#50PreciousWords 2023 with Vivian Kirkfield

Vivian Kirkfield is hosting her annual writing contest.  The challenge is to write a story for children in 50 words or less.  Head over to her site to read all of the offerings and find the rules if you'd like to participate. The deadline this year is 3/5/23.

Alone
by Rebekah Hoeft
50 words

Far away
on a hill
in a cave
lived a dragon.

He roared and cried
till a girl climbed the hill.

She asked, “Are you sad?”

He said, ”I am alone.”

“I will stay.”

And now

in a cave

on a hill
far away
lives a dragon and a girl.

©️Rebekah Hoeft 2023

#FallWritingFrenzy 2022 - Lights

 

Fall- Credit: Daniele Colucci for Unsplash

Lights

In all this city, grayed and grim,

it's never truly bright.

But dawn sends out a hint, a skim

of rose to cut the night.

At noon if clouds should, on a whim,

dissolve to wisps you might

discern blue sky through gauzy scrim;

blink once you'll miss the sight.

The dusk sends sun below the brim

of sky, the clouds take flight

as if they need a rest, they'll rim

the edges of the night.

The lamps are lit. They glow in dim

and eerie streets; they fight

the inky shadows, bleak and grim:

prove dark can't drive out light.

© Rebekah Hoeft 2022

Get Well Soon, Mrs. Love -- Susanna Leonard Hill's 2022 Valentiny Contest

It's contest time over at Susanna Leonard Hill's blog. The rules?  Write a tiny story with a Valentine theme where a character feels pride. And keep it to 214 words or less.

I wrote a story about some kids who worked hard on Valentine presents for their teacher, who has to miss the classroom party becausw she's sick.

♥️ ♥️ ♥️

Get Well Soon, Mrs. Love
214 words

“Mrs. Love shouldn’t miss our party AND presents,” Ingrid said indignantly.

Omar agreed. “We worked hard on her gifts. Could you deliver them?”

Everyone looked at me, knowing I lived on our teacher’s street. I felt nervous but to cheer her up, I agreed.

On the way, I practiced the poem I’d written. I knocked, holding out the box of gifts when she tiredly opened the door.

Shyly I stammered, “…H-h-happy Valentine’s Day.

Bertha and Bree made a card with pink beads.
Eve shaped a heart for your birds with some seeds.

Omar and Oak wrote a Valentine’s joke.
Ume’s heart sculpture was great (till it broke).
Rue drew a lovebug so cute and so weird.

Von’s homemade chocolate has – GASP! – disappeared.
Anamaria recorded a song.
Lex penned a letter but spelled your name wrong.
Elle made a crown with those jewels that stick.
Neal’s heart is HEAVY with paint smeared on thick.
Tula thought tulips would be your delight.
Ingrid felt strongly that roses were right.
None of us like that you’re out with the flu.
Each of our presents say we sure love you!"

Mrs. Love beamed. “I’ve never been more happy to be your teacher. Thank you.”

She waved and I walked away, bursting with pride that we’d made her smile.

♥️ ♥️ ♥️

If you missed this year's contest, try out Susanna's other holiday writing contests in October and December.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Susanna Leonard Hill's ValenTINY 2021 - Grouchy Grover

Grouchy Grover the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak ©️ 2021 Rebekah Hoeft

Grouchy Grover

214 words

Grover eyed the cat nervously.  Mission nearly complete, Grover darted to the hibiscus plant by the house.  This was the last trip to finish his special valentine and apology.

That morning, Grover had been rude to Rose.  

"Go away. This is my spot."  The branch Grover claimed was perfect for catching bugs and held perfectly ripe coffee berries.

"Sure, Grover. I'll go," she’d chirped kindly.  Off she’d flitted to friends perched in the warm Jamaican sun.  He wished he’d been kinder.  Valentine’s Day wasn’t the same without Rose. 

Most rose-breasted grosbeaks loved winter vacation, but as usual, he’d woken up on the wrong side of the branch.  He missed their Michigan garden with its pine trees and sunflower seeds supplied by thoughtful humans.  His winter feathers were faded and splotchy.  Grover didn’t feel like himself.

Now he was trying to make it up to Rose. 

The cat turned.  Scared but determined, he plucked up his courage, plucked the flower, and soared away just as the cat pounced.  

Returning to his masterpiece, he placed the last flower.

 Nervously, he chirped, "Rose? Can you come here?"

She hopped to where he stood next to a tasty heart made of flowers and coffee berries.

"Rose, I'm sorry I was unkind.  Will you be my valentine?"

