I know. It’s Monday. When the last thing we need is confusion!
Here’s the situation:
It was brought to my attention that “Eenie Meenie Miney Mini” was a poor choice of name for my writing challenge.
I chose it innocently, thinking of the rhyme as a childhood game of random choice that was fun to say. Nothing more. I thought it a good representation for the challenge because it’s something kids (and kid lit writers) are familiar with and it represents making random choices, as we do with the prompt selection.
But someone more educated than I pointed out that it was based on a rhyme that was racist and potentially terribly offensive to anyone who knew its origin.
Now that I know, I cannot in good conscience keep the original name in such a public way. I would never want to offend anyone. So I have changed the name to the less-fun-to-say-but-more-appropriate Mix ‘n’ Match Mini Writing Challenge. I changed the graphic and tried to go back and correct all the places I used the original term. If I missed any I apologize and hope no one will be offended.
But it is still the same writing game and you are still in the right place!
Onward then, to the newly named but still the same
Mix ‘n’ Match Mini is a 7 week writing challenge for anyone who needs a little boost or a little encouragement to get writing. . . or maybe just a little fun during this bizarre stay-at-home spring!
You get to write your own story, enjoy and be entertained by everyone else’s stories, and get yourself in the running for some awesome prizes (please see the end of the blog post for a list of all the prize goodies!)
To be eligible for the prize drawing you must enter all 7 weeks.
For a full description of the challenge or to add your Week #1 entry, please go HERE (Week #1)
To add your Week #2 entry, please go HERE (Week #2)
Mix ‘n’ Match Mini Writing Prompt #3 for Week of May 25:
So far we’ve played with characters, setting, and emotion (or a combination, depending on where your random choosing landed you), and with nursery rhymes and point of view. 😊 This week we’re going to play with a picture prompt, fun names, and a plot point!
Here’s the picture, drawn by the incredibly talented Julie Rowan-Zoch (illustrator of LOUIS by Tom Lichtenheld forthcoming from HMH October 6, 2020!) and used with her permission for your writing fun 😊 (Thank you, Julie!!! 💕)

illustration copyright Julie Rowan-Zoch 2020 used by permission
These will be the characters in your story!
Now, choose character names from the following list and one of the plot points!
Character Name | Plot Point |
Mugsy | Make a friend |
Tick Tock | Share a secret |
Delphine | Get in an argument |
Henry | Cook up a plan |
Marigold | Get in trouble |
Pip | |
Zico |
Write a 100 word story for kids about the pictured characters, using two of the name choices and one of the plot scenarios and post it in the comment section below!
- Stories can rhyme or not – totally up to you!
- You can go under or over 100 words if you want to – also totally up to you! – 100 is a guideline
- If you’re deeply inspired by character names that are not on the list you can use them instead – the purpose here is inspiration and to get you writing, not specific names!
- For simplicity’s sake (and to aid skimming readers who might be interested in a particular thing) please say which plot point you’re using at the top of your entry along with your name, word count, and title if you have one.
I’m going to have to skip my sample today – I have a deadline this week and I used up my blog post writing time on tasks I hadn’t planned for – but if I have time and can add a sample later in the week I will! 😊 Meanwhile, I am SO looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with! There have been so many amazingly creative, clever, fun, and entertaining stories written so far!!!
Now 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! 😊
(And remember, for full details on the 7 week challenge you can check HERE)
Check out the Week #3 stories!
Mugsy Shares A Secret – Elizabeth Meyer Zu Heringdorf (share a secret)
Time For A New Bird Feeder – Jess Murray (cook up a plan)
Who’s The Favorite – Sue Lancaster (get in an argument)
Ball Trouble – Genevieve Petrillo (cook up a plan)
Henry And The Wind-Up Chick – Rose Cappelli (share a secret)
Name Game – Brenda Whitehead (share a secret/make a friend)
Tick Tock Pip – Leslie Denkers (get in trouble/cook up a plan)
Pip’s Plan – Barbara Renner (cook up a plan)
Henry And Marigold – Linda Staszak (make a friend)
Marigold And Mugsy’s Dance Battle – Jamie Bechtelheimer (get in an argument, make a friend)
Henry And Marigold Get In An Argument – Sara Ackerman (get in an argument)
Hank, Pip And The Garden – Susan Schipper (get in trouble)
Mugsy And Marigold’s Morning – Deb Sullivan (cook up a plan)
Delphine’s Secret – Linda Schueler (share a secret)
Pip’s Perfect Partner – Jill Lambert (cook up a plan)
Miss Marigold Fluffington – Susan Inez (hatches a plan)
A Day At The Dog Park – Matthew Lasley
Pip And Dip – Sarah Meade (get in trouble)
Tik Tok Of Zico – Candice Marley Conner (get in trouble)
Henry And Pip Make Friends – Marley Conner age 9! (make a friend)
Tick Tock Makes A Friend – Mary Van Beuren (make a friend)
Mugsy And Marigold – Cindy. S. Boyll (share a secret)
A Pal To Play With – Ashley Congdon (make a friend)
Dot And Edna: Chick Trouble – Deb Buschman (get in trouble)
Storm Secrets (Zack & Pip Share A Secret) – Di Litwer (share a secret)
Tick Tock’s Luck – Michelle S. Kennedy (get in trouble)
Different And Yet Alike – Eleanor Ann Peterson (get in an argument)
Marigold And Mugsy Hatch A Plan – Patricia Nozell (make a plan)
Henry And Marigold – Beverly Baird (make a friend)
Pip And Zico Share A Secret – Corine Timmer (share a secret)
Henry And Marigold Cook Up A Plan – Susan Krevat (cook up a plan)
Mugsy The Chick’s Tricky Trick – Rebecca Gardyn Levington (cook up a plan)
Pip And Zico Cook A Plan – Ketan, Aiyka & Ravi Ram (cook up a plan)
Pip And Henry – Mia Geiger (plot a secret)
Pip And Zico Share A Secret – Kristy Nuttall (share a secret)
Big News – Dawn Young (share a secret)
Untitled – Kay DiVerde (share a secret)
Butch And Kip Cook Up A Plan – Liz Kehrli (cook up a plan)
Limerick – Marty (make a friend, Delphine)
Untitled – Dot Anson (cook up a plan)
Pip And Delphine Cook Up A Plan – Tracy (cook up a plan)
Tick Tock (and GusGus) Come Up With A Plan – Penny Adler (cook up a plan)
Bing And ShickShick – Amy Flynn
Mugsy And Marigold Share A Secret – Alicia Meyers Kelly
A Chick For My Hat – Lily Erlic (cook up a plan)
Zico And The Fiesta – Katie Schwartz (cook up a plan)
Pip And Tick Tock Cook Up A Plan – Ugo Anidi
PRIZES & PRIZES OF ALL SHAPES AND SIZES!
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! 😊
Please join me in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazone, B&N, or anywhere else if you like them, suggesting them for school visits, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊
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!
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)
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
Writing Challenge: Week 3
Elizabeth Meyer zu Heringdorf
115 words
Mugsy, Pip, Share a Secret
Mugsy Shares a Secret
“I have a secret!” said Mugsy.
“What is it?” asked Pip.
Mugsy looked into the distance and scratched himself.
Pip hopped around. “Tell me, tell me!”
“Are you sure you want to know?”
“Yes!”
“Promise you won’t tell?”
“Yes, yes!” said Pip and hopped up into and around the nearest tree. Then he flew back down to Mugsy.
“OK,” said Mugsy and looked Pip straight in his tiny black eyes. “I like eating Alpo with fruit juice.”
“That’s your secret?”
“Well, nobody knew about it. So it was a secret.”
“That’s not much of a secret,” said Pip contemptuously and preened his feathers.
“Well, now you know,” said Mugsy, “so it’s not a secret anymore.”
This is so fun, Elizabeth! I love the ending – you made me laugh 🙂 Great job with the prompts (and so fast! you must have sat down and whipped that off in no time flat!)
Thank you 🙂 ! Yeah, I was inspired for a change!
Alpo with fruit juice – disgustingly, but doggily, good! Great dynamic btw Pip and Mugsy, too.
