Monthly Archives: May 2023

A Secret for Two #99WordStories

The current prompt at the Carrot Ranch is to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about two who can keep a secret. Is the secret between them or is one keeping a secret from the other. Who are they? What remains unknown? What is revealed? Go where the prompt leads!

Like adults, some children can be better than others at keeping a secret. It may depend on how interesting the secret is and what the consequences may be for telling it. Regardless of age, people often have a desire to share a secret, at least once. And that’s okay, as long as the next person swears they won’t tell. I’ve eavesdropped on a couple of children with a secret to share. I can’t tell you what their secret is though, as, you know, it’s a secret.

Do you want to know a secret?

‘Wanna know something?’

‘What?’

‘A secret.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘Billie said I couldn’t tell anyone, but you’re not just anyone. I’ll tell you, but you mustn’t tell anyone. Okay?’

‘Okay.’

Josie bent close and cupped her hand around Daisy’s ear. ‘Swzh, swzh, swzh.’

Daisy giggled and automatically swiped her ear, accidentally hitting Josie on the nose.

‘What d’you do that for?’

‘It tickled. Tell me again, but don’t tickle this time.’

Billie loomed over them. ‘Hey. What’s going on?’

‘Um. Josie’s just telling me something.’

‘Um. It’s not your secret.’

‘It’s another Billie.’

Josie kicked Daisy, purposefully.

‘Why’d you do that?’

How could I write a post about secrets without sharing this wonderful song?

Thank you blog post

Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.

Race into Reading with National Simultaneous Storytime 2023 – #readilearn

Are you ready for National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) next Wednesday 24 May?

This year’s NSS book is The Speedy Sloth, written by Rebecca Young, illustrated by Heath McKenzie and published by Scholastic.

Follow this link to the Australian Library and Information Association where you can register for the event and download some wonderful (and free) teaching resources.

About The Speedy Sloth

The blurb

It was finally time for the event of the year,
Spike couldn’t believe it—
THE GREAT RACE was here!
The other sloths said it couldn’t be done,
but Spike didn’t care, she was ready to run!

About the author

Rebecca Young is an award-winning author from Sydney. Her first book, Button Boy, illustrated by Sue deGennaro, was a Notable Book for the 2012 CBCA Awards and has been published internationally. In 2016, Teacup, illustrated by Matt Ottley, won the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature in the NSW Premier’s Literacy Awards.

About the illustrator

Heath McKenzie is an award-winning children’s book illustrator who has written and illustrated countless books for children. Heath lives in Melbourne with his wife, two kids, dog, and a fish that he considers more of a lodger than a family member.

About National Simultaneous Storytime

Continue reading: Race into Reading with National Simultaneous Storytime 2023 – readilearn