Rise and shine, my friends!
It’s about time for some new high jinx and shenanigans!
Given the unusual circumstances we all find ourselves in at the moment, I bet you are all challenging yourselves each and every day!
There’s the What Can I Make For Dinner Out Of 1/2 A Cup Of Raisins, A Sleeve Of Saltines, And A Can Of Baked Beans? Challenge. . .
. . .the Total Body Workout On Top Of The Coffee Table Because That’s All The Space I Have Challenge. . .
. . .and the Lord Help Me How Will I Entertain The Children On What Feels Like The Millionth Evening Of Quarantine (If I Have To Play Candy Land One More Time I Will Have To Be Committed!) Challenge!
It is just possible that the novelty is beginning to wear off of these a teeny tiny bit. . . 😊
So I am here to offer you something new and different! (and feel free to use it to solve #3 above as well 😊)
When life is so topsy-turvy it can be hard to find the energy and motivation to write, so how about a little boost and a little encouragement with perhaps a soupçon of competition?
It’s time for
The First Ever Mix ‘n’ Match Mini Writing Challenge
For Children’s Writers!
(Not a contest exactly… no room in the blog calendar, no time for judging, no gigantic prizes on offer…but still (hopefully!) tons of fun!)
Here’s how it works:
Starting today, each Monday until June 22 (which makes 7 Mondays total and will get us to the end of the school term) I will post a Mix ‘n’ Match Mini Writing Prompt for a 100 word story. Post your story in the comment section for that week’s challenge (or if you have trouble posting it, email it to me and I’ll post it for you.) At the end of the 7 weeks, everyone who has posted one story for each week’s prompt will
A) have 7 brand new stories to play with! (Who knows? Your next picture book or even chapter book or longer might be sparked by something you write for the Challenge!)
B) be able to take credit for entertaining lots of stuck-at-home fellow writers and their kids (not to mention you’ll entertain yourself and your own kids!)
and
C) qualify to win a prize from the Mix ‘n’ Match Mini Mystery Bag of Marvelous Prizes for Writers! (I’m not really expecting 400 people to complete this challenge… if that happens we will have to eenie meenie miney mo winners until we run out of prizes, but you will still win A and B above!)
You can compete with yourself to see if you can write all 7 stories! You can compete with your writing friends to see if you can write more than they do! And if you want to get really competitive, you can all read the stories that are posted and “like” the ones you think are best and see who gets the most “likes” 😊 (If you do that there might be some special prizes…who can tell??? 😊)
When the going get’s rugged, children’s writers beat the blues by playing writing games and creating new stories to keep themselves and everyone around them entertained!
So here we go!
Mix ‘n’ Match Mini Writing Prompt #1 for Week of May 11:
Choose one item from one or more of the columns below – minimum 1, maximum 3. You can choose only one item (for example, one item from Column B), or you can choose one from Column A and one from Column C, or you can choose one each from Column A, B, and C – whatever combination you like depending on what you feel you need to spark your story.
Write a 100 word story for kids which includes at least 1 and not more than 3 of the items below. Please either highlight them or list them at the top so it’s easy for me to see who has qualified for the challenge. (If you want to use a title, the title will not be included in the word count.)
Post your story in the comment section (or email it to me to post.)
Read, enjoy, and comment on each other’s stories! 😊
Here is today’s mix ‘n’ match list:
| Column A Character | Column B Setting | Column C Emotion |
| knight | birthday party | cranky |
| alien | school | bored |
| camel | beach | jubilant |
*For those of you who feel you would benefit from a little more structure, you can make this a Mother’s Day story – but that is a suggestion only for people who want it, not a requirement for this week’s story.*
So you might choose “camel” only. Or you might choose “school” and “jubilant”. Or “knight”, “beach” and “cranky”. . . (And you can throw in Mother’s Day if you want to 😊)
Get the idea?
In an attempt to answer possible questions I will say:
- you can write as many stories as you want each week
- you can post them at any time during the week (just make sure they’re on the Monday Mix ‘n’ Match Mini post for the week you’re entering – e.g. below for Week #1))
- you can play catch up (so if you miss a week you can go back and add to an earlier week if you’re trying to complete the challenge and qualify for prizes as long as all entries are posted on the correct week and are posted no later than Saturday June 27th at midnight Eastern time.)
- no illustration notes
- if 2 or 3 items from one column are what get your creativity sparking, that is okay (e.g. you can use knight and alien if you want)
- You may go over the word count if you’re on a roll and you wish to (because there is not judging 😊)
- You may write in poetry or prose
Here’s a little sample to show you how it works:
(No comment on the dreadfulness of the sample 😊)
Week #1: camel, school (99 words)
Camel School
Cami was excited for school!
Would she learn reading? Writing? To count past 12?
“First class, Hydration,” said Miss Dromedary. “Try for 30 gallons of water in 13 minutes. Practice makes perfect!”
Cami couldn’t imagine drinking that much!
“Next, Spitting! Try for 120 feet. Practice makes perfect!”
Cami’s tongue flickered like lightning, but could she spit far?
“Now, Sand Running! A steady 25 mph. Practice makes perfect!”
“Even practice can’t make me that fast!” cried Cami.
Miss Dromedary patted her head. “This is Camel School, dearie. Chameleon School is next door.”
“Phew!” said Cami, scurrying to join her friends.
And here’s a little sampling of the prizes up for grabs to whet your competitive spirit 😊 MORE TO COME!
When it comes time for prizes, names of all those who completed the challenge will be drawn randomly and matched with prizes drawn randomly until we run out! 😊
For Spacious Skies by Nancy Churnin, award-winning author of so many fabulous books I don’t have space to list them all! Visit her website or Amazon Page!
Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Kirstine Erekson Call, author of THE RAINDROP WHO COULDN’T FALL (Character Publishing 2013) and the forthcoming MOOTILDA’S BAD MOOD (Little Bee Books, September 2020), COW SAYS MEOW (HMH March 2021), and COLD TURKEY (Little Brown Spring 2021)
Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Ellen Leventhal, author of DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS (Spork 2017), HAYFEST: A Holiday Quest (ABCs Press 2010), and LOLA CAN’T LEAP (Spork 2018)
Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Lindsay Hanson Metcalf, author of BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST (September 2020), FARMERS UNITE!: PLANTING A PROTEST FOR FAIR PRICES (Calkins Creek November 2020), and NO VOICE TOO SMALL: FOURTEEN YOUNG AMERICANS MAKING HISTORY (Charlesbridge September 2020)
Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non rhyming) from Kaye Baillie, author of BOO LOVES BOOKS (New Frontier Publishing October 2020), and MESSAGE IN A SOCK (Midnight Sun Publishing 2018)
Your choice of EITHER a Picture Book Manuscript Critique or a Virtual Visit with Keila Dawson, author of THE KING CAKE BABY (Pelican 2015), and NO VOICE TOO SMALL: FOURTEEN YOUNG AMERICANS MAKING HISTORY (Charlesbridge September 2020)
Winner’s Choice of Webinar from the amazing Alayne Kay Christian, author of picture books Butterfly Kisses, An Old Man And His Penguin, and the forthcoming The Weed That Woke Christmas and the chapter book series of Sienna The Cowgirl Fairy, and editor at Blue Whale Press! Webinar choices include: How A Picture Book Is Made, Perfecting Your Critique, Top Ten Reasons For Rejection, and How To Write Powerful First Pages Like A Pro!
15 Minute Video Chat – ask your questions about writing, research, submissions – whatever’s on your mind! – with Christy Mihaly, author of DIET FOR A CHANGING PLANET: Food for Thought(Twenty-first Century Books/Lerner 2018), HEY, HEY, HAY!
