ROCKET THE CRICKET
SERIES BIBLE
LOGLINE
A bold, 2-sentence hook that establishes the world and the conflict.
FORMAT
Highly Illustrated Early Chapter Book Series
GENRE: Comedic Nature Adventure
TARGET AUDIENCE: Ages 6–9/Grades 1-3
AUTHOR: Dana Taylor
CONTACT: danataylormix@gmail.com 407.375.6226
ASSET LINK: Manuscript, illustrations
THE VISION
2–3 paragraphs of high-level prose describing the "soul" of the project. Rocket the Cricket is-
Comparative Titles:
Title
Title
Tone & Aesthetic:
Vibrant
Kinetic
Slapstick
THE WORLD: THE LEISTER’S YARD
Physical Rules: To our best buddies, a driveway is Kilimanjaro. A garden hose unleashes white water rapids. We stay at "Bug-Level," experiencing the textures found in and around the Leister’s Yard as both earth-bound and airborne insects.
The Humans: The Leister's are never seen in full—mostly heard as distant thuds or seen as massive feet (Mr. Leister enjoys gardening while barefoot.) Their discarded objects (a broken picture frame, food wrappers) become the treasures and traps of our world.
The Tone: A warm aesthetic punched up or down by an early morning glow or twilight. The lighting is soft, mimicking the "Golden Hour" of late afternoon.
The Sonic Landscape:
Proof of Concept: This series is developed in tandem with an original 6-song EP, creating a unified brand identity from Day One.
Audio Experience: [Click here] to experience the sounds that shape the world of some of the individual insects in and around the Leister's Yard.
Integration: The included EP establishes character "voice" and atmosphere. It gives insight into what matters to some of our bugs—a cozy home with mom and dad, an understanding of the natural world, or a sweet treat.
THE CORE CAST
ROCKET THE CRICKET (The ??) - [personality, flaws, and specific role in the duo]
AN ANT NAMED POE (The Determined One) - [personality, flaws, and specific role in the duo.]
MO BUGS - (Brief 1-sentence description of recurring characters)
GERT GLOWBUG -
ANNA ANTENNAE -
NARRATIVE & PACING
Book 1: "Rocket the Cricket" – full synopsis of completed book.
Chapter 1: Rocket and Poe have a kernel of unpopped popcorn that would make a fine snack.
Chapter 2: They must weigh whether to heed their parents warnings about the dangers to be found inside the Leister’s kitchen.
Chapter 3: Getting their kernel to the Leister house proves…challenging, featuring an “Indiana Jones” moment.
Chapter 4: Their mishap with the kernel leads them to a coveted complement—butter!
Chapter 5: They enlist help, but then, the shock of the pop leads to another mishap that nearly spoils their snack.
SERIES GROWTH
In Development:
Book 2: "Mo Bugs Loses His Mojo" – Mo Bugs is typically a chipper Black Beetle. However, while venturing near a window in the Leister’s kitchen, Mo (incorrectly) overhears a comment that cuts him to the core. Now it’s up to Rocket and Poe to help happy Mo get his mojo back.
Book 3: "The Sticky Stuff" – Forever hungry for a snack, Poe gets stuck in honey, trapped in sap, and—gasp—the thread of a spiderweb. Rocket tries to help him break free, but there’s another bit of sticky stuff to contend with before they get completely unstuck.
Book 4: "" – logline
Book 5: "We Should Have Listened to Ant Agatha" – When Rocket and Poe venture too far away from home, they regret not paying closer attention to the sage advice shared by Ant Agatha, who also once struggled to find her way back home.
Springboards:
After seeing the Leister children engrossed in television, Anna Antennae experiments with “outer-vision.”
When the Leister’s leave for a family vacation, Rocket and Poe test out what it would be like living like a Leister.
After hearing Poe make a wish on a falling star, Rocket sets out to make Poe’s dream of flying come true.
When Rocket and Poe befriend a caterpillar, it’s up to Gert the Glowbug to explain how and why their new friend transformed and flew away.
After falling asleep in the Leister’s Yard, Poe awakens on top of Mr. Leister’s bare foot.
ABOUT THE CREATOR
Dana Taylor is an award-winning video journalist, producer and editor. Leveraging a career in high-end audio storytelling, she has developed Rocket the Cricket as a 360-degree IP that bridges the gap between classic children’s literature and modern immersive media.