain Pete had his NEW CREW!
Comment by Mark Adam | 03.16.2011 | 7:31 am
This is awesome! Great job twins! Take it to Staples and have them bind it and put it on the coffee table for guests to read.
Comment by Bob | 03.16.2011 | 7:33 am
Awesome story, Twins! Thanks! A great way to start the day.
Comment by Mark J. | 03.16.2011 | 7:34 am
Great job boys. Your creativity is very impressive as is your artwork.
“Do you want to be part of our crew? Totally!” Made me laugh out loud.
Thanks for sharing Fatty. You should be very proud.
Comment by MattC | 03.16.2011 | 7:35 am
I see a new book in the works here Fatty…it’s obvious that creativity runs in the family! Way to go girls! What’s next for Capt. Pete? Will there be a volume II?
Comment by Douglas | 03.16.2011 | 7:35 am
Nice story! but I thought Marshmallows lived in trees?
Comment by MattC | 03.16.2011 | 7:36 am
PS: Mr. Jeepers is my fav!
Comment by Nate | 03.16.2011 | 7:37 am
Great work! Pete’s initial voyage has Odyssey influences. I liked it!
Comment by Linda | 03.16.2011 | 7:38 am
Great imagination! I like how you came up with all different ways to solve all the problems that happened….great job!
Comment by Ben J | 03.16.2011 | 7:40 am
This is unequivocally the most entertaining post I’ve read on Fat Cyclist yet! Nice artwork!
Comment by Lisa | 03.16.2011 | 7:41 am
Ladies, nicely done. I doubt I’ll read anything better today.
Comment by TJC | 03.16.2011 | 7:42 am
Captain Pete rows like I ride: “He wasn’t going very fast, but he was going.”
Comment by Mandy | 03.16.2011 | 7:44 am
HA! That is awesome – great story and it was so imaginative and detailed, I loved it! Wow, you draw so well. I love the kick to the sea monster.
I wasn’t sure what was going to happen when they were hungry and came upon the rabbit. Glad she shared her carrots and joined the crew. :)
I am going to share it with my nephew, I know he will love it.
Comment by EJ | 03.16.2011 | 7:44 am
Great story and art work. Loved Shorty and Capt Pete, well really all the crew. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Kati | 03.16.2011 | 7:45 am
What a wonderful book!! My favorite part was the mermaid!!
Comment by salittle1 | 03.16.2011 | 7:46 am
Excellent story! my favourite was – Pete said: What?!? So you built this thing without an exit?!?
I’m impressed with the level of wit and humour, and my Favourite character has to be the elephant (cause I’m from Africa :-))Thanks Girls
Comment by Sue L. | 03.16.2011 | 7:51 am
I really liked their story. I think they take after Dad in that they are learning to write well and tell an interesting tale. Tell them to keep at it!
Comment by Roscoe | 03.16.2011 | 7:57 am
Awesome story! Best thing thats happened to me today, just enough time between doing work to read a quick fatty post and it to be the best ever!!!
I would love to illustrate it in photoshop make this in to a book and :)
Comment by Keith | 03.16.2011 | 8:01 am
Brilliant!!!!!!!!
Comment by Sandra | 03.16.2011 | 8:03 am
AWESOME……Big Smile Here…..Thanks for making my day awesome!!!
Comment by stuckinmypedals | 03.16.2011 | 8:14 am
Fatty, you should think about helping the girls turn this into a bound book. Lulu.com is the site I use when creating books with my students. It let’s them have input on color, size, type of cover, etc. There’s just something great about kids holding their very own book.
Comment by Pat | 03.16.2011 | 8:16 am
Wonderful work girls!! I love the little details, such as finding a bucket and leaves to gather sap to make glue…as we all know story telling is in the details and you nailed it!!!
Comment by Susie | 03.16.2011 | 8:17 am
Well now, I simply cannot wait for the next installment in the adventures of Captin Pete! For I am sure this is only the beginning! =)
Comment by Roses | 03.16.2011 | 8:29 am
Hurray for Captain Pete! What’s next? What’s next?
It’s a good thing the bunny didn’t have meat-ergy bars.
Comment by Gillian | 03.16.2011 | 8:43 am
My kid loves pirates. I’m going to show this to them! So creative! And excellently paced, girls!