A Tale of Bales and the Machines That Make Them (Holiday House 2018) , and FREE FOR YOU AND ME: What Our First Amendment Means (Albert Whitman March 2020)
Quick Impressions on your Picture Book Manuscript from Rosie Pova, author of IF I WEREN’T WITH YOU (Spork 2017), SARAH’S SONG (Spork 2017), the forthcoming SUNDAY RAIN (Lantana Publishing March 2021) and others.
RONAN THE LIBRARIAN, (Roaring Brook Press April 2020) brand new fromfabulous author Tara Luebbe
Your Choice of EITHER A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction, non-rhyming) or an Ask Anything 15 Minute Video or Phone Chat with Tara Luebbe, author of SHARK NATE-O,(Little Bee Books 2018), I AM FAMOUS ( Albert Whitman 2018), I USED TO BE FAMOUS (Albert Whitman 2019), OPERATION PHOTOBOMB (Albert Whitman 2019), and RONAN THE LIBRARIAN (Roaring Brook Press 2020) (see above)
Sherry Howard, author of Rock And Roll Woods (Spork 2018) and a series of Nonfiction Middle Grade titles for Escape Publishing (2019)
is offering 6 of her nonfiction middle grade titles which will go to 6 lucky winners!
Ann Whitford Paul, author of Writing Picture Books (being donated by Becky Scharnhorst below), the book we ALL use as our picture book bible 😊, and countless wonderful picture books, is offering signed copies of her IF ANIMALS… Series (Farrar Straus Giroux):
If Animals Went To School (2019) If Animals Kissed Good Night (2008)
If Animals Said I Love You (2017) If Animals Celebrated Christmas (2018)
If you would like to benefit from her picture book wisdom, please sign up for her newsletter HERE!
A hand lettered quote of someone’s choice from a picture book, or a quote about reading or writing that could be framed as a gift for a child’s bedroom, a writer you know and love, or an inspiration for writing in your own work space (why shouldn’t you give yourself a present?!) offered by Kristy Roser Nuttall! (Samples below – you can choose your own quote!)
Making Picture Book Magic – Self Study Class any month (x3)
Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul, donated by Becky Scharnhorst whose debut picture book P.S. Camp Wildwood Stinks will be released in Summer 2021 from Philomel!
![Writing Picture Books Revised and Expanded Edition: A Hands-On Guide From Story Creation to Publication by [Ann Whitford Paul]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51rbO+CMLNL.jpg)
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert donated by Becky Scharnhorst whose debut picture book P.S. Camp Wildwood Stinks will be released in Summer 2021 from Philomel!
The Nuts & Bolts Guide To Writing Picture Books by Linda Ashman (only available for Kindle) (x2)
![The Nuts and Bolts Guide to Writing Picture Books by [Linda Ashman]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JTh6P3L1L.jpg)
Magnetic Poetry – Little Box of Happiness
The Story Book Knight by Helen Docherty
This Book Is Gray by Lindsay Ward
Writing Journal (x10)
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
So come join the fun! Get some writing done! Encourage your kids (or students) to give it a try! Or just have a good time together reading what other folks have written!
Ready, set, WRITE!!! 😊
Check out the Week #1 stories!
How To Have A Camel Birthday Party – Brenda Whitehead (camel, birthday party)
A Knight At The Beach – Jess Murray (knight, beach)
Puddles From Pluto – Julie Abery (alien)
Untitled – Candice Marley Conner (knight, beach, jubilant)
Birthday Surprise – Genevieve Petrillo (birthday party)
The Knight And The Bouncy Castle – Little Cornish Writer (knight, birthday party, bored)
Andromeda And Nick – Cindy S. Boyll (alien, knight)
Carlos The Camel Goes To Revere Beach – Susan Reese Krevat (camel, beach, bored)
Chloe’s Extraordinary Bunny Beach Birthday Party – Corine Timmer (birthday party)
Wake Up Call – Jill Lambert (alien, school, cranky, Mother’s Day)
Cranky Camel At The Beach – Susan Inez (camel, beach, cranky)
Blast Off – Barbara Renner (alien, school)
Mommy’s Cranky Beach Baby – Jamie Bechtelheimer (beach, cranky)
Night Knight School – Matthew Lasley (knight, school, cranky)
How To Pet A Camel – Jeanette Jones (camel)
Untitled – Carmen Castillo Gilbert (cranky, birthday party, beach)
An Ode To Our Teachers – Michelle S. Kennedy (school)
The Uninvited Guest – Jarmila (alien)
Knight Light – Margo (knight)
Sir Grumpsalot’s Lesson – Dot Anson (knight, beach, cranky)
The Knight’s Princess – Linda Schueler (knight, birthday party)
Camel’s Surprise – Susan Schipper (camel, beach, jubilant)
The Birthday Party: A Circular Story – Rose Cappelli (camel, birthday party)
Alien Beach Adventure – Ashley Congdon (alien, beach)
Prehistoric Hairdo – Kristy Roser Nuttall (cranky)
Beach Bummed – Sarah Meade (beach)
The Cranky Alien On The Beach – Linda Boyden (cranky, alien, beach)
A Good Knight – Patricia Nozell (knight, school)
It’s Not My Party – Sarah Hoppe (birthday party, emotion of cranky but not the word)
Back To School – Deb Sullivan (school, alien, cranky)
Ulric, The Tap Dancing Knight – Brittany Pomales (knight)
If You Invite A Camel To Your Birthday – Sara Ackerman (camel, birthday party)
Grandpa’s Style – Leslie Denkers (jubilant)
Camel On Vacation – Dawn Young (camel, beach, jubilant)
Untitled – D. Litwer (alien, beach)
Alien Annie – Linda Staszak (alien)
Untitled – Mary VB (beach, knight, cranky)
(K)Night School – Bev Baird(knight, school)
Mr. Camel Needs A Break – Sue Lancaster (camel, beach, cranky)
Lost In Time – Colleen Murphy (knight, beach)
Sir Sunny – Rebecca Gardyn Levington (knight, beach)
Horace – Amy Flynn (camel)
Gismos The Alien – Everard Anson (bored, alien, jubilant, cranky)
A Limerick – Marty (knight, jubilant)
Pal – Mia Geiger (camel)
How To Homeschool An Alien – Liz Kehrli (alien, school)
A Knight’s Delight – Nancy Riley (knight, beach)
Zara’s Blooming Flower – Lori Himmel (camel, school, jubilant)
Cranky Camel – Deb Buschman (camel, cranky, beach)
Clanky Cranky – Laura Pomar (knight, school, cranky)
The Jubilant Beach – Ketan & Aiyka Ram (beach, jubilant)
Untitled – Kay DiVerde (knight, bored)
Mix And Match – Shariffa Keshavjee (knight, bored, camel, alien, school)
Good Knight! – Lily Erlic (knight, beach, cranky)
Untitled – Penny Adler (school)
Show And Tell – Elizabeth Meyer Zu Heringdorf (alien, school, bored)
Aliens Have Birthday Parties Too! – Alicia Meyers Kelly (alien, birthday party)
LeeLee Croaks – Katie Schwartz
Untitled – Lauri Meyers (bored, knight)
Untitled – Ugo Anidi (knight, birthday party, bored)
Susanna Leonard Hill 
This was a fun writing prompt for this morning’s 5am writing session, thanks, Susanna! Here’s my story this week:
HOW TO HAVE A CAMEL BIRTHDAY PARTY. (100 words–camel and birthday party)
Step 1: Invitations! Double-check the sand-code… sand sector 333,888,333 is WAY OFF from 888,333,888! (I hate number humps!)
Step 2: Prepare! Cactus cake? Check! Party hats for all the humps? Check! Camel-spit target game? Check!
Step 3: PARTY TIME!! (What’s that you say? QUARANTINE??)
• Eat entire cactus cake yourself? Check!