LOL. Mugsy knows the meaning of a secret. That’s more than I can say about some humans!!
Love and licks,
Cupcake
What a delicious secret (at least for Mugsy!). Fun!
That definitely sounds like a kid-type secret! Very cute.
Cute story ! 🙂
The kids will love the Alpo with fruit juice!
That made me laugh!
Fun story! I like when Pip preened his feathers at the end.
You made me laugh. Fun!
Time for a New Bird Feeder (cook up a plan, 100 words)
Pip fumed as the squirrel stuffed her cheeks, paw over paw, clinging to the feeder. (Design, humans!)
Tick-Tock had one job: get the squirrel.
Tick-Tock sprinted. He bared his teeth…and began eating all the dropped birdseed.
“Focus!” Pip tweeted, but Tick-Tock was focused. On eating!
After a Pip-talk, Tick-Tock was RrrRrrrRrrrready! He charged…rolled on a peanut, lost his balance, and crashed into the fence!
Pip squeaked. “How???”
“Rrrouch,” said Tick-Tock.
Pip had one last idea. She picked a switchgrass stem and made a bridle.
“Ready?”
“Ready!”
Pip spurred her steed. The squirrel scrambled. The dog/bird leaped. Smash! Seeds for everyone!
(Thanks, Susanna! I look forward to your sample later in the week, if you have time:) And I appreciate that you changed the name of the challenge and shared with us why.)
Eating should ALWAYS be the main focus. Way to go, TickTock.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Excellent point!
Loved “pip squeaked.” Cute story!
My favorite part was “pip squeaked” too!
Thank you!
I love your word play!
Thanks!
Cute! I like Pip spurring her stead to fight off the squirrel.
🙂
So many great illustration opportunities here! Love it.
Fun story! I like your wordplay with Pip, especially Pip-talk and “Pip squeaked.”
Love the play on words with ‘pip-talk’ and the details of a switchgrass stem bridle. As usual, FABULOUS job in so few words, Jess!
Who’s the Favorite?
(Get in an argument, 102 words)
“I’m definitely their favorite,” yapped Pip.
“Er, I think you’ll find I am,” chirped Delphine.
“What?! I get taken out for walkies. You don’t even leave this room.”
“I sit on their shoulders while you’re shut outside.”
“So! I’m still their favorite,” repeated Pip.
“No, I’m their favorite,” retweeted Delphine.
The bickering continued. Until…
“What’s that awful noise?” barked Pip.
“It sounds like a smoke alarm. Or a shrieking siren.”
“But it’s so loud and it’s getting… louder.”
The door flew open. The pets recoiled.
“WA-WAH, WA-WAH, WA-WAH.”
“Pip, Delphine… We’d like you to meet the most precious thing in the world.”
HA! Baby for the win! I did not see that coming!
Great twist on a new baby story. Loved the surprise ending.
Ha ha! Argument settled.
Loved the ending!!!
Great ending!
I also loved “retweeted” for repeated – haha, nice!
Ah, the plight of pets upon arrival of a new baby. A theme universal! So cute.
Retweeted! Funny! And yes, who is the favourite now/
Great twist ending! I laughed at “retweeted Delphine.”
TickTock/the dog and Pip/the wind-up chicken – Cook Up a Plan – 100 words
BALL TROUBLE
My ball rolled under the sofa. “UGH! Why?”
I stuck in my snout. Too short. I bit the pillows. Delicious, but no help.
“Hey, TickTock!”
“PIP! Just the guy I need.”
“Your ball? Again?”
Pip twisted his wind-up key and headed into the abyss. He pushed out a sock, an army guy, and a dust bunny.
“Hang on,” he chirped returning to the shadows.
Finally, out popped my ball!
“Thanks!”
He gave a webbed thumbs up and ambled off.
I tossed the ball, bounced it, bit it, licked it, and kicked it, until….
It rolled under the sofa. “UGH!” Why?”
Fun! Some dogs just never learn.
Playful little puppy. I love it when Pip heads into the abyss. I find dog biscuits and legos under my sofa. Fun story.
I enjoyed this. So true.
Ha ha. That is clearly how it works.
🙂
Love it!
I love that there’s an abyss in this story. And that it’s a wind-up chicken that faces it…haha!
i wish we had had Pip to help my cat who used to roll balls under the fridge again and again…Cute story. I like how Pip can wind himself up.
Fun story! I read it aloud to my two little ones (2 and 4), and they both giggled at the end. That’s a win, in my book!
What fun to think of the chicken as a wind-up toy! And I could feel the frustration in TickTock’s voice. Great story!
Henry and the Wind-Up Chick (share a secret – 106 words)
Boing-boing-boing!
Pip the Chick hopped around the room.
Henry yipped and yapped. He jumped and pawed.
“This is fun! Let’s race!”
Pip boing- boing-boinged under the table, around the chair, and through the door. Henry was hot on her heels, until…
Boing…boinnnng…boinnnnnnnng. Pip’s hops stopped.
“What’s wrong?” yapped Henry.
Pip stared.
Henry nudged Squeaky Squirrel in her direction.
Pip ticka –ticked once, but didn’t move.
Henry tried to share his best bone.
Pip wasn’t interested.
Henry rolled his favorite ball. Bump!
Pip toppled.
That’s when Henry noticed Pip’s key.
Before long Pip was boing-boing-boinging again.
“No worries, Pip! Your secret is safe with me!” yip-yapped Henry.
So cute! A wind-up toy.
Great ideas!
Great story!
My favorite part, “Pip’s hops stopped,” so fun to say!
Haha, so clever! Well done!
I LOVE this story. So cute! Such a fun back-and-forth with Henry and Pip, and a satisfyingly sweet ending.
Too cute! Glad Pip got wound up again to play with Henry!
This was written as an untagged dialog exchange, where the speakers were differentiated via italics/non-italics. This isn’t alowed in the blog comments, so I’m using quotes for speaker 1 (chick) and no quotes for speaker 2 (dog). 🙂
NAME GAME (share a secret/make a friend, 121 words)
“I am Tick-Tock, you are Pip!”
Um, excuse me, Pointy-Lip,
I think I know my name is Rex,
But I will call YOU Little Pecks!
“Little Pecks is not my name!
I tick-tock-cheep, it’s brought me fame!
So you can call me Tick or Tock,
And I will call you Stinky Sock!”
Stinky Sock?! Hey that’s not nice!
I am Rex, I’ve told you TWICE!
Let me hear that tick-tock-cheep,
And maybe I won’t call you Peep.
“Tick-tock cheep, cheep-tick-tock!”
Wait—your fluff-neck hides a clock!
“Well, you know what I can see?
On your collar—P-I-P!”
You are Tick-Tock, I am Rex!
We have secrets ‘round our necks.
But now we know each other best.
Friends forever, who’d have guessed??
The title tells it all…! 🙂
This was cute, well done!
Cute story. Love the end.
Stinky Sock – perfect put down for a dog w/ smelly breath! 🙂
This is such a cute story! I love the rhythm and rhyme. Well done!
Thanks all, this was a fun one! Sometimes silliness is the best medicine. 🙂
Cool game!
So cute and delightful to read aloud. Great job!
Great job rhyming & I love that they’ve discovered their true names & friendship.
Adorable!
POSTED FOR LESLIE
Leslie Denkers
Tick Tock, Pip
79 words
Get in Trouble/Cook up a Plan
Tick Tock, Pip
Cook up a plan
(130 words)
Tick Tock, Pip heard,
Tick Tock, Pip watched
A chick march ‘cross the ground.
Peck, peck, pause, turn,
Peck, peck, pause, turn,
The chick head looked around.
Pip barked, but once,
And sniffed it twice,
But Tick Tock marched straight on
Pip bounded once,
Tick Tock dropped flat,
And Pip fell in the pond.
When Pip swam out,
and shook his fur,
he looked for that strange chick
But all he found
was honeycomb
stuck to a curly stick
Tick Tock was gone,
and chicks ate on,
not heeding little Pip
Pip slunk back home,
And feared to roam,
near chicks who pecked and ticked.
