The 50 Precious Words Contest is over. The level of participation was bested only by the level of quality of the stories. I thank everyone who posted a story or shared about the contest. So many people commented that writing the stories and reading the entries were a great exercise in honing their writing skills…I was so happy to hear that because I know we are all on a quest to write books of precious words for children..

Some of you suggested that it might be nice to have the fifteen winning stories in one place so they could be easily read. GREAT IDEA! I hope you all enjoy reading these as much as I did. If you find any of the entries have been deleted…those lucky stories are out on submission and I have removed them as per the author’s request.

And if you want an inside peek into the process I used to select the winners, please visit the GROG blog, where Janie Reinart asked me some probing questions: groggorg.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-peek-behind-curtain.html

1. LITTLE TIGER by Julie Abery

 

 

2. STAY OR GO by Shari Schwarz

Peeking
out the apartment window
Fearing
all I see:
Men protest, women scurry, children flee

Should I stay?
Speak and fight?
Or continue…

Cowering
For my life
Betraying
What I know is right…
because
I have too much to lose.
I can leave this all behind.

And so I do.

 

3. CATCH A BIRD by Maria Marshall

Waiting,
birds bob on a branch,
a boy wiggles at the window.

Finally,
the feeder is full.

An excited bounce,
birds flee.
Still as stone,
birds return.

Click, click, click.

The first – blurry.
The second – just wing-tips.
The third – “Look Mom, I caught my first bird.”

“Can we frame it?”

 

4. I DID IT! by Cathy Stenquist

I did it!
What?
Yep, I did it.
Where?
There!
Really?
I think so…?
You better check. Well?
It’s true! I did it!
But, you said…
I know.
I’m surprised!
Me too!
That’s amazing!
I really did it!
Are you happy?
I am.
I’m proud of you.
Me too.

 

5. ANYTHING BUT BROCCOLI! by Jodi McKay

 

Broccoli? Yuck!
I’ll eat beets, beans, even bok choy. Anything but broccoli!
Here boy, got a tasty treat for you.
Psst! I’ll do your chores if you eat these.
They will blend in nicely with my napkin.
UGH! I hate broccoli!
Only one bite?
Mmmmmm, not bad.
More broccoli please!

 

6. TOES! By Janet Smart

Little toes,
Big toes,
Five toes,
Ten toes.

Soft toes,
Rough toes,
Wriggly little
Baby toes.

Mom’s toes,
Dad’s toes,
Sister’s tip-tapping
Toes.

Hot toes,
Cold toes,
Little brother’s
Dirty toes.

Here come
More toes,
Skipping-down-the-road
Toes.

My toes,
Your toes.
All around the world
Toes!

 

7. KITCHEN DRAWER DRAMA by Katelyn Aronson

“You pinch! Get lost!”
said Silverware to Tongs.
(They kicked him out.)

Tongs passed the Sink.
From inside The Black Hole,
“HELP!” came a shout.

Lost Baby Spoon!
Tongs reached inside, then pinched
and pulled her free.

“Hero! Come home!”
said Silverware to Tongs,
“We’re family!”

 

8. CAT’S REVENGE by Jean James

Cat’s finally done it!

Squirrels in his teeth.

A hostage to revenge the dog.

Payback to bequeath.

Cat purrs with satisfaction

Dog barks with delight

Angered squirrels protest

hurling acorn pegmatite’s.

Meow and Yelp cry cat and dog

distracted from their prey

ducking flying acorn shells

as squirrel gets away!

 

9. RAINBOW’S TREASURE by Sara Gentry

On a bicycle.
Escaping city giants.
Pedaling.
Leaving behind
cold concrete and smoky skies.
Pedaling faster.

Free.

Rolling
through fields of
red poppies,
orange lilies,
sunflowers,
green clover,
bluebells,
and lavender.

A clearing.
A picnic.
Friends.

Treasure at the rainbow’s end.

 

10. HONU WAITS by Stephanie Shaw

The water is deep and cool.
Honu drifts
through blue,
then turquoise,
then green.
Honu waits.
Rises.
Drifts.
Gold sand.
Honu rests.
Sun warms him.
One flipper
Then the other.
One leg
And again.
Honu waits
White froth covers him.
Honu drifts
Through green
Then turquoise
Then blue.

 

11. THE MASTERPIECE by Shelley Kinder

Deep blue canvas.

Passionate Painter.

Splashes of pink,

Yellow,

Orange.

Will they love His sunrise,

As He loves them?

More pink…

Yellow…

Orange…

A punch of purple!

It is finished.

People point,

Cheer,

Dance,

Admiring the masterpiece.

The Painter is pleased.

God rests His brush,

Excited for sunset…

The possibilities!

 

12. RUN CHIPPIE RUN b Debbie Vidovich

Chipmunk skittles, running free,

Under logs and up the tree.

Moving fast, a tiny blur,

Flashes white and stripes of fur.

Gathers nuts and seeds and fruit,

Down the hole-hurry, scoot!

Nestled deep beneath the ground,

Furry wiggles bounce around.

Mama settles, babies play,

What a busy Chippie day!

 

13. DOGGIE DELIGHTS by Janie Reinart

Doggie delights in digging.

Dirty Doggie.

SELF-SERVE DOG WASH.

Doggie deposits a bone.

Pulls ropes.

Pushes levers.

Bubble-bath.

Rinse.

Pulls ropes.

Pushes levers.

Dryers on.

Pulls ropes.

Pushes levers.

Brushes fluff.

Pulls ropes.

Pushes levers.

Bandana on.

Pulls ropes.

Pushes levers.

Treats for a clean Doggie.

Doggie delights in digging.

 

14. BEAR’S FIRST SPRING by Jess Townes

Now, Mama?

Not while snow is our blanket.
Back to sleep, my love.

Now, Mama?

Not while catkins haven’t bloomed.
Back to sleep, my love.

Now, Mama?

Not while papa’s still hunting.
Back to sleep, my love.

NOW, Mama?

Melted snow.
Willows blow.
Hearts aglow.

Now it’s time, my love.

 

15. A RIDE IN THE CAR by Lauri Fortino

My tail wags fast.
My head’s out the window.
We’re going to the park.
Or Grandma’s.
Or Hotdog Hut.
Hey!
This is not the park.
Or Grandma’s.
Or Hotdog Hut.
My tail droops.
This place smells scary.
A shot!
Awrooooo!
What? Done!
Next stop, Hotdog Hut!
My tail wags fast.

THANK YOU, EVERYONE! CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!

Take a bow…and a well-deserved rest…and I hope you will all return for the 2nd Annual #50 Precious Words Contest next year. I’ll see what great prizes we can snag.

I know everyone is really busy…but if you have the time, all of the other entries deserve to be read.

And please come back for Perfect Picture Book Friday…are you wondering what fabulous story I will pull out of my hat? Since it’s almost Easter, perhaps it will have to be about a rabbit.