• Put party hats on quickly-crafted sand-man friends? Check!
• Play camel-spit target game alone? Che—- WHAT? NO SPITTING?! Nevermind…
• Have a lonely birthday? … WAIT! Is that a mirage?? NO! It’s a socially-distanced Camel Birthday PARADE! WHOOP!
Step 5: Bedtime! Lay down thankful for camel-caring friends. OUCH! (Those darn party hats!)
Love this, Brenda! You stepped right up and wrote that fast! I love the idea of a camel birthday party 🙂 Thanks for joining in the fun!
Love that you took on quarantine! I’m considering that for a story right now, too, so interesting to see it done!
Love the energy in this story! How you incorporated sandy-desert-camel things, with birthday parties AND quarantine is fabulous. Great job!
Love it! Hats on humps is a hilarious visual. Getting to eat the whole cake in quarantine is the best! And the story of my quarantine life….. Just saying…
I love this. I like the way problems become opportunities. Creative, energetic and fun!
Thanks, everyone, it was fun! Although as soon as I posted I saw that I’d skipped Step 4…thanks 5am brain!
What a quick-thinking camel! Cute and positive story at this hard time!
Nice twist at the end Susanna. Will try to get a few stories written. Thanks for the encouragement, we need it right now. Take care.
Go for it Eleanor! Just for fun!!! 🙂
I will.
A KNIGHT AT THE BEACH (81 words, knight & beach)
Everyone says a knight at the beach is amazing, but knight just didn’t get it.
Sand itched in his armor. His face-plate made smelling the roses impossible. And he was much too heavy to swim beneath the stars.
What’s that? NIGHT, not KNIGHT?
Oh! Got it!
The crabs, the skunks, and the sea turtles can’t seem to tug off the K on their own. If only there were someone chivalrous around…
Ah! You belong in a story book, a real hero!
Hahaha! Very nice, Jess! And a great opportunity to teach kids about unexpected spelling! 🙂
Thank you, Susanna, and thanks for putting this all together! Fun & inspiring.
Great play on words! 🙂
So cute.😄
Very, very clever. This made me smile so much!
🙂
You accomplished so much in only 81 words, Jess! Such an inventive use of homophones–love it!
Thanks, Jill!
Love the play on words!
Thank you:)
Very clever with the spelling! Love the animals trying to pull off the K.
Thanks, Nancy!
What fun, Susanna! Thank you for the encouragement to sit down and write something, however mini.
Here is my story for week 1:
PUDDLES FROM PLUTO by Julie Abery
Watch out for puddles from Pluto!
They are not really puddles, they are aliens in disguise called Plutonians.
Plutonians are mischievous and tricksy, and their magic is strong.
Just a few drops of rain, and they arrive in a flash.
SPLISH…
You did not see the invisi-puddle!
SPLOSH, SPLOSH, SPLOSH…
You can’t get out of the infini-puddle!
And WOOSH…
You catapult skywards from the incredi-puddle!
Luckily, they only last until the sun comes out.
So, next time it rains, remember to take an umbrella
…and watch out for puddles from Pluto!
What fun, Julie! I will be sure to watch out for puddles from Pluto…just in case! 🙂
lol, I like the invisi-puddle, infini-puddle, and incredi-puddle
I liked that too!
Once I almost stepped in a Puddle from Pluto. ALMOST! It was terrifying. (I don’t do water…)
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Thank GOODNESS you avoided that puddle, Cupcake!!! 🙂 ❤
Ouffff…near miss!
Creative and fun!
Love your word play, Julie…incredi-puddles and infini-puddles…what fun! And the title makes me want to read the story! Well done, dear friend. 🙂
So fun! I love the catapult…
Great fun and what an imagination! Love the sound effects. I can see kids splashing around with Plutonians!
What a perfect way for me to procrastinate! Haha. Love your story, Susanna. I thought the ending was clever. Here’s mine at 99 words. I used knight, beach, and jubilant.
Nikki was jubilant. She had just finished Knight School and her classmates had invited her to join them at the beach! After weeks of jousting, mace twirling, and saving princes, she was ready to relax.
“I’ve never been to the beach before,” she said, daydreaming about all the fun.
“I’ve flown over it lots,” her friend Gull squawked from the open castle window.
“What should I pack?”
“Towels, umbrella, and of course, your suit!”
Clank, clank, clank. Nikki shuffled in the sand.
Her classmates looked at her and smiled. “Nikki! You need a swimsuit! Not your suit of armor!”
Oh, man, Candice! You did a GREAT job! Such a complete fun story in so few words! Well done!!!
P.S. This is NOT procrastinating! This is WRITING! 🙂
Great story, Candice! And I love the misunderstanding at the end!
GAH! I did not see that coming. Super cute!
WOW…this is awesome, Candice…and I love what you said about procrastinating…that makes me feel better because I am supposed to be finishing up polishing two manuscripts to send to my agent because she wants to send them both to specific editors. Plus I’m supposed to be writing a rough draft of a new story. And yet…here I am. 🙂
This is really good…and I love the twist at the end…full of humor and heart!
Great play on the idea of a suit!
Great word play! And very child-like. I feel like my oldest would do the same thing. Great job!
I laughed aloud thinking of a suit of armor at the beach. Great job playing with the concept of different types of suits.
I love the twist at the end! Great story!
Very fun. Haha, loved the word play with the wrong suit!
Alright, we got a challenge. Great posts so far! As always, the bar is high. I will join as I need distraction and direction right now. Ty, Susanna, as always for lifting us up.
I think we all need distraction and direction right now, Kathy. These are such strange times. If we can gather together, have some fun, and support each other, that’s what friendship and the writing community are all about! ❤
GAH! Oh, Cami. You were like a kitty at dog obedience school. What a silly girl! Good luck in your new class.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
I know. She really IS a silly girl! She better pay a little more attention if she wants to excel in school! 🙂
Reblogged this on Chelsea Ann Owens and commented:
A fun, cute idea for these less-fun times! Put on your eenie-meenie thinking caps and enter each week!
birthday party story – 97 words – I’m in.
Birthday Surprise
Jack blasted out of bed. “I must be ready for my birthday party.”
Mom acted natural in the kitchen. No happy birthday!
Surprise party? Jack wondered.
Outside he waited for his friends to arrive. He kicked dirt, practiced doing cartwheels, and rode his bike in circles. Nobody came!
Jack checked the yard expecting balloons, streamers, and snacks. The yard was empty!
“Worst birthday ever!” Jack stomped back inside.
“Big day tomorrow, Jackie,” Mom said.
“T-T-Tomorrow?”
“Yes, silly! Tomorrow is your birthday.”
“Tomorrow!” Jack slapped his forehead and gave Mom the biggest hug ever. “Tomorrow will be awesome!”
Lol! Nicely done, Genevieve,
Great job, Genevieve! Birthdays are so exciting, it’s easy to lose track of the days! I love that having the day wrong was the surprise rather than the obvious surprise party he thought was coming! Thanks for joining in the fun!
I loved the natural-acting mom, just doing her thing!
This is so cute. Poor Jack,the ups and downs of anticipation! I hope his birthday was all he wished for . . . Tomorrow!
These are all so wonderful! Thanks for brightening the day & providing some prompts to get the creative juices flowing!
Come join in, Patricia! The prize bag is getting fuller and fuller of awesomeness! 🙂
The Knight and the Bouncy Castle- Knight, birthday party, bored
When Griffin the Knight saw that
Edgar the inventor had
bought his new bouncy castle invention to
Princess Poppy’s birthday party, his eyes
shone as brightly as his armour.
He was SOOOO bored, standing guard all day,
waiting to protect her in case the troublesome
Toothfires came creeping from their cave.
He longed for a boing…for a bop…or a bounce.
The jesters were having a fine old time
so why couldn’t he?