If you’re a dog
who chases chicks,
beware–they will fight back;
A pond, though fun,
Is filled with scum,
and makes a nice attack.
Cute! 🙂
Peck, peck, pause, turn – I could see the chick going in little circles here!
Cute and fun to read aloud!
Cute!
PIP’S PLAN
(Cook up a plan, 111 words)
By Barbara Renner
Pip and Marigold are best friends. Marigold rides on Pip’s back when he runs. Pip finds Marigold when she hides.
“Hey Marigold, we’re best friends, right?”
“Right, Pip.”
“We’d do anything for each other, right Marigold?”
“Right, Pip.”
“See the biscuit bowl on the counter?”
“Right, Pip.”
“No, it’s to the left of the toaster.”
“Right, Pip.”
“Fly up there and grab a biscuit for me, and I’ll share some crumbs with you.”
“Right, Pip.”
Marigold flies up on the counter, grabs a biscuit, and sits down.”
“Marigold, bring the biscuit down here to me.”
“Right, Pip.”
Marigold flies down from the counter, over Pip’s head, and . . .
right out the door.
A fun tale! 🙂
ha, cute! I could envision this w/ some illustration notes and M. and P. both having very different things in mind re M’s “Right, Pip.”
Oh! I didn’t see that ending coming! LOL
Really cute, Barbara! Love the repetition!
Cute story
🤣🤣🤣 Great story!
I just noticed your post now at lesson three. Can I still participate? Do I have to sign up or something? Do all the stories have to be picture book text? Or can a few be middle grade or chapter book style? This sounds like something to fill my days stuck at home and get me writing too. Thanks
Elizabeth Westra elizabethwestra@gmail.com
On Mon, May 25, 2020 at 3:02 AM Susanna Leonard Hill wrote:
> Susanna Leonard Hill posted: “I know. It’s Monday. When the last thing > we need is confusion! Here’s the situation: It was brought to my attention > that “Eenie Meenie Miney Mini” was a poor choice of name for my writing > challenge. I chose it innocently, thinking of the rhyme as a c” >
Hi Elizabeth. I believe I replied to your question on this on another post but yes, you can still participate. There is no sign up. Just add your week 1 story to the week 1 post, week 2 to week 2, etc. All instructions are on the original post, as mentioned above. I look forward to reading your stories 😊
So this story was inspired by a video I had watched the same morning I read this post. I am aware the awesome illustration is showing a chick, but I used a duck. AND, this is not a finished story, but it IS already over a 100 words, so I decided to leave you in suspense. LOL
DUCK HUNT
Marigold said, “Quack, quack, quack!
I need to get my children back.
Quack, quack, quack, where can they be?
I once had six and now have three!”
“Miss Marigold, no need to fret,
my nose has never failed me yet.
I’ll sniff them out,” barked Pip the Pup.
“and help you round your children up.”
Then right away Pip said, “Here’s one!
He’s napping in the noonday sun.”
“Quack, quack,” said Mom. “Now that makes four,
but still I’ve lost a couple more.”
“Just trust the nose Miss Marigold!
Its sensing strength is sevenfold.”
With snout to ground Pip found the scent,
which led him to a sewer vent.
“Oh cats!” said Pip. “It’s not the snout
I’ll need to get these ducklings out!”
Great idea!!!
Lovely! I could picture Pip with his snout glued to the ground.
Thank you!
Agreed, super cute!
Thank you!
Now I want to know how it ends! Great idea, love the rhyme. 🙂
Me too Brenda! LOL. Thank you!
Adorable, Colleen! My favorite line is “Its sensing strength is sevenfold.” Well done!
Thank you Jill!
Love this Colleen! Very clever rhyming here!
Thank you Michelle!
This is delightful!
Thank you Sarah!
Fantastic! I’d love to read the rest of it.
Thank you!
Such fun! Thanks!
HENRY AND MARIGOLD
By Linda Staszak 100 words, make a friend
Henry sniffed his toys.
His bowl was still empty.
Humans were gone–boring day!
But wait—there was something new. It was fuzzy and yellow.
Henry’s ears perked up. His stubby tail wagged.
“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.” His tail wagged faster.
“What’s your name? What’s your name?”
The little yellow thing was quiet.
“Marigold,” said Henry. “That’s what I’ll call you. Marigold.”
His tail wagged faster.
“Want to play? Want to play?” Henry’s tail was going as fast as a hummingbird’s wings.
“Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, we’re best friends!”
Henry snuggled next to Marigold and smiled.
That this all takes place w/o a peep from Marigold & in the dog’s head seems just right!
Thank you!
Sweet story!
Thanks!
Neat story!
Thank you!
🙂
Marigold & Mugsy’s Dance Battle
(Get in an argument and Make a friend, 153 words)
Mugsy’s human twisted the crank on the wind-up chick’s back and set her on the floor.
“Hi, I’m Mugsy, and you’re my new pet! I’ll name you… Marigold!” Mugsy bounced around Marigold.
Marigold hopped, too.
“Nice hopping! But can you dance like this!?” Mugsy stood and danced on her back paws.
Marigold danced, too!
“Woah!” Mugsy was impressed. Then he whispered, “Just don’t upstage me in front of my owner. I’m supposed to be the star of the show.”
Then Marigold spun, jittered, and jiggled. Her dance moves were the best Mugsy had ever seen!
“Hey, cut that out! You’re making me look bad!”
Mugsy yipped and batted at Marigold – Marigold fell dead!
“Oh no, Marigold,” Mugsy whimpered, “Please get up!”
Mugsy’s owner picked Marigold up, twisted her crank, and set her on the floor.
Marigold danced again!
Mugsy leaped with joy! “Thank goodness! From now on, we’ll just be dance partners!”
I enjoyed the shock of the felled Marigold rising again! Cute!
Loved the ending!!
Love this dance battle!
Cute! I like how at first Mugsy insists on being the star of the show. Nice word choices, too!
Love the dance partners part!
Henry and Marigold Get in an Argument
(100 words)
In the morning, Marigold was fed first. “Tweet! I’m the favorite!”
In the afternoon, Henry was petted first. “Woof! They love me best.”
At night, the people left and took too long to return.
“It’s your fault for jumping!”
“You drove them away with twittering!”
Ding dong!
“Woof! They missed my snuggles.”
“Tweet! No—my singing!”
“Waaaaaaa!” screamed a new thing.
Marigold’s breakfast was late.
Henry ached for a walk.
“Tweet! Guess we know the real favorite.”
“Woof! I’ll say.”
“WAAAAAAA!” screamed the thing. “WAAAAAAA!”
So Henry snuggled it. Marigold sang a lullaby.
The thing quieted and everyone got treats.
These pets will do anything for a treat 🙂 Very cute!
🙂
Love all the dialogue, sound words, and the sweet ending.
That’s nice that they stopped arguing and took care of the baby!
Susan Schipper
Plot Point – Get in Trouble
Henry (aka Hank) and Pip
Word count 210
Hank, Pip and the Garden
Hi, I’m Henry, but my friends call me Hank! My very best friend in the whole universe (yes, universe!) is Pip, a wind-up chicken. Speaking of names, Fun is our middle name! My family disagrees, they think our middle name is Trouble!
Let me tell about one of our fun adventures, which, you guessed it, turns into trouble! Picture a beautiful Spring day! Perfect for planting a garden. That’s exactly what my mom did!
Pip and I were wandering along when Pip saw my most favorite treat, a yummy bone! Great pals that we are, we were able to drag the bone home. We needed to bury it as quickly as possible so no one else would find it. Ahh, Pip saw the perfect spot, mom’s flower garden. I dug and Pip helped “move” Mom’s flowers out of the way! Suddenly we heard a familiar voice …mom was wailing, “Hank, you and Pip have destroyed my garden!”
Destroyed the garden? We had just found a great hiding spot!
Well, we tried to lay low the rest of the day, that is until the siren at the fire station began to blare…..
Poor Mom! I like the ending and wonder what trouble they get into next.
Thanks, glad you liked it!
