Heather Kinser
  • About Me
  • Books
  • School Visits
  • Blog
  • Contact

Entry for the 7th Annual "Holiday Contest"

12/7/2017

20 Comments

 
UPDATE: I'm happy to report that I placed in the contest!
My story was ranked among the top 12 (out of 78 entries) and went up for a vote,
coming out at 8th place overall.

     Ho, ho, ho! Get ready for holiday fun. Thanks to Susanna Leonard Hill's "Holiday Contest" (a close cousin of both the "Hallo-weensie Contest" and the "Valen-tiny Contest"), I have followed through on a story idea I've been sitting on for a while.
     This year's contest theme? Write about a holiday surprise. The rules? Keep the story to a 250 word limit. (Mine falls at 250, on the nose.)
     Good luck to everyone entering the contest!

RIGBY & TUTTLE:
THE PINECONE


It was Christmas, and Rigby Bear still didn’t have a gift for his friend.

“What to get the otter who has everything?” Rigby wondered.

Something special,

incredible...

surprising!

He lumbered through the neighborhood, thinking….

and slathering peanut butter onto bread. (Rigby always brought a snack.)

Soon he passed a persimmon tree.

“Persimmon popovers!” said Rigby. “Tuttle loves them! Luckily, I’m the best baker in town.”

But Rigby had given popovers before--

on Valentine’s Day,

April Fool’s Day,

and even Teacher Appreciation Day.

“On second thought,” said Rigby. “Popovers aren’t surprising.”

He bit into peanut-buttery bread. (To help him think, of course.)

Rigby padded into the countryside…

and past a pumpkin farm.

“Pumpkin pie! Good thing I’m an excellent baker.”

But he had given pie, many times before--

on Tuttle’s birthday,

Halloween,

and even National Paperclip Day.

“Come to think of it,” said Rigby. “Pie isn’t surprising.”

He shuffled into the forest...

but couldn’t dream up a Christmas surprise.

Huckleberry tarts? No.

Granola bars? No.

Frosted eclairs? Nope.

Rigby plopped down and sighed. “I only know how to bake. I can’t make anything else.”

He reached for a slice of bread...

picked up a pinecone instead…

and slathered it with peanut butter.

“Oops.”

Just then, Tuttle appeared, wearing bird-watching gear.

Rigby waved.

The icky-sticky pinecone clung to his fur…

and thirteen little birds perched on his paw, happily pecking peanut butter.

Chirp!

“A pinecone birdfeeder, for me? Thanks, pal!” said Tuttle. “What a surprise.”

“It sure is,” Rigby agreed...

“Merry Christmas!”

20 Comments
Vicki link
12/8/2017 07:29:07 am

Such a sweet simplicity to this story. I love it! And a true surprise for everyone :)
Best of luck to you.

Reply
Heather Kinser link
12/9/2017 09:01:39 pm

Thank you for stopping by and reading my story! Good luck in the contest.

Reply
Eleanor Ann Peterson
12/8/2017 07:53:14 am

I'm a nature lover, therefore I love this. Very clever. Happy Holidays.

Reply
Jill Proctor
12/8/2017 09:50:08 am

So cute! When I was small and visiting the lake, we would leave peanut-butter lathered pine cones for the blue jays. Thanks for the memories. And best of luck to you!

Reply
Kathy Halsey
12/8/2017 12:09:59 pm

Great application of the surprise theme. Love the story structure and the creative ideas. Now I want peanut butter, too.

Reply
Jilanne Hoffmann
12/8/2017 12:25:15 pm

I made these when my son was in preschool! Very cool idea to incorporate into a story. Good luck!

Reply
Jean Matthew Hall link
12/9/2017 08:28:54 am

Wonderful idea. Such a neat idea having both characters surprised!

Reply
Robyn Campbell link
12/9/2017 11:23:17 am

Fabulous idea. Love love love. Best wishes.

Reply
Rebekah Hoeft link
12/9/2017 08:30:04 pm

Love this--have never seen a story book to go with the classic bird feeder craft! I hope it's okay if I use with my kindergarten class!?

Reply
Heather Kinser link
12/9/2017 09:00:37 pm

I would be honored if you used it with your kindergarten class! If you do, write me here and let me know how it's received. I would really get a kick out of that.

Reply
Ann Martin
12/10/2017 12:10:59 am

So clever! I love the way this story unfolds; really economical with words, yet every word counts. Good luck in the competition!

Reply
Delfina Salimbene
12/10/2017 12:02:50 pm

This is too cute, Heather! I loved making pine cone bird feeders as a kid, and I loved that the gift was a surprise for both Tuttle and Rigby. Nice work!

Reply
Sherri Jones Rivers
12/10/2017 06:31:11 pm

I loved the language and his search for the perfect gift, which was really the perfectly accidental gift. Giggled at National Paperclip day!

Reply
Heather Kinser link
12/10/2017 07:37:10 pm

I'm so glad you liked "National Paperclip Day." I was hoping someone would appreciate that line!

Reply
Didi link
12/10/2017 06:35:57 pm

Such a cute story!!!! Great job! Good luck!

Reply
Gabi Snyder link
12/10/2017 09:32:39 pm

Heather -- This is so clever and heartwarming. I laughed at "National Paperclip Day." The accidental pinecone birdfeeder is the perfect holiday gift -- LOVE IT! (And now I really want persimmon popovers -- yum!)

Reply
Gregory E. Bray link
12/11/2017 01:17:20 pm

I remember making those as a kid. Good luck!

Reply
Susanna Leonard Hill link
12/13/2017 11:38:15 am

Hahaha! You made me laugh out loud at the end, Heather, when Rigby was as surprised as Tuttle at the gift! Very nicely done! Rigby reminds me a little of Pooh Bear... which makes me like him immensely :) Thanks for a clever, fun story and for joining in the Holiday Cheer!

Reply
Jean Matthew Hall link
12/14/2017 09:33:03 am

May I add you to my email list?
Thanks,
Jean

Reply
Deborah Boerema
12/16/2017 04:29:14 am

I liked the double surprise ending. Cute story. Good luck!

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014


    RSS Feed

    Subscribe
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.