Comment by Deni | 03.16.2011 | 8:44 am
What a great story! Well done girls. You definitely need to get it published
Comment by Marla K. | 03.16.2011 | 8:48 am
To the Twins….
You rock! The story you wrote was full of fun characters, adventures, creatures… all for the makings of great stories.
Creating this book is truly a talent. I love love love love love it. Especially Shorty the elephant. I laughed out loud at this name. So cute!
Look forward to the next story to come along from Captain Pete and the NEW CREW! WAY TO GO GIRLS!
Comment by Debi | 03.16.2011 | 8:51 am
Very interesting story. It’s obvious a lot of your writing skills, sense of humor and imagination was inherited from your Dad. You should think about getting that fun story self-published and maybe sell it to raise funds for college and your favorite causes. Well, it should at least be on your coffee table for your family to share. Great job! Keep writing . . .
Comment by Rick | 03.16.2011 | 8:52 am
Very imaginitive! But what happens next? I want to know what kind of adventures Pete and his crew had.
Comment by Jo | 03.16.2011 | 8:53 am
Wonderful story girls! I’ll read it to my 8 year old for his bedtime story tonight. I know he’ll love it.
Comment by George | 03.16.2011 | 8:53 am
Great Book! It held me captivated (like a good pirate should) to the end. I just loved it.
Comment by Eric T. | 03.16.2011 | 9:02 am
Simply awesome!
My favorite is the Batman TV Show sound effects for the fight with the sea monster. (Although the authors might be too young to have even seen that series.)
Comment by Kqadams | 03.16.2011 | 9:04 am
I second the call for a sequel — we’re all dying to know what Captain Pete and his crew will do next!
Comment by LauraM | 03.16.2011 | 9:06 am
Best story I’ve read in a long time! And I love the expressions on the characters’ faces!
Comment by rich | 03.16.2011 | 9:07 am
awesome story – very creative!!
Nice job girls!
Comment by Den | 03.16.2011 | 9:12 am
Wow! That was a lot of fun to read girls! I really enjoyed it a lot. You both did a wonderful job. Thank you so much for sharing it with everyone. I hope you do more stories about Captain Pete!
Comment by Dirk | 03.16.2011 | 9:13 am
Great book, but one question…where’s Candy Island? I need to visit. Besides, I think Marshy is my kind of people.
Comment by bikemike | 03.16.2011 | 9:21 am
it is a known fact that pirates hate swabbing the deck. great factual reference in a work of fiction.
Comment by Sara T | 03.16.2011 | 9:22 am
Loved it! I’m so proud of Captin Pete for refusing to marry a mermaid. I’ve heard that mermaids can be pretty persuasive so that is extra impressive. Perfect illustrations! The elephant on the last page is my favorite. Can’t wait to read more about Captin (Stews) Pete!!
Comment by NYCCarlos | 03.16.2011 | 9:26 am
Girls – that was awesome. You two are REALLY REALLY REALLY good at drawing. Who draws the elephants? I’m not even sure DiVinci drew elephants that well. And the story!? The story was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Personal favorite moments include: using sap for glue, punching sea monster in the face, and turning down the mermaid’s marriage proposal… GREAT JOB!
Fatty – I think this post fits very nicely into this week’s “proudest moment” theme.
Comment by Claire | 03.16.2011 | 9:27 am
Goodness gracious, that brings the awesome! I used to be the kids books buyer for a bookstore, and that knocks some published books out of the water, so to speak.
Comment by Richard | 03.16.2011 | 9:28 am
I love the book. I can’t wait to see what adventures Pete and his new crew have.
Comment by Brandy | 03.16.2011 | 9:35 am
AWESOME
Comment by Tim | 03.16.2011 | 9:39 am
Great work! Expecting the film/stage adaptation starring your dad as Captain Pete and members of the core team as the crew!
Comment by Beth B | 03.16.2011 | 9:43 am
Awesome – love it. The illustrations are terrific! Thanks for sharing – and good job to the authors! :-)
Comment by Fat Cathy | 03.16.2011 | 9:48 am
Just Awesome! I’m going to print it out and read it my 3 y.o. daughter. She will love it!
Fatty, you have got the most talented group of kids ever…
Comment by Lisa | 03.16.2011 | 9:51 am
Fabulous story! Especially loved Shorty the Elephant and the “oof” from the sea monster. Great work!