Perspective sure is an interesting thing! Hope Hank and Pip taking the bone didn’t somehow relate to the blaring siren, haha. Cute story, Susan.
Thanks!!! 🙂
I think kids could really relate to “accidentally ” destroying something that belongs to mom.
😉
Week #3: Mugsy and Marigold’s Morning; Plot Point – Cook Up a Plan (99 words)
Marigold’s heart raced as she stared at the clock.
“C’Mon…” she said.
Mugsy scampered back and forth.
“Are you ready?” asked Marigold.
Mugsy pushed his dish across the floor.
WOOF!
“Shhh,” said Marigold, flitting through the air.
She gently placed the dish on the counter.
Mugsy panted. Quietly.
Marigold nudged the sugar bowl towards the dish.
The cream was trickier to manage.
Then the big hand struck 12.
The aroma sent Marigold spinning. Mugsy’s tongue twitched.
Drip, drip, drip…
Done!
Marigold poured. Mugsy mixed.
“Mmm…”
Henry shuffled in the kitchen. “I could have sworn I made a full pot.”
Great job, Deborah, in only 99 words! I love the alliteration!
Thanks for reading it, Jill!
Fun! I like the tension and “Drip, drip, drip… Done!”
Thanks Sarah!
The ending was a great twist–I was thinking they were making oatmeal at first and didn’t really get the ‘drip, drip’. Lol. The coffee percolating makes much more sense. Nice job, Deborah!
Ahh…good point about the oatmeal (that would probably be yummier for those two anyway!) Really appreciate your reading it!
Super story! I love how you lead up to the surprise ending.
Thanks so much Diantha!
Thanks, Julie, for this adorable picture.
Delphine’s Secret
“Hey, Mugsy, I’ve got a secret,” cheeped Delphine.
Mugsy wagged his tail. “A secret, Delphine? I love secrets. What is it?”
Delphine cheeped, “I’ll give you three guesses.”
Bugsy panted. “Is it bigger than a breadbox?”
“How can a secret be bigger than a breadbox?”
“I dunno, Delphine.”
Mugsy twirled around and then stopped. “Is it a good secret?”
“Yes, a very good secret.”
Mugsy jumped up and down. “I can’t wait anymore. What’s the secret? What’s the secret?”
“OK, Mugsy, here you are.” Delphine handed Mugsy a flower.
“Is that the secret? The flower?”
Delphine blushed. “No, Mugsy, the secret is…you are my best friend.”
Mugsy did a back flip. “Wow! That’s the best secret ever!”
Cute! “Bigger than a breadbox” made me smile, as well as Mugsy’s happy back flip.
Thank you.
I liked the ‘bigger than a breadbox’ too–charming!
Thank you.
Awwww…what a sweet story!
Thank you!
Pip’s Perfect Partner
By Jill Lambert
(170 words/Henry/Pip/cook up a plan)
Henry was snoring,
his favorite routine,
after he gobbled
his morning cuisine.
Just as he entered
a yipping good dream,
a wee yellow bird
perched aloft on a beam.
“My name is Pip
and I stopped by to say
I need a prep partner.
I’m making soufflé.
If you could assist
I’d be ever so grateful.
I cooked with the cat
but alas, she was hateful!”
Henry perked up
at the mention of food.
He never missed meals
because that would be rude.
Pip soared above
to her home in a tree.
Henry, intrigued,
donned an apron with glee.
They blended and stirred
till the batter was high,
set the timer to bake it,
then sat down nearby.
They both sipped some tea
while their recipe baked.
Henry was drooling.
His poor stomach ached.
Finally, the timer
went DING–it was done!
They sampled their efforts.
Oh, yum! A home run!
Pip paved the way
when she cooked up a plan.
Now Henry’s her sous chef
and her biggest fan.
Great job Jill! Love the rhymes! You have wonderful words in here!
Nice job Jill. I love the cooking rhymes. Perfect!
Thank you, Michelle! I had fun with it.
Thanks, Susan! My daughter is a chef so a little has rubbed off!
Cute! I like that their cooking efforts were a home run.
Thank you, Sarah! I appreciate it!
“He never missed meals/ because that would be rude.” I feel the SAME, Henry! Adorable story! I like how you took the ‘cooking up a plan’ to heart, Jill.
Me, too, Candice! It’s practically required during quarantine! 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting!
I’m always so amazed what writers can do with words. Well done!
Thanks so much, Ashley!
😂😂😂 Love it!
I appreciate it, Diantha!
Fun! You made me laugh 😆
I’m glad, Corine! Thanks for reading my story!
Jill, Your poetry gets better and better with each story you write! Love this one.
This is too cute, kept me intrigued until the very end. Perfect rhymes and meter. And you got the theme in ‘cooked up a plan’, and my favorite 2 lines are, of course, the last two, perfect ending for the story!
Miss Marigold Fluffington (hatches a plan/Mugsy)
WC: 143
Miss Marigold Fluffington wanted to be,
Inside a warm house, where a chick could be free.
From pecking and clucking and searching for food.
And running from raindrops. “I’m not in the mood!”
“Ole Mugsy will help me, he’s such a sweet pup.”
She chirped in his ear the plan she’d hatched up.
He opened his eyes and then jumped on his paws.
And bounded away; this dog had a cause!
Propping open the dog door; he let the chick in.
On top of the food bags, she hopped. “Let’s begin!”
They ripped open bags; treats fell to the floor.
And when they were full, they slept with a snore.
Marigold snuggled into the dog’s fur.
Her very best friend, of that she was sure.
She’d gotten her wish; a night in the house.
But tomorrow she’ll be kicked out by the mouse!
Aww, this is adorable, Susan! I love the “plan she hatched up” line and the ending! I’m looking forward to hearing more about the mouse…
Sweet story Susan! I love that you rhymed this one! 😀
I love that she says “Ole Mugsy will help me.” Sweet friendship story.
Ha! I laughed at the ‘running from raindrops–“I’m not in the mood.”‘ Lovely job!
Love that she got to spend the night in the house!
An adorable friendship!
Love your characters, they are full of personality! And really special rhyming story!
A Day at the Dog Park
Henry loved going to the dog park. Rain or shine, hot or cold, there was always something new to see or do.
And today was no different.
Just down the hill from the path in the bushes along the edge of the pond, Henry heard something moving. With tail up and nose to the ground, he went to investigate.
Two tiny legs scurried behind the leaves. Henry followed as quietly as he could go, even though he was panting with excitement.
The little feet stopped and Henry approached slowly. Inch by inch he crept until his nose was inches from the feet.
“WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!” the feet bellowed.
“Ar! Ar! Ar!” Henry ran away crying.
Then he stopped and chuffed.
He crept closer. And closer. The little feet danced as he crept closer.
“Hi!” the feet cried out as a small yellow creature jumped from the bushes.
Henry was to surprised to bark or run.
Penelope motioned him closer, “Guess what! You don’t have to be afraid. I’m not really a dog.”
I like your choice of setting and fun word choices.
Funny that the little chick with the bellowing feet could scare away the pup–glad they could make friends in the end!
I like how the little bird turns the tables on the dog!
Thanks for another fun prompt, Susanna! I like the challenge name change and appreciate your sensitivity and explanation. The colorful candy is delightful, too!
(plot point: get in trouble)
Pip & Dip
By Sarah Meade
Word Count: 105
Pip the pup winds up Dip the duck.
Time for adventures!
Pip claps. Dip flaps.
Pip and Dip duck out the door.
Pip and Dip slip off to the library.
So many books!
Pip yap-yap-yaps!
Dip quack-quack-quacks!
“Shhhhhhhh.”
Oops!
Time to zip!
Pip and Dip slip off to the movies.
So much popcorn!
Pip yap-yap-yaps!
Dip quack-quack-quacks!
“Shhhhhhhh.”
Oops!
Time to zip!
Pip and Dip slip off to the daycare.
So many nappers!
Pip yap-yap-yaps!
Dip quack-quack-quacks!
“Shhhhhhhh.”
Oops!
Time to zip!
Pip and Dip trip-trap home.
So. Many. Steps.
Pip yip-yap-yawns.
Dip quick-quack-sighs.
