Hurray! It is time to unveil the stories for this year’s #50PreciousWordsforKids International Writing Challenge.
The stories came from all over the United States – Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, North Carolina, Maryland, California, Iowa, Maine, and even my state of New Hampshire, plus one entry with awesome illustrations from across the pond in Northern Ireland!
I thank all of the parents and teachers who encouraged their children to participate and made it possible for us to enjoy the work of these young authors. And I thank all of the kids who shared their precious words with us!
Here were the guidelines:
- Each child, grade K-6, writes a story of 50 words or less.
- Title not included in word count.
- Story must have a beginning, middle, and end.
- Happy or sad, silly or serious, true or make-believe.
- Teachers/students choose one story to submit per class.
- Homeschooling parents submit one story per child.
- Please email story to: viviankirkfield@gmail.com by May 7 at 11:59pm.
- Stories post on my blog: viviankirkfield.com on May 11.
- Teacher receives a certificate to copy and present to each child who wrote a story.
And here are the stories!!!
I’M NENI
by Tessa
2nd grade
Maryland
I’m Neni. I moved this summer to the United States. At my new school, Ms. Santiago told me to present a talent. I danced. A boy stood and yelled, “Hey Miss African girl–you’re hurting my eyes.” I kept dancing proudly and everybody clapped at the end. Even that boy.
CRYSTAL RUN!
by Claire M
Age 10 – 4th grader
Michigan
I’m running through a forest with a crystal. I need to get it to the heart of the forest. Robots are chasing me! I got it so I could save the world which is falling apart. I see the pedestal! I place it down and the robots shut down.
Cupcake
by Dempsey
Age 10 – 4th grader
“I want a cupcake,” Ava yelled.
“No,” screamed her mom, “after lunch.”
“Fine,” Ava said.
So Ava ate her lunch and got a cupcake.
“I want vanilla!” Ava yelled, “Not chocolate!”
“You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit,” screamed her mom.
“AHHHHH.”
No cupcake.
The Lemonade Stand
by Elise L.
2nd grade
Rochester Central Lutheran School in Rochester, Minnesota.
It was a hot day. I wanted to make a lemonade stand. I love lemonade! First, I got lemons, ice cubes, and sugar. Then, I made the lemonade and the stand. Next, I put up my stand. Finally, I advertised for it. Lots of customers came. Best lemonade stand ever!!!
RAINING CARROTS?
by
Abel, Amoura, Anala, Andrew, Brandon, Briony, Carli, Eliana, Elias, George, Irwin, Josiah, Lakai, Liam, Lucy, Marvin, Nathan, Rinko, Ruca, Savannah, Sawyer, Sienna, Talia, and Wardah
Who are kindergarten students from:
David Lubin Elementary School
Sacramento, CA
In Mrs. Catherine Hashimoto’s Class
It was raining carrots at the David Lubin playground, so the students in Mrs. Hashimoto’s class sadly went inside. Suddenly, out came Super Bunny. She ate all the clouds; then swept up all the carrots into the bag. The kids said, “Thank you!” and ate the carrots at the playground.
The Dinosaur Loved the Dog
by Keagan
7-years old
Oklahoma
The dinosaur went through the woods.
Over the desert.
Swam the river and ate chocolate mud.
He had to take a shower.
Then he went to bed.
He dreamed he was walking with a puppy.
He woke up and found the puppy sleeping by him.
The dinosaur loved the puppy.
The Blue Jay Eats
by Amelia
6 years old
Oklahoma
Hi! I’m a blue jay. My name is Buster. I eat berries from the berry tree. The tree is green with lots of fruit on top. I fly around the tree. Lots of fruit is falling off to me. They are so very pink. They make juice for me.
The First Epic Adventure
by Linnea
8 years old – 3rd grade
Tom Wilson Elementary, Katy, Texas
One day two adventurous bunnies went on a roller coaster. They took control of the drivers seats and blasted to Mount Everest. Then they said “one small step for bunny, one giant leap for bunnykind.” Then they flew up on stars to conquer the Moon and hopefully reunite with Kirby.