His chance came when the party feast arrived.
The castle billowed in the breeze. Empty.
Griffin tiptoed…and JUMPED!
PFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTT,
A saggy bag of…nothing.
Oh, that pesky sword!
I’m sorry I don’t know your name, but what a fun story! I love that his sword poked a hole in the bouncy castle – not your average every day expected problem with bouncy castles! Thanks for joining the fun!
Haha! Very cute, and I love the sounds throughout this, the opening especially. A lot of fun to read…
haha! Very cute!!!
Haha! 🙂
So clever with the bouncy castle.
Knights do need to be careful in bouncy castles! You’ve created some fun & funny images here – great job!
Haha! Those pesky swords! Maybe he’ll get another chance sometime!
Love this! Great job putting a knight in an unfamiliar situation.
Fun! Here is my entry, “Andromeda and Nick,” below:
Andromeda Alien and Nick Knight were cranky. Nick lost his way to the castle and rode into a spooky forest. Andromeda was there star-gazing. She thought no human could find her. Alas, as she peeked through her telescope, Nick poked her with his spear. He didn’t mean to jab her but he was lost, without lantern, and his helmet offered little vision.
Andromeda yelled an alien “aarrrrgh.”
Nick yelled, “Sorry, fair maiden.”
Fair Maiden? No one had ever called Andromeda fair maiden.
She smiled. “Would you like to look at the stars?”
Nick, who still could not see, said, “Yes.”
So entertaining, Cindy! I love the blundering about, and the last line is great! 🙂 Thanks for joining the fun!
My favorite line: Andromeda was there star-gazing!
Very fun. Love the blundering knight and star-gazing Andromeda!
Hello! I hope I’m posting this in the correct spot. Here’s my story:
Carlos the Camel Goes to Revere Beach
“I am so bored!,” whined Carlos the Camel.
“Let’s go to Revere Beach and check out sand sculptures!” exclaimed Carlos’ mom.
Carlos, his sister and parents piled into their Camel Cooper
and drove off.
Carlos’ father explained, “There
is a sand sculpture contest every summer at Revere Beach. “
Carlos and his sister just rolled their eyes in
the back seat. Carlos reminded himself never to complain
about being bored again.
Hahaha! You made me laugh Susan! Kids have to be careful what they wish for 🙂 🙂 🙂
Susan, this is so cute..and I have actually seen the sand sculptures at Revere Beach. My son is a professor at NEU and lives near Revere Beach! 🙂
Neat idea of the camels being (extra) bored in the sand!
So cute! Love the Camel Cooper!
#1 birthday party (100 words)
Chloe’s Extraordinary Bunny Birthday Party
Chloe stamped her feet.
“Stupid virus,” she sputtered, as tears swelled in her eyes.
“Now my friends can’t come to my bunny birthday party!”
Her mother listened.
“They have costumes already,” Chloe moped. “And presents.”
“Perhaps we can host an online bunny party?” her mother said.
“An online party?” Chloe muttered. “Uhmm, I guess . . . Maybe a challenge! Like, The Coolest Bunny Face? But what about my presents?”
“Could it be that the postman delivered them?” her mother said, chuckling. “You can open them while sharing screen time.”
“Yay!” Chloe cheered, as she bunny-nudged her mom.
What a great idea, Susanna! Thanks for hosting this challenge. I look forward to reading the other entries.
It’s hard having a birthday during the quarantine – I had one, and my daughter just did, and it feels so weird not to be able to see family and friends! I’m glad Chloe came up with a fun solution! Thanks for joining the fun, Corine!
Weird times, Susanna. The social distancing from loved ones is hard. Contests like yours add a little fun to our days. I enjoyed your story. Fun!
I loved picturing those bunny costumes – even if to be seen remotely!
Thanks for stopping by. I’m glad you enjoyed reading my story.
You did a great job capturing the frustration, yet creativity that is emerging during this time of social distancing. Terrific, Corine!
Thanks, Jill.
What a sweet story, Corine! I’m glad Chloe and her mom found a way to party!
Glad you liked it, Nancy. Thanks!
Cute Corine. Thank goodness we have the internet.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Thank you for another great challenge, Susanna! Here’s my entry:
Wake Up Call
By Jill Lambert
(100 words—alien, school, cranky, Mother’s Day)
Mother’s Day’s over,
Mama is trying–
“Wake up, son!
He’s not complying.
“Aww! Do I have to?”
Zic whines from his pod.
Why’s he so cranky?
Hmm… that’s odd.
“It’s Saturnday.
Time to get dressed.”
Zic won’t budge,
tries to protest.
“Why do I have
school every week?
I’ll learn on my own.
Dad says I’m a geek!”
“Even so, Zic,
home’s not a choice.
School is required.”
(no-nonsense voice).
Zic sighs. His bot
flies his uniform in.
He zips it on,
flips a switch to spin.
BAM! reappears
at his alien school…
doesn’t like going,
but getting there’s cool.
Boy, you got everything in there, Jill!! Well done! I love the ending – so fun that he can do without school but getting’s there’s cool! Thanks for joining the high jinx and shenanigans! 🙂
Thank you, Susanna. I had fun working on it!
Too cute, Jill!
Nice! I enjoyed the twists and wordplay here!
Thanks so much!
Great job as laways, Jill! Love it!
Thank you, Michelle! I appreciate you!
I can’t type- that should have said “always” LOL ❤ I can picture Zic in my mind. My favorite- It's Saturnday! Great wordplay.
Creative! I love the ending 🙂
Thank you, Corine!
Such a fun entry! And I’m so impressed with the rhyming.
Thank you so much, Patricia! I appreciate it!
Love your story. Love your rhyme! And what a great ending!
Thank you for your kind comments, Nancy!
Here’s mine! Cranky Camel at the Beach
“We’re here!” Shouted Fox.
“Can I remove the blindfold now?” Asked Camel.
“Yes. I’m so excited!”
“We’ve been walking like; forever, it better be worth it.” He nudged the blindfold off his face. “You’re kidding.”
“What’s wrong?”
“REALLY, the beach?!”
“I love the beach. The wind, the waves, the sand: pure magic.” Fox sighed.
“Let me tell you once more. Come closer so you can hear me.”
Fox walked over to his friend.
“I HATE SAND!” Camel shouted.
“Okay, I get it.” Fox pouted.
“I thought this would be different,” Camel groaned.
“Well, you sit and pout. I’m going swimming.”
Hahaha! You made me laugh at I HATE SAND! Susan 🙂 So perfect! 🙂 It’s all about perspective, isn’t it? Thanks for joining the fun!
Great character development, love the ending!
“I HATE SAND!” Camel shouted. This made me laugh 😆 Nice character building.
I’m with Fox! I LOVE the beach!!! I think you have the makings of a fun PB here. Would love to know if Cranky Camel ever ends up in the water. Nice job Susan!
Love, “Come closer so you can hear me.” Made me laugh out loud! I can picture some great illustrations!
Ha, ha, very cute Susan, love the fox and camel’s personalities! A pouting camel, that is an image, definitely cranky, great job!
I imagine sand WOULD make a camel cranky! Terrific, Susan!
Thanks for the fun challenge. Here is my entry:
BLAST OFF (alien, school)
by Barbara Renner
96 Words
Three – Two – One – BLAST OFF
I climb – UP – UP – UP – through the clouds.
A meteor – I swerve, nearly colliding with the North Star.
I gain speed. I zoom past the galaxies – until – I go into slow motion. I glide through the dark. What’s that? It steps across my windshield.
An alien! It has huge eyes and a round head. I take a picture. It slips out of view.
“Jonathan!”
My spaceship crashes.
“Jonathan, it’s time for school, hurry up.”
I crawl off my bed, pick up the cat, and sulk out of my room.