"Always, Grover."

©2021 Rebekah Hoeft

* * * * * * * * * * *

Susanna Leonard Hill is hosting her annual ValenTINY contest.  She invites authors to write and submit stories of 214 words or less centered around Valentine's Day.  This year, authors also need to include the idea of bravery in their stories.  For the complete rules and to read other entries, you should check out her Valentiny blog post.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Head over to my TpT page to purchase a set of worksheets to practice reading comprehension of this story and a related nonfiction article.

Susanna Leonard Hill's Halloweensie 2020: Scarlett Skeleton

Scarlett Skeleton

100 words

Scarlett Skeleton hid in the shadowy dark behind a shed, teeth click-clacking as she sobbed.  The shouts of trick-or-treaters echoed around her.

Footsteps crept close. A cat-masked face peeked around the corner.

“Hi!  I’m Casey.  Why are you sad?”

Scarlett sighed, showing her empty bucket.  “Parents shriek and throw hard candy at me, which rattles right through me.  I want treats; they think I’m the trick.”

Casey said, “That is sad.  Would you like some of my taffy? It's delicious and will stick to your ribs."

Scarlett nodded thankfully, happy to have found a sweet treat and a sweet friend

©️ 2020 Rebekah Hoeft

It's Halloweensie time over at Susanna Leonard Hill's blog! Here's what how she explains it:

"The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under) (title not included in the 100 words), using the words skeleton, creep, and mask.  Your story can be scary, funny, sweet, or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!)  Get it?  Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people "

For more details on how to submit your own story or to read other entries, head to her Susanna's Halloweensie blog post.

Thanks. Susanna, for another fun prompt!

Hop To It: Poems to Get You Moving (alternate title: I Am In A Book!)

From Pomelo Books:

"Hop to It: Poems to Get You Moving is an anthology of 100 poems by 90 poets—with fun factoids sprinkled throughout, thematic mini-lessons, and extensive back matter featuring useful tips to help maximize student learning. You can share a new poem or two each week of the school year—and come back to share your students' favorite poems over and over! Poems involve the whole body and incorporate a wide variety of movements—including deskercise!

You'll find poems on "2020 topics," too, such as life during a pandemic, virtual learning, staying connected with friends, and standing up for what you believe in. Take a "30-second indoor recess" (or "brain break") whenever you need it!

Contributing poets include: Alma Flor Ada, David Bowles, Joseph Bruchac, F. Isabel Campoy, Yangsook Choi, Lesa Cline-Ransome, Zetta Elliott, Margarita Engle, Alan Katz, Linda Sue Park, Jack Prelutsky, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Padma Venkatraman, and Carole Boston Weatherford."

I'm proud and grateful to say that my name, though not at all illustrious, can be added to that list of poets.

As inspiration: my son and his cousin (who lives 4 hours away), played a basketball game called "Bank" while they were both in virtual learning mode during the spring of 2020. It was definitely one of the good memories of the season!

You can buy the book at QEP Books.

While you're there, check out Pomelo's other poetry books or head to their website. Sylvia and Janet make teaching poetry easy-peasy!

#FallWritingFrenzy

from Unsplash by Jakub Kriz

Dark and Deep

For things that scurry, things that creep,

the woods are lovely, dark and deep.

While sunshine shimmers high I’m fine

to play among the dappled pine.

But when the sun sinks low and hides

its warmth and cheer, the dusk divides

the day from night; I feel a chill

as fog falls fast. A screech owl’s shrill

and eerie shriek is all I need

to turn my feet with fear-filled speed

towards home and leave the dark and deep

to things that scurry, things that creep.

© September 2020 Rebekah Hoeft

It's writing contest time!  Between October 1-October 3, 2020, post a fall-themed poem or story on your blog or in the comment section at Lydia Lukidis's #FallWritingFrenzy. You  can find more information on her blog. 

Crunchy Puddles Are Crunchalicious!

Picture by blabla5 from Pixabay

WINTER WALKING

On winter walks

on crisp cold mornings

my favorite part

of frozen gravel paths

is finding

rumpled edges

and shallow ditches

where skims of

clouded ice

hang waiting for

my ice-searching

puddle-crunching

foot to

smash crash crinkle crackle crunch through

to the hollow space beneath.

© Rebekah Hoeft February 2020

Michelle, over at Today's Little Ditty, interviewed Buffy Silverman.  Buffy is a Michigan author who writes nonfiction books and poetry for children--sometimes combining the two.  You can find out more about her work on her website.