Ruby Kicking A Bush
by Bethany
Age 7
West Des Moines, IA
Ruby went outside to kick a dead bush. Before even the tip of her toe touched it, she fell.
When she fell, she broke her leg. She had to wear a cast. She got better soon.
TRAIN BLASTING OFF
by Ronen K.
Age 6
Saratoga, CA
Once there were some trains, one had rockets on the back. The train that had rockets blasted off into space. The train never came back, ever again. The other trains were worried that it ran out of fuel. But the train did not run out of fuel, it was electric.
A Comic Strip Cartoon Between Two Dragons
by Delenne
Northern Ireland
1. “Where’s the cookies? Humm”
2. “I don’t see any cookies”
3. “Well this is a job for Emerald Holmes”
4. “Who would eat the cookies except for me?”
5. “Ah ha!”
“You ate the cookies, didn’t you Lavender?”
“No, I DIDN’T!”
6. “Did you check the cookie cam?”
“Nope”
7. (shows green dragon eating cookies at 2am with the date 5/5/18)
8. “So, who ate the cookies?”
9. “Uhhh.”
TUXEDO KITTEN
by Ariah L.
Age 9
Biddeford, Maine
Snowpaws, the black and white tuxedo kitten,
was nine weeks old when she got adopted at a shelter by a family.
She was curled up on a bed under an ironing board.
A seven year old girl scooped her up.
“This one,” she said, and named her
Snowpaws.
The end.
THE NOISE
by Elektrah L
Age 11
Biddeford, Maine
A tortoiseshell cat walked through a field with a forest of pines and birch.
Wind ruffled her fur. Then she heard a noise. It sounded like a cat!
She dashed through the forest.
A white tom stood under a pine. “I’m Glacier!”
“I’m Star,” she replied.
They became best friends.
FLAMINGO IS MY BEST FRIEND
by Nora
Age 7 – 1st grade
Great Mills, Maryland
Flamingo is my best friend. He wants to be a sea horse. Sea horses live in the water and Flamingo can’t swim. Flamingo will have to sit on the beach instead. I’ll bring Flamingo two scoops of ice cream with sea horse sprinkles because Flamingo is my best friend.
The Vacation
by Nehemiah
Age 6
North Carolina
There was a boy who loved video games, but he only had 10 minutes to play. As soon as he started, it was time to leave for vacation. They saw cool animals and wanted a dog for a pet. They found one at the dog store, and they loved him.
The Playful Kitten
by Naomi
Age 7
North Carolina
There was a little kitten that had on mittens. It was cute and black with green, sparkling eyes. Her name was Sweet Pea, and she loved fish for a snack. She loved to play with her owner where the other cute little animals were playing in the park.
Rocco
7 years old
Amherst, NH
One day, a little boy told his mother that he was going to walk to his grandmother’s by himself. His mother told her child that he can’t go without a parent. The boy refused. Then, he sat down to think about what he said to his mother. They went together.”
Dog Man
by Nico J.
Sacremento, CA
Dog Man becomes a boxer and fights a cat fish stick man.
Chapter 1
“Ruff, ruff! You wana start reading? Here try a comic book. Bye! “Ruff, bark! Hello and welcome! Grr! Ra! Huh? Dog man, you’re late for work. Ruff! Bye!Chapter 2
Getting Fired
Grr! Hmm! Your’e fired!Chapter 3
The Big Blow Out
Dog man, where are you?
Dog man wins. Dog man, you’re hired.Chapter 4
Party Time!
Party at Dog man’s.
The End
Magic does happen when you make every word count…and when you encourage children to write. CONGRATULATIONS to all of these young authors – your stories were fabulous!
Have a wonderful weekend – and Happy Mother’s Day!
Photo courtesy: https://iheartcraftythings.com
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 