Aw! Poor Jonathan! Interrupted for SCHOOL right in the middle of his space adventure! I felt like I was out there in space with him. Nice job, Barbara! Thanks for joining the fun!
For a moment I thought I was in space. I love the beginning.
You took me on a fun space adventure until school intervened! Great fun!
This is so fun, thank you all for putting this together! Here’s my entry for Week 1 (181 words).
Mommy’s Cranky Beach Baby
“Ah,” said Mommy as she walked on the shore.
“MAMAAAAA!” cried Baby, wiggling in Daddy’s arms.
“I’m coming, sweetie!! Ooh, ooh! Hot! Hot!” Mommy jumped and jiggled across the burning sand.
Baby laughed as Mommy took him in her arms.
Mommy smiled as she held Baby’s hands and they toddled through the shallow waves.
A big spray of salt water splashed into Baby’s eye!
“WAHHHH!” cried Baby.
“Oh, no!” Mommy fussed, “Let’s get a towel and wipe your eyes!”
Mommy scooped up her Baby and ran back across the sizzling sand.
“Oh, oh! My feet are on FIRE!”
Baby laughed and cried and hiccuped while Mommy wiped his eyes.
“Lunch time!” Mommy cheered.
“Hooray!” Daddy cheered.
“EAT!” Baby shrieked with delight.
“Here’s Baby’s lunch, and Daddy’s… Oh no, I forgot MY lunch,” Mommy pouted.
And then it was Mommy who cried, “WAHHH!”
It had been a day.
“MAMA!” Baby called.
“Yes, Baby?” Mommy sniffed.
Baby smiled and ran out onto the sand, jumping and jiggling.
Baby squealed, “OOH! OOH! AH! AH!”
Baby crashed into Mommy’s arms and they both laughed together.
In spite of a little hot sand, salt water in the eye, and a forgotten lunch, it sounds like Mommy, Daddy and Baby had a pretty nice day at the beach! Thanks for joining the fun, Jamie!
Love the ooh, ooh, ah, ah! Sounds like a fun day of misadventures at the beach!
Week 1 Entry 85 words (Knight, School and Cranky
Night Knight School
The sign read “Knight School: All Are Welcome” and I thought it was a great opportunity to do something adventurous! I could be a brave knight and save damsels in distress, defend the kingdom from dragons and monsters, and have people cheer me on.
But my father said I had to work at the family candle shop and had no time for such silliness!
So now I am going to Night Knight School which is very hard when your teacher is a cranky Black Knight!
Love the idea of going to night school for Knight School Matthew 🙂 And although of course candles are important, I don’t think it was quite fair for father to call knight school silly! 🙂 Thanks for joining in the fun!
Cute! Are the candles knight lights? Lol!
Shhhh! *wink
How To Get a Pet Camel (100 words)
If your mom takes you to the pet shop, she probably wants you to pick a fish, or a dog, or maybe even a ferret.
She probably doesn’t mean you should ask for a camel.
But you really, need a camel, you tell her.
It could entertain your baby brother with rides while she’s cooking dinner.
It could take over the car pool so she could stay home and relax.
It could weed the garden and reach the high places in the garage.
But, maybe she’s right. Maybe a fish or dog would be better. Though wait! What about a…
Such fun to imagine different kinds of pets, and so hard for a kid to decide! Lots of fun, Jeanette! Thanks for joining in the challenge! 🙂
I enjoyed reading your story. Imaginative, like a child’s mind.
What a fun structure you used for your story. Great job!
Sweet! Reminds me of If You Give a Moose a Muffin!
POSTED FOR Carmen Castillo Gilbert, PhD
Eenie Meenie Miney Mini Writing Prompt #1 for week of May 11, 2020 – 95 words
Words selected: cranky, birthday party and beach
Mom, really?
I’m too cranky to plan my sister’s birthday party!
I’m really not that smarty!
WHAAAT? This needs to be a theme party you say?
You need great ideas right away?
What about a beach party with shovels and pails?
A Camelot one, knights and dragons with long tails?
Bottles of suntan lotion and mini-surfboards?
Or perhaps princess tiaras and magic swords?
Plastic seaweed and umbrellas red and green?
Wizards in tall hats making a scene?
No, no, no mom! Please Mom! Give me a break!
Don’t you see? This is all a mistake!
Nice job, Carmen! I think I’d feel cranky too if I was a kid and got handed the project of planning my sister’s party! Although it seems like your narrator has lots of good ideas 🙂
POSTED FOR Michelle
An Ode To Our Teachers WC 104
By Michelle S. Kennedy
At first, staying home was exciting…
The school shutting down was inviting.
But then days became weeks,
of kid’s shouting in shrieks,
as us parents teach reading and writing.
Doing math is now more than a chore.
There are tantrums, and meltdowns galore.
We can’t keep our youngsters engrossed.
Our teachers are missed more than most.
With our deficits hard to ignore, we just can’t take anymore!
So…
To the teachers we may have dismissed,
or unfairly treated or dissed:
We’re sorry. We just had no clue.
We appreciate ALL that you DO!
You’re dearly, and sadly so MISSED!
I love this, Michelle! You are SO right that our teachers deserve such huge thanks! Not just for all they do usually, but for stepping up and embracing a whole new method of teaching and doing their best to fill the gaps. They are truly amazing and deserve many ODES! 🙂
Thank you Susanna! I wish I had sent this to all of my son’s teachers before school ended this year. Am really hoping the kids WILL be going back in the fall!!!
What a wonderful tribute to teachers, Michelle! I love your word choices and the energy of your meter. Well done!
Thank you Jill! ❤
You captured all the recent emotions. This is a great poem to share.
Thank you Ashley!
You’ve have captured the mood of most parents in a fun, compelling way. A nice tribute to all the teachers struggling with this pandemic too. Good job!
Thank you Nancy!
Very cute, and so appropriate! Love the rhyming, end and internal, great job!
Thank Katie! 🙂
Aw, thank you! I have many teacher friends and during this crazy time, I just couldn’t not recognize them for all that they do. (PS- I realized I typo’d- “kid’s” should have been “kids”. LOL)
POSTED FOR JARMILA
The Uninvited Guest
“Did I send an invitation to Mars?” I ask the alien.
His eye blinks. “B…D…” he says and hands me a flower.
Since he’s giving me a gift, he might as well join the party, I decide.
The room goes silent.
What now? I turn on the music.
My friends stay still.
Not the alien.
First, he does the moonwalk dance. Then, he swings until his skin lights up.
“Wow!” I watch the cupcakes rise.
One by one, we follow. Weightless, we swim in the air.
“Cool!” everybody shouts.
The alien shines.
I hope this party never ends.
Perhaps an uninvited guest, but the life of the party it seem, Jarm! I love the cupcakes rising and the weightless swimming in the air! Thanks for joining the fun!
I enjoyed your story. My favorite part:
“Wow!” I watch the cupcakes rise.
One by one, we follow. Weightless, we swim in the air.
My apologies, I posted this in the wrong place yesterday 🙃
What a great party! We could all use one like this now. HOw fun!
Knight Light:
I’m a princess that’s what Papa tells me.
He tucks me in and Mama sings.
After a story about the glory
Of kingdoms and princes who turn Kings.
Each night with kisses and cuddles
Page by page they tell the tale
Always stopping for the pictures
every one with out fail
I wonder if there’s a magic dragon
In my closet hiding wishes
My blue rug now a moat
With swimming schools of fishes
Mama plugs in my night light.
A knight who’s jousting stick glows blue
He keeps me safe within the darkness
And helps me sleep the whole night through
Can I sleep with all this wonder
In my room and in my mind
As Papa pulls my door shut tight
my eyes are not too far behind
I guess princesses do need protection
From dragons and the dark of night
Though I am always safe til morning
I have my very own Knight Light.