Buffy has a new book called On a Snow-Melting Day:  Seeking Signs of Spring.  It's full of photographs and beautiful words that make you feel like spring is right around the corner!

Buffy challenged Michelle's readers to write a poem that uses combined or invented words.  Head to Michelle's February padlet for examples or to post one of your own.

I gave it a try with the above free verse poem about crunchy puddles, which are in my top 10 things that make me happy during the cold months.

Thanks, Michelle, for posting it on your site.  Seeing it there was as thrilling as stepping through a crinkle crackling puddle! 

Susanna Leonard Hill's Valentiny 2020 - Heart Hunt

It's that time of year--Valentiny time over at Susanna Leonard Hill's blog! 

Write a teeny-tiny children's story following these basic rules:

💜Make it tiny--214 words or less!

💜Make sure it is Valentine's story.

💜Make sure it includes someone who feels curiosity.

You can find more information at her blog.

Heart Hunt

214 words

Samuel shook his sister.  “Josie. Wake up.”

“Samuel,” Josephine grumbled, “it’s not dignified to be shaken.  Kindly desist.

“Princess Josephine, your royal presence is requested on a scavenger hunt.  Might you get up NOW?!”

Josephine popped up.  “To find what?”

Samuel shrugged, holding up a heart-shaped card with glimmering, golden words: ‘Head to the HEARTh.’  “Mother and Father left this before they set out for the Valentine’s ball.”

They ran to the great room.  There they found a warm fire and another card.

Josephine read:  'Go where cLOVErleaf grows.'

“The meadow!”  

Once ready, they crossed the moat to the snowy meadow.  Josephine sighed. “I wish Herbert was here. He loved adventures.”  

Samuel’s eyes grew hot with tears.  “I know. But he had to go. He didn’t like scaring people.”

The next crimson clue hung from a snowy branch on the edge of the meadow.

'Find your HEART’s desire where foxgLOVE’s found first.'

Josephine wondered.  “The only thing my heart desires is -- Oh!  Maybe through the woods…”

“...by the cave!  Do you think…?”

“I do.  Let’s go!” 

They ran until they reached the cave. 

Curled in the clearing was their dragon.  

“Herbert!”  

A golden heart around his neck read: 'Herbert’s here to stay. Happy Valentine’s Day!'

Herbert purred as they gave him a welcome-home hug.

Update: Not a finalist :) but there are some stories you can read at Susanna's blog that did make it to the finals! Read for fun or you can read for fun AND to vote by February 22, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

Susanna Leonard Hill's 9th Annual Holiday Contest - Merry and Bright

Susanna Leonard Hill, author, blogger, and chocolate lover, has given her annual holiday challenge:  write a teensy tiny holiday story.  Here are the basic rules if you want to play along:

-Story must have a clear holiday theme

-Story must be about a treat 

-Story must be no longer than 250 words

-Story must be for kids 12 years old and younger

Post your story on your blog and go to Susanna's site between December 9-11 and give her your story-specific link (or copy and paste your story in her comment section).

Happy Christmas and happy writing!

Merry and Bright

by Rebekah Hoeft

250 words

You'd think Christmas Eve on the tippy-top of the world would be merry and bright.  But Christmastime in Christmastown is covered in cold darkness.  The only light comes from what stars and moon peek through the clouds.  This Christmas, not even the moon showed its face.

Grumpy Christmastown elves, wishing for their cozy homes and well-deserved naps, were not cheered by Abner’s letter. 

Tomkin waved his lantern around, casting strange shadows on the other elves.  “Abner said there’d be something splendid out here.  All I see is dark...and a little more dark after that...wait...I see something.  Oop.  More dark.”

Pierette said, “Tomkin, Abner never lies.  If he said we’ll have a treat tonight, we will.” 

The elves agreed and huddled together, passing the time with elf song and stories.

After hours of waiting, elves started taking stealthy steps back home until Tomkin gasped and pointed at a glimmer growing in the sky.  Soon, it looked as if the sun had decided to wake from its sleep.  Brightly colored packages dropped, gliding to the ground on shimmering parachutes.  The elves scampered to open them:

“Candy canes!” 

“Cotton candy!” 

“Chocolate covered carrots!”  

—all the makings for a fine elf feast. 

The last parachute floated down, carrying a giant lantern and another letter:

Dear Ones,

You worked hard this year!

Enjoy your feast!

Love,

Abner

Head Elf,

Delivery Division

And so they did and all were merry and bright, even in the darkest, most tippy-top part of the world.

Thanksgiving