Home. At. Last.
“Shhhhhhhh.”
Pip flops. Zip plops.
Time to nip-nap.
Love the repeating word sounds. And you managed to fit in a fabulous arc in so few words (that’s SO HARD for me, lol). Great job!
Thanks for your kind words, Candice!
What a hoot to read Sarah! Great use of verbs…kids would love the repetition too. Well done!
Thanks for this encouragement, Deborah!
Pip and Dip sure did get in trouble, Sarah–everywhere! I love the Shhhh! Oops! Time to zip! refrain. So cute!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Jill!
It came out so good Sarah. I always enjoy reading your stories. Your language and word choice is so well done. Pip and Dip getting in trouble sounds fun!
Thank you so much, Ashley! I’m having so much fun working on these together!
I know. Thanks for the motivation. 😊
Sarah, this is so delightful! I love all of the sounds & I could see them getting into trouble again & again!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting!
I like the repeating words.
Thank you, Diantha!
This is wonderful!
Thank you so much, Corine!
Hope you met your deadline, Susanna!
TikTok of Zico (124 words, get in trouble)
Delphine had travelled through tornado, balloon, and now over sea. None were her favorite mode of travel which was picnic basket. But now she was on an island full of oddities, including a tree with Lunchables hanging from its branches. Yum!
“How dare you eat our food!” creatures on wheels yelled.
Delphine was surrounded. She leaped onto a nearby rock. Safe but stuck, how could she escape?
On a boulder higher up, something gleamed. She jumped again and sniffed. A mechanical bird! She saw a sign on its belly.
TikTok of Zico
Turn Key
Delphine snuffled and sniffed until she found a key.
Twist, twist.
“Cheep! Thank you! I wound down and got stuck.”
TikTok and Delphine hatched a plan and escaped to safety.
Fun! I like “Delphine sniffled and snuffled until she found a key.”
Thanks! In the original, the key was found on a beach, washed up from where the evil King Ev had thrown it, but that’s impossible to give all that backstory in so few words–L. Frank Baum could use all the words he needed, haha.
I love this fantasy, Candice! The first paragraph was so visual with Oddity Island and Lunchable Tree. But I would like another chapter please , to hear more about TikTok and Delphine’s escape! Well done!
Thank you, Jill!
My deadline is tomorrow I’m panicking! Deep breaths 🙂
This sounds like a fun island! Glad the pair escaped to safety!
Neat idea about them stranded on an island.
My daughter saw how much fun I was having with this writing challenge and wanted to play too ❤
Henry and Pip Make Friends (130 word count, make a friend)
By Marley, Age 9
One rainy day Henry and his owner, Mr. Mugsy, were playing fetch. Mr. Mugsy threw Henry’s ball so far all you could see was a tiny dot! Henry ran super-speedy—he didn’t notice the little chick he was about to crash into.
BAM!
WHAM!
Henry and Pip fell on the muddy ground. Henry was dizzy so Pip fetched Henry’s ball while Henry was getting better and made a nest for both of them. When they were both okay, they played with pebbles for X’s and O’s and sticks for pretend sword-fighting.
It was now nighttime. Henry was lost. But Pip remembered where the ball came from. They retraced their muddy footsteps and found Mr. Mugsy looking around. Pip found a new home and they both found a new best friend!
Go, Marley! Great job on your story! I loved the onomatopoeia in the middle and the way Henry and Pip used natural objects to play. You added more tension at the end by causing them to get lost. Thanks for letting us read your wonderful work!
Thanks for your kind words, I showed her your comment and she was absolutely tickled!
Congratulations to her! This is an awesome story.
I appreciate you commenting! She LOVED that someone read her story–made her morning!
Writing is HARD. And she did a great job. I hope she participates again!
Wow! Your daughter is so talented, and what a great writing activity to do together.
Thank you, PT! She’s my first reader for all my picture book and chapter book manuscripts so we have a lot of fun working on writing projects together.
Great job!
Thanks, Diantha! She is enjoying reading all the comments!
Great job, Marley! I love how you describe Henry – that is so exactly how dogs chase after balls! They get so focused they don’t see anything else! Pip was a true friend, finding the ball, taking care of Henry, and playing games with him – you really made me feel their friendship. Getting lost at night was an added moment of excitement. I’m glad they made it home and were able to all live happily together. I love a happy ending 😊Thanks for joining in the fun!!!
Thanks, Susanna! She asked me to tell you she is enjoying your challenges and playing along 🙂
That’s great! I’m glad she’s having fun! 😊
Week #3
Ticktock/Make a friend.
Word count: 260
Mary van Beuren
Ticktock Makes a Friend
Ticktock the Terrier trotted down the hill.
She stopped, halfway down, tilted her nose high and sniffed the air.
Something was different.
She followed the scent, nose to the ground, tail in the air, to the bottom of the hill.
The scent led her to the barn.
As she neared the barn, she heard strange, high pitched sounds.
Could it be a cricket?
A frog?
A chipmunk?
Ticktock hoped it was a chipmunk. She loved to play with chipmunks.
She poked around the tractor, but nothing was there.
She peeked into the horse stalls, but the horses just said, Neigh.
She looked behind the hay bales, but there was just hay.
Chirp, chirp, chirp!
At last, she looked underneath the garden wagon, and there was a baby (guinea fowl) chick.
When the chick saw Ticktocks nose, he cried louder, CHIRP, CHIRP, CHIRP!
Ticktock didn’t want to scare the chick away and stood quiet and still.
Ticktock was not used to feeling so big.
She stayed still, and let the chick run around her.
CHIRP, CHIRP, CHIRP! Cried the chick, trying to flap her tiny wings.
The chick ran circles around Ticktock.
Ticktock laughed. The chick laughed too.
Ticktock remained very still, and when the chick grew tired of running in circles, flapping it’s little wings, and chirping at the top of its lungs, he curled up next to Ticktock and took a nap.
And, now, every afternoon, at nap time, Ticktock trots down the hill.
Thanks for reading!!
Awww…what a sweet story!
Mugsy and Marigold
By Cindy S. Boyll
(Share a Secret, Week 3)
Marigold found Mugsy whimpering.
“Mugsy? What’s wrong?”
“My name is what’s wrong!” declared Mugsy.
“It rhymes with bugsy. Other puppies yell, ‘Bugsy Mugsy.’”
“I like your name.”
“Not me. I would rather be Pip or Zico.”
“Really?” Marigold pecked the ground and said, “Pip and Zico are also teasing names.”
“What?” Mugsy sniffed.
Marigold illustrated. “Hello, Zippy Pippy Pepper. Come here, Zico, Zicee, Wicky. See, each name bends with good or bad words, depending on the speaker.”
“I never thought of that,” Mugsy said.
Marigold said, “Mugsy is a strong name!”
Mugsy wagged his tail. “I agree! I will ask the puppies to call me Mugsy.”
What a nice story about names and teasing.
A PAL TO PLAY WITH
by Ashley Congdon
(make a friend)
WC:127
“I want a pal to play with that can keep pace with me,” Henry declared, wagging his tail.
He dashed off to the place where all the pets played, The Pet Playground.
“Hey, Tina Turtle, want to run?” Henry asked.
“Sure. Try to keep up!” Tina shouted.
But, she took her time. Too much time.
She was left behind.
Then Carlos Cat zoomed by.
“Hey, want to run?” Henry asked.
“Meowww! Dog chasing me,” Carlos yelled, sprinting up ahead. Henry was left behind.
“Picking a pal to play with that can keep pace with me is . . . hard,” Henry cried, stuffing his face in his paws.
“This chick can. I’m Pip. Let’s go!”
“Ruff, ruff. A pal to play with!”
Henry and Pip raced at the perfect pace.
Tina the turtle and Carlos the cat cracked me up with their responses. Great story, Ashley!
Thanks for reading Candice 😊.
Kids can relate to being outraced by their peers and then finding a friend whose pace matches theirs.
I didn’t even think about that way. That’s a great point. Thanks for sharing and reading.
Such a sweet story, Ashley! I’m glad Henry and Pip found each other!
Thanks for reading Jill 😊.
