I love a challenge so when I read about Vivien Kirkfield’s 50 Precious Words Contest, I was intrigued. Based on a challenge Bennet Cerf gave to Dr. Seuss to write a story using only 50 unique words, (he came up with Green Eggs and Ham) writers are challenged to write a 50-word story. It’s not as easy as it might seem. Here’s mine which is actually only 49 words:
A TREAT GROWS
by Claire Annette Noland
Weed patch,
What to do?
Pull them out until we’re through
Prepare soil.
Plant seeds.
Water and sun is what they need.
Up come sprouts,
Soft and green.
Vines twist, leaves are seen.
Flowers bloom.
Fruits appear.
Big and ripe, harvest’s here.
Watermelon-
Favorite treat
Hooray! Time to eat!
It feels like spring around here – I just checked the Old Farmer’s Almanac and learned that it is watermelon planting time in Central California.
I’m going to try some heirloom varieties. Is there any fruit more fun than a watermelon? We used to have seed spitting contests which are rare in these days of seedless watermelons.
Did you ever wonder what would happen if you swallowed a watermelon seed? This is Crocodile’s biggest fear.
The Watermelon Seed
by Greg Pizzoli (author and illustrator)
Picture book
Disney-Hyperion: 2013
Watermelon loving Crocodile gobbles up his favorite fruit until one day, oops! He swallows a seed. His wild imagination conjures up what horrible things are going to happen in this hilarious story with bold and bright illustrations. Considered a picture book, the simple text is perfect for emerging readers. In fact, it won the Theodor Geisel Award for beginning readers.
One Watermelon Seed
by Celia Lottridge (author) and Karen Patkau (illustrator)
picture book
Fitzhenry and Whiteside: 2012
Max and Josephine grow a garden beginning with one watermelon seed in this lovely counting books. The harvest is so plentiful that they need to count their bounty by 10’s, 100’s, and finally 1000’s. This book works on many levels and should be on every preschool and kindergarten book shelf.
Benjamin and Tulip
By Rosemary Wells (author and illustrator)
Picture book
Dial:1973
This sweet book is one of our family favorites. Poor Benjamin. He can’t seem to escape Tulip who “threatens to beat him up,” and then does. Finally, a watermelon helps them to reach a truce.
Unfortunately, this book is out of print but if you find a copy – buy it!
Have you ever entered a writing contest?
It’s always a challenge to write something meaningful with so few words. But you did it, Claire! Love the selection of books about watermelon.
I enjoyed your poem/story! Fun. And I love Greg Pizzoli’s book.
You did a good job on this 50 words!!