A creative barcode on the back of a picture book is like when you have one pump of peanut butter sauce in your Oreo blizzard. It doesn’t have to be there, but things a just a little bit better when it is.

I was recently given the challenge of whipping up a gallery of examples, so let’s take a look at a few, shall we?

(Do you know of a creative barcode I should add to this gallery? Take a picture and email it (along with the title) to me: scopenotes (at) gmail (dot) com)

Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld

Parrots Over Puerto Rico by By Susan L. Roth, Cindy Trumbore; illustrated by Susan L. Roth

Froodle by Antoinette Portis

Tools Rule by Aaron Meshon

A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse by Frank Viva

Special Delivery by Philip C. Stead; illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Roberto: The Insect Architect by Nina Laden

Ike’s Incredible Ink by Brianne Farley

Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman

The World According to Musk Ox by Erin Cabatingan; illustrated by Matthew Myers

Marlene, Marlene, Queen of Mean by Jane Lynch and Lara Embry; illustrated by A.E. Mikesell

Hermelin the Detective by Mini Grey

Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper

Hearts by Thereza Rowe

Waterloo and Trafalgar by Oliver Tallec

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty; illustrated by David Roberts

Giddy-Up Daddy by Troy Cummings

Sergio Scores! by Edel Rodriguez