Get In Trouble
96 words
DOT AND EDNA: CHICK TROUBLE
By Deb Buschman
Edna gazed out the window.
“What’s wrong?” asked Dot.
“I wish I could go outside. Look at the chicks play,” said Edna.
“But you’re a toy chick,” said Dot. “Toys aren’t allowed outside.”
“Pleeeease Dot, carry me through your doggie door.”
“Alright,” Dot picked up Edna.
“Ewww, slobbery.”
Not listening Dot trotted with Edna to the chicks.
Plop!
Edna stared at the chicks.
Peep, peep, peep! The chicks circled Edna and began to…peck.
“Dot! Help!”
Woof, woof!
The chicks ran into the coop.
“Dot, can you take me inside?”
“Alright.”
Dot picked up Edna.
“Eewww, slobbery.”
What a good friend Dot is, even if the ride’s abit slobbery! Fun story!
😂 Great message about being careful what you wish for.
Storm Secrets
(318 words – Zack & Pip Share a Secret)
by D. Litwer
“Tick-tock.,” droned the clock.
“Snerrttt – snort. Wheeeze,” snored Zack.
“c l i c k – zurrr, zurr, zurr,” drowsed Pip.
Massive, black clouds shoved the sun from the afternoon sky. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
Zack’s ears popped up. His eyes flew open. Oh, no! A thunderstorm!
“I am a brave dog,” Zack whispered to himself. “Jenny says I am.”
The thunder rumbled louder. Zack leapt to his feet.
“Zack,” called Pip, “it’s thundering! I’m not scared. I just want to make sure you’re not scared,” said Pip.
“I’m not scared,” Zack called back. But his heart began to pound.
“I … am a brave dog,” Zack repeated to himself.
Rain hammered on the windows. The wind whooshed and whirled.
RUMBLE! KA-BOOM! CRACK! An enormous bolt of lightening zig – zagged across the sky.
Zack shot off Jenny’s bed like he had been fired out of a cannon.
“Zack, just wanted to let you know that it’s lightening!” yelled Pip. “Nothing to be alarmed about.”
“I’m not alarmed, Pip,” yelled Zack. But his heart pounded harder and his legs shook.
“I… AM a brave dog,” he told himself again.
Sizzzzzzle. Pop!
“ZAAAAAACK!” screamed Pip, “The power has gone out! Don’t worry though, I’m not scared and you shouldn’t be either.”
“I’m not scared!” screamed Zack.
“Oh, but you are,” whispered his fear.
“No! I AM A BRAVE DOG!” shouted Zack.
I’m going to find my friend, Pip, right now. We’ll get through this frightening storm together,” barked Zack.
Zack raced to his toy basket. He dug frantically through his toys until he found Pip, hiding under Mr. Squirrel.
“I’m so happy to see you,” said Pip. “I’ll tell you a secret. I’m just a tiny bit afraid of thunderstorms.”
“I am, too,” said Zack. “But that’s okay. We can help each other be brave. Let’s go check on Kenzie Kat and make sure she’s not afraid of the storm.”
You’ve nailed that toddler feeling of trying to be brave while really being just a teensy bit afraid. And I love the ending! Great job!
Thank you. I appreciate your feedback.
I love this! Zack IS a brave doggy. So glad he and his toy friend Pip could comfort one another during a scary storm.
Thank you very much Michelle.
POSTED FOR MICHELLE
Mix N’ MatchMini Writing Challenge-
Writing Challenge: Week 3
by Michelle S Kennedy
144 WC
Tick-Tock / Pip / Get in trouble
Tick-Tock’s Luck
With a twist, turn, twist, I gently get wound up.
I’m just a little toy, for Pip, the spotted pup.
They call me Tick-Tock, since I sound just like a clock.
Pip loves to seek me out, while I do a funny walk.
I chirp, cheep, peep, as Pip then wags his tail.
I pass him on by, but he’s sniffing out my trail.
I tick, tock, tick- beneath the coffee table.
Pip is so excited that the glass is now unstable!
I hear a loud bark, then his drool’s upon my beak.
I’m really not enjoying this new game of hide and seek!
Then a crash! Boom! Bang! Something shatters to the floor.
“Oh, you’re in trouble now, Pip!” I hear the owner roar.
Luckily for me, Pip is taken to his crate.
And in that single moment, I escape before I’m ate!
Great story!
Thanks so much! ❤
This story is adorable and full of so much action, Michelle! Poor Tick-Tock, at the mercy of rambunctious Pip! Ahh! the crate to the rescue! Packed with onomatopoeia, consonance and assonance and a great ending. Terrific!
Thank you Jill! I’ve been working hard to add more onomatopoeia to my stories.
Dogs and their toys, a great combination! Very cute, great action and rhymes!
Thanks Katie!
POSTED FOR ELEANOR
Different and Yet Alike- Get in an argument WC99
By Eleanor A. Peterson
“Sit. Stand. Roll-over. Good boy!” The toddler cheered and left.
Henry sat up, scanning his new home.
Then a yellow thing shuffled into the room.
“Who are you, and what’s your name?” asked Henry wagging his tail
“Can’t you see? I’m a chick. Look, my name is right here,” chirped the nestling.
Henry stared at the tag on the bird’s chest. “Zico! That’s a stupid name.”
“Is NOT. What’s your name, and what are you?”
“Can’t you see? I’m a dog, and my name is Henry.”
“NOT true. Your tag says your not a Henry but a dog bot.”
Love the twist at the end!
Thank you!
Like several other writers, I did not interpret the cute tail on the chick as a wind-up mechanism. I also seem to be envisioning the dog’s tail being a bit longer. As Julie is not only an awesome illustrator but also a wonderful person, I’m sure she won’t mind!
Marigold and Mugsy Hatch a Plan (95 words, make a plan)
The egg rolled out of Farmer Bessy’s basket. CRACK! Peck-peck-peck.
SLURP! Marigold’s wet tongue brushed Mugsy’s fuzzy head. “You ok, Little Chicken?”
“Who you calling a chicken,” Mugsy cheeped. She crossed the gravelly road, tiny eyes searching…
“Mama!”
“Watch out for the…”
CRASH!
“fence,” Marigold panted.
“Peep-peep-peep,” Mugsy cried. “I can’t get back to Mama!”
“Woof,” Marigold barked.
She tried digging under the fence. Mugsy tried climbing over it.
“We need to hatch a plan!”
“What if…”
“…and then…”
Mugsy grabbed Marigold’s tail.
“Ready?”
Marigold sprinted, aimed…
WHOOSH!
“WHEE!”
“I’m home, Mama! Thanks to Marigold!”
Great idea to start off with Mugsy hatching and then wandering around looking for Mama. I like Mugsy and Marigold working together, just like little kids would do, to solve their problem.
There’s a lot going on in your 95 word story. Well done! A cute friendship story. I especially enjoyed the beginning. I can feel Mugsy’s desperation and determination.
My entry: Henry and Marigold – make a friend (130 words)
Henry and Marigold
“What’s the matter Marigold? Henry lay down in front of the little chick.
“I’m lost!”, sobbed Marigold.
“Not to worry. Climb aboard and I’ll get you home.”
Marigold hopped onto Henry’s leg, then made her way up, up, up to his head.
“Dig in your feet and hang on. Here we go.” Henry carefully stood up and walked forward.
“Oh, it’s beautiful up here!” Marigold chirped and wiggled.
It wasn’t long before they found the hen house.
“There’s my mom! Thank you, Henry. You are a wonderful friend.”
Henry once again lay down. Marigold quickly hopped down from Henry’s head, to his shoulder and down his leg. He watched as Marigold reunited with her family. There was lots of clucking and flapping of wings. Henry gave a happy woof.
Sweet story! I love the happy ending!
I was short of time this week but here is my contribution:
Pip and Zico Share a Secret
174 words
“I love my human mommy,
but she’s always telling me
WHAT NOT TO DO.
Do you know what I mean?
I don’t have the heart to tell her that
I WAS BORN WITH SUPER STRONG INSTINCTS,
so I just nod and play along.