Nice, Margo! I love the idea of a knight light – so clever! And I can imagine your little narrator with her head full of dreams and wonder! Thanks for joining the fun!
Thank you Susanna! This was a fun prompt! Really worked my imagination, 😉
I can totally see this as a nighttime picture book. Nice job!
Thanks Michelle!! It certainly has my brain a buzzing!! Hmmm
Great story, Margo. Love the glowing blue jousting stick. I can picture this knight light coming alive as she sleeps.
I enjoyed your story. My favorite part:
“Wow!” I watch the cupcakes rise.
One by one, we follow. Weightless, we swim in the air.
POSTED FOR DOT
Sir Grumpsalot’s lesson. by Dot Anson. (cranky, knight, beach)
“Merlin, NO,” screamed Sir Grumpsalot.
“You did this to yourself. You’ve been way too cranky.” The knight was waist deep in sand at the beach, with the hot sun beating down on his thick, shinny armour.
“When you’ve learnt not to be so cranky, I’ll take you back to the castle! Enjoy!”said Merlin as he walked away.
Sir Grumpsalot squirmed as the sweat ran down the inside of his suit. Each movement caused the sand to seep through the gaps. Now he was hot and itchy.
“Why didn’t I just stand at the gates as I was told?” After an hour or so, he suddenly thought, “Oh I see!” And he stood perfectly still. Merlin returned after another hour sure that the knight had learned his lesson…. at least for today!
Hahaha Dot! Merlin will teach him! 🙂 What a punishment for a knight to be stuck in sand and sun in his armor! Love your creative twist on a knight at the beach 🙂
Sir Grumpsalot is such a fabulous name! What a fun story to go with this character.
The Knight’s Princess
by Linda Schueler
“Look, my princess.” The knight pulled out his sword. “I have defeated the evil dragon.”
The princess smiled.
“Would the princess like a piece?”
“Yes, Daddy, yes I would,” said the princess.
“Then I will cut you one,” said the knight. “How big?”
“A really big one, Daddy Knight.”
“With lots of frosting?”
“Yes, Daddy Knight. Lots.”
Daddy Knight stabbed the sword into the dragon cake. He bowed and handed her the biggest piece.
The princess licked the frosting from her fingers. “This is the best birthday party ever.”
Love this Linda! So cute! And you had me going at the beginning… I thought he was actually carving up dragon from the BBQ or something! 🙂
Thanks, Susanna, I love twists! And thanks for a very much needed contest like this!!
So cute Linda! I had the same thoughts as Susanna! Great ending
Such a sweet daddy daughter story.
Thank you!
Very cute! Love it!
Thanks.
So Cute! 🙂
Thank you.
Thanks Susanna for providing a “fun” activity while “quarantining”!
Here is my Week 1 tale! Words selected are: Camel, Beach, Jubilant !!
Camel’s Surprise
Caramel Camel decided it was time for her daily walk. It was a very warm, sunny day. Camel liked trekking through the desert sand. CC, as her friends called her, was very adventuress! She tried to walk in a different direction each day. Today was no different, CC sauntered about as the sun became stronger and brighter! CC trudged along, this was not fun! It was too hot. Suddenly, CC heard an unusual sound. It was the sound of waves crashing on a beach! CC was jubilant! Her adventure took her away from the desert to a sandy beach, just in time for a swim!
Susan Schipper 🙂
A perfect ending for a hot walk, Susan! It must have been a long one if CC started in the desert and ended up by the ocean 🙂 Love that you used Caramel for her name – what a lovely description for a camel!
Love that Caramel found fun st the beach.
Can’t resist a challenge, Susanna! Thanks for all you do to encourage writers.
The Birthday Party: A Circular Story (camel, birthday party)
by Rose Cappelli
Because the pony got sick, Clarence offered to give rides at Mikey’s birthday party.
Because Clarence is a camel, Mikey’s mom ordered a truckload of sand.
When the sand was dumped, hundreds of ghost crabs scurried out, scaring the kids.
Because the kids were scared, they hid next door.
Because the kids weren’t at the party, Mikey cried buckets of tears.
Because the tears were salty, the crabs gathered for a swim.
Because the crabs were contained, the kids returned.
Because the kids returned, Clarence gave them rides…
because the pony got sick.
Wow! Well done, Rose! Perfectly circular, and great job with the cause and effect! And I love the idea of a camel substituting for a pony at a kids birthday party! I have to admit, I thought he was going to misbehave and there was going to be a grumpiness or spitting incident, so I love that you went in a totally different direction!
I really enjoyed your story and its structure. Thanks for sharing!
This is very fun and well done!
I love your story Susanna. This exercise helped give my son a topic for his writing as well.
alien, beach
ALIEN BEACH ADVENTURE
WC:121
It’s my first trip to the beach on Earth!
The brochure shows soft sand, cool waters, and best of all, FREE spaceship parking!
Oh no! I forgot the sunscreen. Argh . . . I’ll have to turn around.
Alright, let’s try this again. Go past Mars . . . turn left after the Moon . . . . Uh, why so much traffic?
Finally! I’m here. Umph, of course. Free parking means no parking. I’ll just keep jetting around until . . . ah ha, there’s one.
Soft sandy beach here I come!
It’s soft, slightly rocky, and . . .
HOT! HOT! HOT!
Where’s the cool water? Where’s the cool water? There!
Ahh . . . cool water . . . . Wow, it’s a dolphin like from the brochure. Hmm . . . I don’t remember it having such a large jaw and . . . sharp teeth.
Love that twist ending, Ashley!
Thanks Sarah!
You are entirely too kind about my story, Ashley, but I’m glad if you liked it. And I’m especially glad if the prompt was helpful to your son – I love when kids get inspired to write! You did a great job with your story! I love the idea of a brochure advertising an Earth beach to aliens, the difficulties in getting there – with sunscreen! – and the parking issues… and then the misconception about the shark 🙂 Nice job!
Thanks Susanna for reading and everything you do for kidlit.
So fun. Gotta watch out for those dolphins with the sharp teeth!
Thanks for reading Nancy.
Oh no, poor alien!
Thanks for reading. Not the trip he planned.
Oh oh! The alien seems to be in a wee bit of trouble. Great twist!
Thanks for reading Linda! Watch out for those other dolphins.
Thanks for this fun challenge!
Prehistoric Hairdo (cranky) Word Count: 100
by Kristy Roser Nuttall
One morning, everything made Tabitha cranky.
Breakfast.
Toothbrushes.
Even Cats.
Tabitha grumped.
And slumped.
And dumped all her toys out onto the ground.
But her favorite doll’s hair got stuck in Mr. Dinosaur’s scales.
Tabitha howled.
She pulled on the doll, and stretched out Mr.Dinosaur until. . .snap!
Mr. Dinosaur broke, but his tail was still stuck in doll hair.
Her doll now had a prehistoric hair do.
Tabitha gasped.
But then her mouth twitched.
She felt the crankiness start to crumble and bubble up into
GIGGLES!
And laughs.
And then she promptly stuck another dinosaur
in her own hair.
This is supercute! I love how her crankiness bubbled up into giggles. That ending image is hilarious, too!
Thanks Sarah! I just realized I have a few typos in there, but at least I thought of a story today!
Thank YOU for kindly offering a lovely prize, Kristy! I’m glad you’re joining in the writing fun! As for your story, anything that ends with a giggling child sticking a dinosaur in her hair has my vote for believable and entertaining! 🙂
Love thing! You captured the grumpy girl exactly! And then, the giggles! Love it!
What a wonderful way to change a cranky day to a giggle-filled day! I may just have to try this (especially if the hair salons remain closed much longer).
Excited to participate. Thanks, Susanna! My word was beach.
