Spring Fling Contest Entry
Rules include finding or making a GIF and then writing a short children’s story to go with it—maximum word count = 150. The crocus picture is from bestanimations.com and the caterpillar is Anardi’s at gifer.com. I combined them (my first homemade gif attempt!) by using giphy.com
My entry for the Spring Fling KidLit Contest:
STILL SLOAN
by Marcia Strykowski
A crinkly-skinned critter crawls across the crocus patch.
“Who are you?” chirps a cranky cricket named Frank.
The newcomer smiles. “I’m Sloan.”
Frank admires the creature’s smile but he doesn’t trust her.
“Did you say Slug?” Frank fills with fear.
“No, my name is…” Sloan’s words disappear when Frank shouts.
“Slugs are slimy!” Frank scurries away.
Feeling sad and misunderstood, Sloan snoozes beneath a leaf.
Shaded from sunlight, Sloan swings and spins.
Day turns to night and night turns to day, again and again.
Frank frets from far away. Safe, but lonely.
One day, Frank sees a beautiful butterfly flutter past.
“Who are you?” he calls.
The butterfly smiles.
“Well, I’ll be,” chirps Frank. “I know that smile!”
Sloan soars beyond the sky.
Frank follows with his eyes, then sighs.
“How I wish I’d given her a chance.”
Sloan swoops back into view. “It’s never too late to be friends!”
- Posted in: Children's Books ♦ contest ♦ Writing
- Tagged: contest, spring fling
Marcia Strykowski 
I LOVE this Marcia! Best of luck!
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Thanks, Cathy!
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Very cute, Marcia. Happy Spring!
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Thanks, Diana! Hope you’re doing well and happy spring to you, too!
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Sweet!
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🙂
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What a wonderful story and I love the gif you made. Good luck!!
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Thanks so much, Darlene!
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I love your story. Concise and perfect concepts!
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Thank you, Beth. I appreciate your comment!
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Aww, so cute! 💜 Never too late to be friends. 🦋
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🙂 Thanks, Ashwini!
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I love your story and the images you picked. Perfect!
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Thank you, Anne! I’m happy you enjoyed it!
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Poor Sloan for feeling misunderstood, I’m glad the two of them have a second chance at becoming friends ❤️
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🙂 Thanks for reading, Katie!
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Marcia,
Love the surprise at the end of your story, the alliteration, and the message!!! Good luck with the contest!
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Thanks so much, Mona!
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Awww…this is really sweet. Good luck!
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Thank you, Audrey!
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This is terrific, Marcia. Best of luck !!
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Thanks, Jennie!
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You’re welcome, Marcia. Happy Easter!
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To you, too! 🙂
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Marcia, I love the story as well as the lesson learned!! Great job! 🙂
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Thanks so much, I appreciate it!
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This really is such a cute story, Marcia. You’ve done a great job with the GIF too.
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Thanks a lot, Robbie! Hope you are doing well.
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Aww super cute! Thanks for sharing this hopeful story for the spring fling Kidlit contest!
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Thanks so much, Kaitlyn! I appreciate all the hours you’re putting in on this contest!
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PS I didn’t see the credit for the gif, please make sure to credit it 🙂
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Hmm, did you see the three links above my story title (in orange)? They should go straight to the originals. The final at giphy is my own combination of the two pictures which still shows the bestanimations credit in the bottom righthand corner of the crocus layer. Please let me know if this still doesn’t cover everything. Thanks again!
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What an adorable story! Love the ending! Best of luck in the contest!
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Thanks, Bette!
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Yay for second chances. Great lesson here!
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Thanks for your comment, Ciara, and for this fun contest!
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