Comment by Jim | 03.16.2011 | 9:58 am
Spectacular. I loved the illustration. Great!!!!
Comment by GD | 03.16.2011 | 10:00 am
Put them on eBay you never know ?
Comment by Dan in Sac | 03.16.2011 | 10:09 am
I’m pretty sure my 2-year old daughter would want me to read her this book a “kajillion” times. I need a copy.
Comment by Theresa | 03.16.2011 | 10:23 am
“So you built this thing without an exit?” That’s great!
Comment by BG | 03.16.2011 | 10:33 am
Very excellent, girls! Your drawings show a lot of talent. Especially the elephant–he looks so elephant-y. I hope you write another book about Captin Pete’s adventures with his New Crew.
Comment by Kronda | 03.16.2011 | 10:39 am
The apples, they do not fall far from the tree! Awesome story, great illustrations. What a great imagination you girls have. Keep it up!
Comment by Lesley Jacobs | 03.16.2011 | 11:08 am
Hey twins that is a great story! I like your story and the illustrations are fantastic. Love the shark, and the elephant, and holey smokes who wouldn’t want to land on candy island??? My sister and I like candy so much that we have to limit ourselves to having candy one day a week. We now call Saturday “Candy Day”. I would join Pete’s crew on the boat for sure. I hope Pete has more adventures! Keep on writing and drawing!
Comment by JKC | 03.16.2011 | 11:22 am
Awesome! Great story and excellent detail in the drawings. Thankfully the elephant was nearby when the Capt. Pete needed him! And that is one awesome pirate hat that it can be used to fight off sharks!
Comment by Kathy McElhaney | 03.16.2011 | 11:24 am
Great job, twins! I have talented twin nieces – one is the artist and the other is the writer. Is that how you did it? Or do you both write and draw the story together?
I knew Captain Pete was a real pirate because he wore an eye patch! Excellent story!
Comment by Hautacam | 03.16.2011 | 11:30 am
(Clear throat, close one eye, cock head to one side, conjure up best gravelly pirate voice)
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!
Can’t believe I am the first one to leave that comment.
Great book!
Comment by buckythedonkey | 03.16.2011 | 11:51 am
Best post ever. Well done!
Comment by John | 03.16.2011 | 11:53 am
Quite possibly the best thing ever written on this blog! Way to go twins! Can’t wait for the next Captin Pete adventure!
Comment by eandjmum | 03.16.2011 | 11:53 am
AWESOME JOB GIRLS!
I didn’t need the written comments from your Dad to understand what the words were. I love the characters… well done, I have shared this on facebook :-)
Comment by AJ | 03.16.2011 | 12:01 pm
That was totally and completely enjoyable and entertaining! Twins – You ladies are incredibly talented! Can’t wait for more stories!
Comment by Cap'n Knuckles | 03.16.2011 | 12:03 pm
Candy Island?!!! Don’t be tellin’ no one where Candy Island be. It’s an Adventurer’s secret. I won’t even tell Flapjack where it be.
Great story ladies.
Comment by Sara | 03.16.2011 | 12:04 pm
what a terrific story! my favorite part was when Cpt Pete was fighting off the sharks with his hat.
Thanks for sharing!
Comment by oreneta | 03.16.2011 | 12:04 pm
That was FABULOUS!!!!!
LOVED it!
Comment by Paul Guyot | 03.16.2011 | 12:18 pm
Dear Twins,
This is the best book I have ever read. And I have read a lot.
It’s way better than that Junger book.
You guys rock!
Tell your uncle that you want a deal to do a monthly story for Fatcyclist.com. And tell him to pay you.
Comment by hank | 03.16.2011 | 12:27 pm
Excellent story – I love the part about the mermaid. :-)
Comment by Haven (KT) | 03.16.2011 | 12:31 pm
That was AWESOME.
Gripping action, teamwork, a happy ending.
My favorite lines are:
“What?!? So you built this thing without an exit?!?”
And when he refuses to marry a mermaid: “No!”
And when he collects sap in a bucket and leaves for glue. Genius, I tell you. Not many kids think of that, and it’s such a practical solution to the glue-problem.
In the sequel, Mr Jeepers can be the bad guy because he smiles WAY too much. There’s things going on in his head that he wants to conceal. Obviously.