BEACH BUMMED
By Sarah Meade
“We’re here!” Mom says.
“Woohoo!” Brewer cheers. “Let’s swim!”
“Yes!” Elena says. “But first: sandcastles!”
“Done,” says Brewer.
“No, a whole kingdom.”
Brewer sighs.
“Ready to swim?”
“Almost! But first: sand names!”
“Done,” says Brewer.
“No, our whole names.”
Brewer scowls.
“I want to swim!”
“Me too,” says Elena, “but first: a snack.”
“Done,” says Brewer.
“Now I’m thirsty.”
Brewer groans.
“Are you ready NOW?”
“Yes!”
They race toward the waves.
Plop.
Plip-plop-plip-plop.
“Rain!”
Elena runs back under the umbrella.
Brewer trudges back.
Plip-plip-plip-plop.
Rain pelts their kingdom and erases their names.
“I really wanted to swim,” Brewer mutters.
“You know what?” says Elena. “Let’s go!”
Brewer blinks.
He looks at Mom. She nods.
“WOOHOO!”
Splash!
Love the play on beach bum, Sarah, and poor Brewer! Putting up with all of Elena’s wishes pretty patiently for a brother… only to have his own wish rained on. I’m glad they were still able to swim! 🙂 Nice job!
Thanks so much, Susanna! I seem to have beach on the brain since my story for this week has the same setting. 🙂
Great job Sarah! I like the line, “No, our whole names.” Seems very torturous lol.
Thanks so much, Ashley!
Such a fun choice & great imagery. I felt Brewer’s growing frustration, but glad he was able to swim in the rain.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
Totally feel for Brewer…great verbs to get that frustration across. (And glad that cool Mom gives swimming in the rain a go!)
Thanks so much, Deborah!
Sarah I love how you capture the excitement of beach day and how you build up the tension of him wanting to swim NOW! And your onomatopoeia is delightful! Thanks so much for sharing your story. Now I just wish I could go to the beach.
Thanks, Kristy! I appreciate your kind words and encouragement! I love writing about the beach (and going there, too!)
The Cranky Alien on the Beach 100 words
It was a mistake, Zeph thought. One sneeze, all ten of his eyes shut, and Zeph was stranded.
“This stuff clogs my rotaries so I can’t move! How I miss my sweet home Patootles, where it’s always green!”
Zeph gnashed his silver teeth and raised all twelve arms when a voice said, “Dude? Need help?”
Zeph had heard tales of such aliens, with only two eyes, arms, rotaries, and who stretched to the clouds.
Soon, alien hands lifted Zeph up and carried him to safety. “May the force be with you, little dude.”
Very cute, Linda! Poor little Zeph – out of his element to be sure! Love how he sees the humans as aliens 🙂
For all those tired of hand washing, it could be worse…
A Good Knight (Knight, School, 100 words)
Terry was champion dueler, top dragon-fire extinguisher, and premier prince-in-distress rescuer at Sunnybrook School for Medieval Wannabes.
But when Sir Shadylake commanded thirteen daily hand washings, Terry was dumbstruck!
Befuddled! Distressed!
Pulling each chain-linked glove off, washing, and then refastening link by link left no time for tournaments. How could she become a good knight?
Terry pleaded, but Sir Shadylake stood firm as an oaken door. She reasoned, but that sparked fiery replies. She fled to the tower, but quavering princes filled it.
Finally, Terry speared soap. She sniffed. “Snapdragon-scented! My favorite!”
She lathered up and earned the knight-with-shining-fingers award.
Love this, Patricia! Ver well written! Love “top dragon fire-extinguisher” and “premier prince-in-distress rescuer” (so nice to have a girl be doing the rescuing for once and the princes in distress!) and it never even occurred to me how much more trouble it would be to wash your hands a million times a day if you had to take your chain-linked gloves off every time! Tons of fun – thanks for joining in!
Thanks, Susanna! I hadn’t planned to participate, I didn’t think I had the extra time. But I so enjoyed the exercise, and I ended up being more productive last week as a result!
I’m so glad! 😊
This is fantastic! I especially love the name of the school.
Thank you! I had fun thinking about the setting & this name seemed to fit.
I love the timeliness of your story and your thoughtful word choices. Well done!
Thanks, Jill. Handwashing doesn’t seem so bad now after I thought about how much more difficult it could be for others, like my knight.
Hi Susanna,
Thank you for this contest!
I posted a story, but do not see it listed with the others. I’m wondering if I didn’t post it correctly.
I’ve copied and pasted it below.
Thanks so much, Mary van Beuren
Untitled:
Charlie was stuck inside of his pop-up beach tent. A figure in a metal suit rolled up to the tent.
“What doing?” Charlie asked.
“Shining my armor, laddie,” said the knight.
The knight tried to stand, but couldn’t. He plopped down with a cranky, “Hmph.”
Charlie dug into his mommy’s beach bag. A hair brush!
He brushed and brushed the sand away.
The knight stood, took out his sword, laid it upon Charlie’s right shoulder, then his left. “I deem you Sir Charlie,” then, squeakily walked away.
Charlie’s mom turned around and said, “Ah, Charlie, I love lazy, summer days.”
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Marcel Proust
________________________________
Love this. Current at the same time imaginative and funny. “She fled to the tower, but quavering princes filled it.” 😆👌
It’s Not My Party
Sarah Hoppe
WC 115
Words: birthday party, shows the emotion of cranky (but not the word)
Today is Tony’s birthday party.
Not mine.
Tony’s backyard has race cars and streamers everywhere.
Not a dinosaur in sight. Growl!
Race car games…
With race car prizes. Argg!
Cake time! Dinos love cake!
Tromp, tromp, tromp – wait, what?
Red velvet with black frosting – howl!
Stomp! Bellow! Sigh, sniffle.
Then everyone speeds over to…
The race car piñata. Grrr!
But dinos are good at smashing stuff.
Crash – off pop the tires! Bash – out go the doors!
Down come the…
Race car treats? ROAR!
“Look,” says Tony, “a dino car!”
I guess a dino could drive a race car,
Just for today.
Woop! Zoom! SCREECH! Yipee!
It’s not my party, but race cars are definitely dino-mite!
Cute story and clever ending, Sarah! It’s hard when the birthday boy has the wrong idea about what kind of party to have (and it’s not your birthday!) but I’m glad it worked out at least a little in the end 🙂
Week #1: School, Alien, Cranky (96 words) by Deb Sullivan
Back to School
Desk looked out the window.
Again.
“School is too quiet,” he said. “Where are the kids?”
“Maybe they moved out of town,” replied chair.
“ALL of them?” asked desk.
“I bet they blasted off to space!” said chair.
“We would have heard that,” said desk, growing cranky.
“I think aliens took them!” said chair.
“They’d never take Bronson,” desk replied, rubbing his dented leg.
Then, Mr. Whipple came in. He wore a mask.
Desk slid back, chair got sprayed and rug moved out.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE!
Bus turned the corner.
Desk looked out the window.
And smiled.
Love this, Deb! So clever to write about our empty schools from the POV of the lonely classroom furniture! I’m glad it ended with Bus coming around the corner – so hopeful! 🙂 Thanks for joining in the fun!
Thank YOU Susanna for once again providing a productive and fun exercise for all to enjoy!
It is truly my pleasure, Deb – I’m so glad if people are having fun! 😊
What a fun perspective! Great job.
Thanks so much Ashley!
What a timely story! I know my dogs are confused by everyone staying home & wearing masks when we walk, but I hadn’t thought about the poor empty schools. Great job!
Ulric, The Tap Dancing Knight (98 words)
Ulric was a KNIGHT with clunky armor.
Perfect for fighting but too heavy for…dancing.
A knight without grace, he could not waltz or ballet
So instead he rode and raced to the caves.