But when she’s on the phone,
for a very long time, or
when she’s talking to the neighbors
over the manicured hedge,
I escape her gaze, and RUN
to the garden shed.
Just behind it, near the hen house,
I discovered WORMS!
Shh! Don’t tell anyone. I’m not supposed to eat worms.”
DING DONG!
Zico’s mommy walked to the door.
“You stay there, my sweet pea,” she cooed.
NOW! Zico thought to himself.
He ran and ran until he reached the
compost heap, AND
buried his nose deep into the mulch, when
“PEEP!”
What’s that noise?
“PEEP!”
“WOOF! Why are you all alone?”
“I broke free,” Pip said. “I’m sick of chick starter, BLEAH!
I want a juicy worm too! Promise not to tell anyone.
I’m not supposed to eat worms.”
You and me both, Corine! But you managed to squeeze in a fun story! The end made me laugh with the chick starter and apparently everyone eating worms they’re not supposed to 🙂 My dog eat worm jerky – you know, the worms that bake onto the surface of the road! YECHHH! 🙂
😀👍🏼 Thanks for reading and commenting.
Very cute! I love the secret worm sharing!
Thanks!
Henry and Marigold Cook Up a Plan (236 words)
“Are you ready for our adventure?” chirped Marigold.
“Ha, you know me, I was born for adventure,” responded
Henry excitedly.
“Well, we have a problem,” explained Marigod”. “It’s raining
so we have to find an adventure in the house.”
The two friends put their heads together and thought. Finally,
They were rescued from having no ideas when they heard:
“Ding, ding, dong!”
“This could be our big adventure!” shouted Marigold and
Henry as they ran to answer the door.”
As they flung open the door, they saw a box sitting right
outside the door. As soon as they got the box in the house,
they tore it open.
Inside they found ….recipes, bags with ingredients in them
and meat.
Their mother arrived just in time to rescue her food supplies.
“Great!”, she exclaimed. “Our lunch and dinner are here.
Now we can all prepare the food and cook it together!”
“This sounds like the best plan we could cook up today!”
replied Henry and Marigold. “Let’s get cooking!”
MUGSY THE CHICK’S TRICKY TRICK (cook up a plan)
By Rebecca Gardyn Levington
136 Words
Mugsy The Chick is cunning and slick.
He’s quick with a trick or a prank.
But Tick Tock The Pup is a gullible chump—
He’s sweet, but a little bit… blank.
So when Mugsy The Chick said to Tick Tock The Pup
“I made brownies for you, on that plate!”
Tick Tock The Pup wagged his tail and ran quick.
“That’s terr-RUFF-ic! Oh, boy! I can’t wait!”
“I’ll bring them right over,” said Mugsy The Chick.
“Don’t be shy! Take as much as you please!”
So Tick Tock The Pup sniffed and studied the batch…
…of scissor-cut brown letter “E”s??
“Gotcha again!” giggled Mugsy The Chick.
“You get it? I made you “BROWN E’s!?”
“Oh Mugsy!” said Tick Tock. “But how did you know?!
I’ve been looking for “E’s” just like these!”
What a fun story! I love the ending- Mugsy was happy with the paper Brown E’s. Very creative!
Very cute, love the flow, great meter, and rhymes! Very creative names, and I especially like the last line!
Thank you so much Michelle and Katie! 🙂
POSTED FOR KETAN, AIYKA & RAVI
Pip & Zico Cook a Plan Mix n’ Match Week #3
By Ketan, Aiyka and Ravi Ram – word count 120
Pip was a wind-up, yellow canary.
Zico a bull dog, cuddly not scary.
Daily they met at the stroke of 2,
always looking for something fun to do.
Today was grey, so they planned to cook.
To Pip’s they went for a recipe book.
Hot pot, ravioli, grilled asparagus with meat?
It had to be grand, this mid-week treat!
The menu: Veg Wellington with braised bone on the side,
was the delicious combo they wanted to try.
With just over two hours while Granny Carmel slept,
they stormed the pantry where all was kept.
Zico found veggies, flour, eggs and butter
But where did Granny keep the pastry cutter?
Then, while Pip was deboning the shank,
the poor canary ran out of crank!
POSTED FOR MIA
Week #3
Pip & Henry
By Mia Geiger
137 words
(words used: Henry, Pip. Plot: a secret)
Pip and Henry
sat in the shade,
pondering pitchers
of pink lemonade.
Henry peered up
at the sweltering sun.
“We need to act fast,
before the day’s done.
“I know a secret
place we can go.
A few blocks north,
where the daffodils grow.”
Clickity, clack
Trudgity, trudge
“Gotta keep going —
watch out for the sludge!”
“Phew, we made it,”
Pip said with a sigh.
He heard lots of chatter
and wondered why.
The kids at the stand
smiled at Pip.
How could they not?
“Such a cute chick!”
Pip liked this group,
so he wibbled and wobbled.
He flapped his wings
and bibbled and bobbled.
Everyone laughed —
fun in the sun!
They poured Pip a cup.
But Henry had none.
“Hey,” the kids called.
“This dog needs a drink.
Get him some lemonade
The fancy kind — pink!”
POSTED FOR KRISTY
Pip (the dog) and Zico (the wind up chicken) Share a secret
Kristy Nuttall
Pip the puppy liked to hide secrets in silly places.
Under pancakes, in socks, next to slippers, and even. . .
On top of spaghetti!
But. . .
On Tuesday a little bird named Zico found one of Pip’s secrets in a puddle.
“Do you know who keeps leaving these secret messages all over the place?” asked Zico.
Pip shrugged, but then she giggled.
“You must be the secret hider!” said Zico.
“Well,” said Pip, “now that you’ve found one of my secrets, it’s your secret now.”
“Really? Can I read it?” asked Zico.
“Go ahead,” said Pip.“I’m waiting. . .”
“Ok, ok, it says, if you find this secret message, you need to do a secret good deed for someone else,” said Zico. “Ooh I like that.”
“Hey what are you doing?” asked Pip.
[gives the dog a spiffy new hair do with her beak]
“I can’t tell you, it’s a secret. But I think you’ll figure it out when you look in the mirror,” said Zico.
POSTED FOR DAWN
Week 3–
BIG NEWS
Mugsy and Pip share a special pup-bird relationship. They may speak in different languages, one barks the other tweets, but they understand each other perfectly.
Pip couldn’t wait for Mugsy to get back from his morning walk. He had a secret he was bursting to tweet.
Entering the yard Mugsy raced over to the holly bush looking for his BFF.
Pip flew to the ground leaving his mate behind in the nest. “Tweet -tweet- tweet,” said Pip.
Mugsy replied, “Arf-arf-arf-arf.”
The secret’s out … Pip is the proud Papa of three baby birdies.
POSTED FOR KAY
Week #3: Zico, Share a secret (word count 225)
by Kay DiVerde
Zico sat under a big oak tree. He had a secret and didn’t know how to share it.
Joanie sauntered by and asked, ”Hey, Zico. What’s up?”
“Well, I have a problem, and I don’t know how to fix it?” Zico responded.
“Tell me all about it. Maybe I can help,” suggested Joanie.
Zico explained, “It’s a secret.”
Joanie’s eyes grew wide. “A secret? I’m the best secret keeper around.”
Zico scratched his head. “Well, if you’re sure.”
“I promise,” Joanie proclaimed.
Hesitantly, Zico said, “Mom thinks I like broccoli, so she keeps making it. I HATE the taste and smell of cooked broccoli. I don’t want to hurt her feelings by telling her I don’t like something she cooks for me.”
Joanie laughed. “That’s not much of a secret. Tell your mom. She’ll understand.”
Zico thought about what Joanie said and decided to talk to his mom.
“Mom?” Zico whispered while his mom was working in the kitchen. “I have a secret to tell you.”
“Okay, Zico. You can tell me anything,” Zico’s mom replied.
“I have a secret. I don’t really like to eat broccoli. I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt your feelings,” said Zico.
“Oh, Zico. Thank you for sharing your secret with me,” Zico’s mom answered. “I always thought you liked it, and I HATE the smell of cooked broccoli!”