Comment by Sharon Braxton | 03.16.2011 | 12:34 pm
Ahoy, me mateys! Great job. Loved the story and the illustrations. Can’t wait for the next installment.
Comment by hannah | 03.16.2011 | 12:59 pm
Well done, Katie and Carrie! This is a wonderful story with GREAT illustrations. I am very impressed. All I can draw are stick figures :(
I love Pete crying “No!” when the mermaid approaches. I’m also very taken with the illustration of the palm trees being tapped for sap. I love the details you use in your writing, too!
Ask your dad to have this bound into a real hardback book for you. Then you will be published authors! Keep up the good work!
Comment by Kel | 03.16.2011 | 1:12 pm
EXCELLENT narrative! Fetching artwork. Gripping story. I give it a “10″!
Comment by Sara | 03.16.2011 | 1:13 pm
HI Twins!! Terrific humor and illustrations. I see where your dad gets his talent……of course, he must have learned from the two of you!! You taught him well.
Comment by FF | 03.16.2011 | 1:31 pm
Excellent story and illustrations Girls! My 3 yr old and 6 yr old “pirates” are going to love reading it.
Thanks you both!
Comment by Anonymous | 03.16.2011 | 1:39 pm
Very impressed that you spelled ferocious correctly in your book!!!
Comment by Squirrelhead | 03.16.2011 | 1:39 pm
That was an excellent pirate story. I know how Capt Pete felt having to tell the mermaid no to her marriage proposal. I have the same problem which is why I am so slow on my swims. Great characters and action! Keep it up.
Comment by Jill P | 03.16.2011 | 1:57 pm
Great story! You two are even more talented than your dad! :) I hope there’s a sequel so we can see what Captain Pete’s new crew is up to next.
Comment by JB | 03.16.2011 | 1:59 pm
Nothing spells fun better than a bilge-pumping elephant being on board!!
Nice Job!
Totally!
Comment by Joe P | 03.16.2011 | 2:55 pm
Nice crew you have there, Fatty.
Comment by Clydesteve | 03.16.2011 | 3:24 pm
Yarrrh! Thar be talent in yer famalee, girrls. (Don’t tell yer papa, but I arn’t talkin’ about him!)
Fatty – This SO SO remeinds me of an illustrated pirate book my nephews wrote when they were young. Only theirs was from the boys perspective – Lots of pirate fighting, wild game killing and meat eating. Like about 1500 lbs of meat per brother per day!
Comment by Adventure Nell | 03.16.2011 | 3:40 pm
Excellent Story and wonderful illustrations. Thanks to the twins for sharing it with us and you two made my day even brighter.
Nell
ps. FC cycling jersey with Shorty the Elephant on it would be awesome :)
Comment by cece | 03.16.2011 | 4:23 pm
I love your word “Magnificent!” That is what your book is!
cece
Comment by Mike C. | 03.16.2011 | 4:47 pm
Excellent! I’m going to share this with my boys.
Comment by evil3 | 03.16.2011 | 4:51 pm
1 word ??? (in Japanese it reads sugoi, and translates to amazing).
Or as a whole sentence in Japanese.
????????????
Reads anata no hon ga sugoi desu. Translated it is your book is amazing.
Really it was a very fun book to read, and I so wish I was on candy island right now.
Comment by evil3 | 03.16.2011 | 4:53 pm
-darn I can type in Japanese on here…
…But you can still read the romanji (English text but Japanese spelling).
Comment by Asher | 03.16.2011 | 5:11 pm
Okay, this book is awesome in ways for which I do not have words.
However, I can say this: I see that a talent for humor, zany storytelling runs in the family.
Also, from what I hear, saying ‘No’ to proposals from mermaids is a very good idea.
I’m so sharing this with my best friend’s Mom. She’s works as the children’s minister at my church, where there’s a school for kids with developmental challenges. They like to write their own books, and I bet they would get a big kick out of yours!
Comment by Linda | 03.16.2011 | 8:01 pm
I think Mr Jeepers is my favorite. I might name my next bike after him…he makes me laugh!
Comment by Rob | 03.16.2011 | 8:18 pm
Best post ever!