Where a dastardly dragon was rumored to live.
Ulric drew his sword and tip-tapped inside.
Dragon sidestepped. TIP TAP went his talons.
The tip-taps continued from both knight and dragon
and soon the fight turned into tap dancing!
Their tip-tapping echoed out through the woods.
Knights rushed in at the sound of the noise.
And the dancing duo bowed to a clank of applause.
This story would have great illustrations. A dancing dragon and knight. What a fresh idea.
Thanks, Ashley!
Such fun, Brittany! I would never have thought of a tap dancing knight…partnered with a dragon! Very imaginative! It makes a good story 🙂
Thanks, Susanna. They make a romp of a sight!
What a fun take on the concept of knights & dragons. I love that they dance at the end – much better for everyone involved!
POSTED FOR SARA ACKERMAN
If You Invite a Camel to Your Birthday (100 words)
If you invite a camel to your birthday, make sure he doesn’t knock over the decorations with his hump.
And if the decorations tumble down, the cake will still be delicious.
If you invite a camel to your birthday, make sure he doesn’t spit on the cake.
And if the cake gets drenched, then you can open presents sooner.
If you invite a camel to your birthday, make sure he doesn’t trample the gifts.
OOPSIE.
If your guest destroys the decorations, the cake, and the presents, he will want to make it up to you.
Let him.
[sign: Camel Rides!]
I’m thinking I’m not entirely sure I want to invite a camel to my birthday after this, Sara! 🙂 I mean, camel rides would be fun… but after the cake got camel spit on it? I’m not sure it’s a worthwhile trade off! 🙂 Thanks for joining in the challenge fun!
Every cloud has a silver lining 😊
POSTED FOR LESLIE DENKERS
Grandpa’s Style (110 words) jubilant
My Grandpa is my favorite playmate and not because he plays Find the Quarter with me. My Grandpa has style. He calls me ‘mi amor’. That means ‘my love’ in French.
When asked ‘how are you?” my grandpa says ‘Marvelous’, or ‘Just Marvy’ for short.
When we eat Grandpa says ‘Delicious’.
On my birthday Grandpa said, “I am jubilant to see you!” Then he winked and whispered, “that means ‘overjoyed’.”
“I am jubilant to see you too, Grandpa.”
Last week our cat had kittens and I gave them names.
Marvelous, Delicious, Jubilant, Mi Amor, and Goliath, (‘cuz he’s the runt). Grandpa now has style and kittens . . . .
Such a cute story, Leslie! I love how Grandpa’s personality comes through! My grandpa used to say, after dinner, “I’ve had an ample sufficiency” (which was his much more polite way of saying “I’m full!”) and the grandpa in your story makes me think of that 🙂 And I totally love the kittens 🙂
What a sweet story and I love those BIG words.
POSTED FOR DAWN
Week #1 CAMEL ON VACATION (88 words, camel, beach, jubilant)
Dawn Young
Jubilant Caramel prances along the beach swaying her hips from left to right. The waves roll in and out as Caramel thinks
about her previous life back in the hot dessert sun. I love the feel of the soft white sand between my toes.
I am so happy the Zoo Keeper stopped to ask for directions. The trailer door popped right open with one kick, BAMM!
All I need now is an umbrella, a blanket, some sun glasses, and a sign that says: CAMEL on VACATION!
Such a clever camel, taking advantage of a moment of zoo keeper disorientation to escape to the beach 🙂 Thanks for joining in the fun, Dawn!
What a cute idea, Dawn! I love the flashback describing the camel’s escape. Great job!
POSTED FOR DI
Week #1: Aliens, Beach (105 words)
by D. Litwer
Whooooosh!
Shuuuuush!
Ploink!
Zuuuuurrrr…
Four aliens peeked out.
“Oooooo!” “Awwww!”
Luminescent waves ebbed and flowed along the edge of the beach.
“I will collect more fuel for our spaceship,” said Papa Alien. “I will help you,” said Mama Alien.
“Can we explore?” asked the alien children.
“Yes, but don’t go far,” said Mama Alien. “Watch out for strange creatures,” warned Papa Alien.
The alien children gathered souvenirs to show their friends back home.
A huge creature emerged from the ocean.
“Aaaaaah!” screamed Brother Alien. “Run!” screamed Sister Alien.
“Time to go,” called Papa Alien.
Zuuuuurrrrr.
Shuuuuush!
Whooooosh!”
“That was fun! Can we come back again?”
Love the alien’s beach adventure, Di, and all the wonderful sound effects! I’m assuming the huge creature that emerged was a human? 🙂 We often imagine visiting other planets. It’s fun to imagine what it would be like for an alien visiting ours!
Thank you so much for the feedback! The huge creature is actually a sea turtle, which of course, the aliens don’t have on their planet.
Oh wow! Nice! I like that! 🙂
Such fun use of language!!
Thank you. 🙂
Susanna, thanks so much for spreading some sunshine on these dreary days!
Linda Staszak. 98 words, Alien
ALIEN ANNIE
Annie tightened the final bolt on her spaceship, fastened the seatbelt, and blasted off with a deafening roar.
Mom dashed outside, yelling and waving.
Annie watched the earth grow smaller and smaller. She smiled at the man in the moon, steered around him and went on her way.
She hoped Mom wasn’t too worried.
Finally, she spotted the new planet. She landed and climbed down the ladder.
A small creature pointed at her. “Look Daddy, it’s an alien.”
Annie giggled. “I’m not an alien. You’re an alien.”
Then she blasted off once again—it was almost dinner time.
It’s all in how you look at things, isn’t it, Linda? Who is really to say who is the alien? 🙂 Thanks for helping spread the sunshine! 🙂
I like how independent the little girl is.
Is it too late to enter this? How and where do I start? This sounds like so much fun!
Elizabeth Westra
No, Elizabeth! It’s not too late to enter! All the instructions are in the blog post. Write your week #1 story and add it to the comment section here. Week #2 will be up on Monday 😊
Week #1, Beach, Knight, Cranky: 100 words. (Newbie to all of this…)
Charlie was stuck inside of his pop-up beach tent. A figure in a metal suit rolled up to the tent.
“What doing?” Charlie asked.
“Shining my armor, laddie,” said the knight.
The knight tried to stand but couldn’t. He plopped down with a cranky, “Hmph.”
Charlie dug into his mommy’s beach bag. A hair brush!
He brushed and brushed the sand away.
The knight stood, took out his sword, laid it upon Charlie’s right shoulder, then his left. “I deem you Sir Charlie,” then squeakily walked away.
Charlie’s mom turned around and said, “Ah, Charlie, I love lazy summer days.”
Very fun, Mary! Leave it to a little boy to realize that a hairbrush would work just fine to get sand off armor! I bet mom is in for a sandy surprise the next time she brushes her hair 🙂
Thank you, Susanna! Very funny about the mom brushing her hair – I hadn’t thought it through to that point! This is such fun – thank you for the challenge and prompts!
Such a fun challenge – such great stories. Here’s my entry:
(K)Night School (100 words – Knight and school)
Benny couldn’t believe his luck. “Is this Knight School?”, he asked when his call was answered..
“Yes it is. We’ve lots of classes available.”
“Can I ride a horse?”
“No.”
“Practice with a sword?”
“No.You’d best check online for classes. We start next week.Most run from 7 to 9 P.M.”
“At night?”
“Yes. It is night school after all.”
“But I go to bed at 8!”
“But you wanted night school.”
“No, I wanted to learn how to be a knight.”
“Best bet – call Medieval Times,” The man hung up.
Benny smiled. Medieval Times would be perfect.
I can see how Benny could get mixed up. Great play on words!
Cute story, Bev! Totally understandable that Benny got confused! I hope Medieval Times is held before bedtime! 🙂
Really like the play on words.
A very fun read!