POSTED FOR LIZ
Butch and Kip Cook Up a Plan
By Liz Kehrli
“Hey Kip, let’s go on an adventure,” said Butch.
“Where to?” asked the little chick.
“Anywhere. Where would you like to go? I know you like the field of wild flowers where the butterflies take flight,” said Butch.
“Not today. Wouldn’t you rather chase some chipmunks, or go to the butcher store to beg for a bone?” asked Kip.
“I can do that anytime,” said Butch.
“Well, then let’s do something we both enjoy!”
“Sounds great. Like what?” asked Butch.
Their eyes meet. Their smiles radiate.
Together they scream out, “The beach!”
“Can I have a ride?” asked Kip.
“Sure, jump on!” Butch lowers his head and Kip hops on.
They charge to the beach where they play in the sand and splash along the water’s edge.
Best adventure ever!
Limerick for Week #3
(make a friend, Delphine, 33 wc)
There once was a chick named Delphine,
who longed to be out and be seen.
She needed a windup,
which she got from a kind pup.
Now their walks are a daily routine!
Zico, Tick Tock and Cook Up a Plan( 170 words)
“Hey Tick Tock, said Zico the puppy. “Do you want to come out and play?”
Tick Tock the bird sat sadly in his cage. “I can’t. My cage is locked.”
Zico jumped onto the lounge, then the head rest. He reached across to the cage and grabbed the door between his teeth. He pulled but it didn’t budge.
“Do you know where the key is?”
“Around John’s neck on a chain,” said Tick Tock. “So probably on its way to the city. ”
“Oh,” After a moment Zico said, “We’ll have to find something else to open it.” He looked at the key hole. “We need something small, round and hollow. Any ideas?”
They both thought and took turns at suggesting things.
“A pencil?…. no, not hollow.”
“A cup?… too big.”
“A toilet roll?… too soft and too big….”
This continued for a few minutes.
Zico looked with sadness at Tick Tock. As the bird turned Zico saw the winding key in his back.
“I found it! ” said Zico.
Pip and Delphine Cook Up a Plan-91 words-Tracy
“I need to fly!” exclaimed Pip.
“Why?” asked Delphine.
“Why what?” said Pip
“I don’t mean to pry…
but why do you need to fly high?” asked Delphine.
“Well, I just want to try!” shrugged Pip.
“But WHY?” urged Delphine.
Pip blushed. “Well…to spy!” he admitted.
“Spy?” frowned Delphine. “On who?”
“On the view!”
“The view?”
“Yes! To spy things that are new.
You could spy too…just me and you!”
“It’s out of the blue,” thought Delphine, “but just us two?”
“Just us two!”
…
“Then let’s get started!” smiled Delphine.
Penny A
WC: 240
Tick Tock (and GusGus) come up with a plan
Tick Tock was the kind of rooster that liked to butt into everyone’s lives. He could talk them into most anything.
“I’m GusGus and those are my friends, Cricket Bug and Rosie.”
Tick Tock told him, “My name is Tick Tock. My name is all right but your names are all wrong. But I can help you with that.”
Just then Cricket Bug stopped by, “Whatcha doin? How many toes do you have? I don’t have any toes, but I have hooves. I can use them for karate. Do you want to see?”
GusGus said, “Cricket Bug, your questions are a bother. Maybe you should go to the barn and practice your kicks and let us be.”
No sooner had Cricket Bug left that Rosie stopped by. “Whatcha doin? Did you bring any treats? I love treats. Why is your nose so pointy? Do you ever snort? I can snuffle most anything…
GusGus interrupted, “Rosie, you are pestering our guest. Give it a rest… over there.
Finally alone, they whispered until finally, they nodded their heads. They were ready.
Tick Tock gathered everyone in a circle, “Hello, my name is Tick Tock. My name is all right but your names are all wrong. But we can help you with that.
Names are important and they must fit. Take mine for example. Tick Tock like a clock. And that’s exactly what I do. I keep the time for the farm.
Rosie, let’s start with you…
Bing and ShickShick (94 words)
By Amy Flynn
Shick Shick Shick Shick Shhhhhiiiiick
Stop
Bing eyed the ShickShick suspiciously.
She was cute.
This looked like a new pet.
Bing nudged the ShickShick gently.
She was soft.
This felt like a new pet.
Bing sniffed the ShickShick carefully.
She was fresh.
This smelled like a new pet.
Bing was cute. Bing was soft. Bing was…mostly fresh.
Why did Family need a new pet?
Bing was all the pet they needed!
Bing challenged ShickShick to a play battle.
ShickShick was not playful.
Bing let out a sigh of relief.
No new pets here!
Alicia Meyers Kelly
Title: Mugsy & Marigold Share a Secret
WC: 124
“Mugsy! I have something to tell you!” Marigold tweeted softly.
“SOMETHING TO TELL ME?! Mugsy yelped and rolled on her back playfully.
“Not so loud! It’s a secret,” said Marigold, flapping her wings.
“Ruff! What’s a secret? Is it a game?” Mugsy jumped up and down ready to play.
“Sit Mugsy! A secret is something no one else can know but me and you! You have to promise you won’t tell anyone!”
“Ruff! Ruff! A game just me and you?!” Mugsy grabbed his ball and brought it close to Marigold’s beak.
Marigold smiled at her playful friend. “Come close Mugsy, only you can hear it…”
Mugsy scooted close and laid down on his belly, ears sticking straight up.
“….Mugsy, you’re my best friend.”
A Chick for My Hat (cook up a plan) WC: 226
A Chick flew,
Upon my head,
His wings
Were spread.
I shook my head,
And sat up,
And said,
“Please Mr. Chick,
Get off my head!”
He flapped
His wings,
Up and down,
I flapped my arms,
All around.
“Please Mr. Chick,
Go away!
Come back,
Another day!”
The Chick,
Wouldn’t move,
The Chick wouldn’t
Budge,
Not even for,
Some chocolate,
Fudge!
I waved a worm,
Above my head,
But he just lay,
As if he were dead.
So I jumped,
On a trampoline,
And flapped,
My arms to the sky,
He just looked down,
And winked an eye!
So I called my dog,
Pip,
To come on quick,
He tried to pull,
The Chick,
Who sat,
On my head,
But the Chick,
Stared and said,
“Achoo!”
What was I to do?
So I asked,
The squirrel,
To give it a whirl,
To see what he could do,
With the Chick,
Who thought my head,
Was a bed.
So the squirrel and
the Chick,
Both sat,
Upon my head,
And thought,
It was a bed!
Then I saw a crow,
I asked him to go,
He flew up and sat,
As Pip snored on his mat.
Chick, Squirrel, Crow
Knew where they had to go!
They left my head,
That they thought was a bed,
Then they landed on Pip,
Which they thought was a ship!
Zico and the fiesta (cook up a plan). WC 166
End of cuarentena, we are ready, fan-tas-TI-co!
“Let’s start planning a fiesta”, said our super hoster Zico.
“Platos delicioso, like a 5-star restaurante!
We’ll start with invitations, the guest list is importante!”
“All our best amigos, Enrique’s always fun!
Angel, Carmen, Miles y Lupe. Hmm, that’s almost everyone!
Clementine y Pablo y María de la Cruz
José and Sebastian! Okay, no time to lose!”
“The menu will be awesome! My world famous enchiladas,
Frijoles, ravioles, nachos, tacos, and tostadas!”
So much planning, we keep talking, where and when, and games to play!
Zico’s grand casita’d work, “We just need to pick the day.”
There’s no answer, Zico’s missing, no more planning, it’s no bueno!
‘Hey Zico”, Carmen spots him, “That looks like a cheese relleno!”
“I got a little hungry talking ‘bout the party food.”
“Was I gone that long? I’m sorry”, Zico mumbled as he chewed.
“Oh not too long” they answered, “just long enough that we
decided on su casa, si! Mañana, about 3.”
I love the cultural flavor you added to this one Katie!
Excellente, Katie! So much zest and good food in this one!
Katie, I love how you added all of the fabulous party food in your rhyme. Nicely done; now I’m hungry! 🙂