Comment by Billy Simon | 03.16.2011 | 8:20 pm
This post is awesome!! Way to go twins, dad should be very proud. This needs to get binded and made into a coffee table book @ your house! Good luck. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
Comment by Boris | 03.16.2011 | 8:21 pm
Page 10 gives me hope. “So Pete started to row. He wasn’t going very fast, but he was going.” I will substitute ride for row and my name for Pete and I am inspired to endure!
I am hooked up with a mermaid, but so far things have been great : )
Thanks Kids! Nice to see some kids still have imagination galore. So much fun! Keep it up. There is hope for this world.
Comment by Kathleen@ForgingAhead | 03.16.2011 | 9:13 pm
How adorable! I see they’ve picked up your creative writing gene.
Comment by BamaJim | 03.16.2011 | 9:32 pm
The guest posts just get better and better
Comment by Amy | 03.16.2011 | 10:57 pm
Girls– that was a FABulous story. We all stood around the computer and read it together. Even our 14 year old liked the story (and as you may know, that is high praise.) I loved how Pete used the sap from the trees for glue, that was very creative. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Comment by Janey | 03.16.2011 | 11:04 pm
Great collaborative effort. Who did the illustrations and who did the writing, or did you switch back and forth? I think Captin Pete needs another crew member to even out the three oars on each side of the boat. If they are planning a fun cruise, I’d love to volunteer. However if it just means more deck swabbing like the Captain used to do on the ship where they made him walk the plank, well… I just don’t know about that. Plank walking can be dangerous and I’m not that great a swabber. Keep in touch.
Comment by christymcb | 03.16.2011 | 11:45 pm
Girls, thanks for sharing your story with us. I loved your pictures and reading about Pete’s adventures and the friends he met along the way!
Comment by Pattie | 03.17.2011 | 2:21 am
Very nice story! Love the mermaid part.
Comment by Neil | 03.17.2011 | 2:40 am
Great story, Enjoy it when your Dad lets you guys guest blog from time to time.
here is the song you can use for the end credits of your story.
This is a Cape Town, South Africa based comedy band. And this song is called: My Pirates Friends and me.
http://www.youtube.com/theBrothersStreep#p/u/21/PIiuwMcSPqM
Comment by maryb | 03.17.2011 | 5:10 am
what a great story and I love the illustrations! Very imaginative :)
Comment by Mike | 03.17.2011 | 7:12 am
Epic!
Comment by Rosemary | 03.17.2011 | 9:14 am
Wow, your twins are pretty amazing writers and terrific illustrators. It was such a creative and interesting story. I showed it to my daughters, and they loved it! Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Microchip | 03.17.2011 | 10:38 am
Soooo cute!!!!! I’ll buy their book.
Comment by Laura | 03.17.2011 | 1:59 pm
Great story! What’s the next adventure for the crew? Will the mermaid come back? Does Shorty the Elephant know how to swim?
I’d love to read chapter two!
Comment by GJ Jackie | 03.17.2011 | 4:57 pm
Awesome! My son (8) laughed out loud at the mermaid rejection and my daughter (6) loved Candy Island and the marshmallow dude. So fun!
Comment by lorib | 03.17.2011 | 8:23 pm
Two thumbs up guys, you made me smile.
Comment by Jessi | 03.18.2011 | 5:09 am
best story I’ve read in a long time!
Comment by Ferd Berfle | 03.18.2011 | 1:49 pm
Thank you girls.
I laughed, I cried. You made my day.
Comment by Dillon | 03.20.2011 | 8:32 am
I would’vr got caught up with the mermaid!
Comment by Domenico | 03.20.2011 | 9:58 am
Where can I buy a copy?
Comment by Saso | 03.20.2011 | 10:17 am
Obviously this blog can write itself, if you leave it to the twins. Great!
Comment by MVSC | 03.21.2011 | 12:11 am
A great story, ladies!
Comment by Heidi | 03.21.2011 | 9:09 am
Oh, I LOVE this! I read it to my honey who said, hey, the elephant is a sump pump! So, pitch it as an educational manual and the two of you can rake in big bucks.
Comment by texasgal | 03.21.2011 | 2:14 pm
Using an elephant to get rid of water on a boat – genius
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[...] the night before the race boiling 72 bratwurst (bratwursts? bratwursten?) in cheap bee, while my creative twin daughters decorated the banner we planned to hang outside at the park pavillion we had reserved for the [...]