Hey Kids, Let's Play! Writing Prompt of the Week

Critique is a playful cat, and Addie is looking for some fun. Both are hoping that Storee will take them outside for a while.

Addie wants to go swimming. Critique is longing to do some climbing. Storee Wryter likes to do both and she likes to swing. What can they do and where can they go so all three have a great time?

Write a story about fun in the sun. What do you like to do when the weather is right for playing outdoors? Your story can be set during the day or evening.

Here are some ideas to get you started: picnic, visit to the playground, hide-n-seek, catching fireflies (lightning bugs), climbing a big, sturdy tree, jumping rope, going to the pool, a game of water tag, mini Olympics. 

Write and let Critique, Storee and Addie, know how you like to spend a day in the sun.

Until next week - Happy Writing!

Tale of the Super Bug Bite - Writing Prompt

After suffering a bite from a mysterious bug no one has ever seen before you begin to develop super powers. At first all your friends are thrilled. Your team is unbeatable with you on the soccer field. You know the answers to all the math tests before your teacher passes them out and you can make ice cream sundaes appear out of thin air.
Everything is wonderful until you start seeing changes in your best friend. Has she or he been bitten too, and if so, why is he or she so angry with you all of a sudden?

Storee's cat, Critique, thinks something very fishy is going on and she can't wait to find out what it is.

Post your version of The Tale of the Super Bug Bite as a response to this post and satisfy Critique's curiosity. Until then, Happy Writing!

Could a Golden Retriever Like Addie Be A Perfect Family Pet?

This link to a video on The Discovery Channel will help you answer that question.  If you answer yes, the book Storee Wryter Gets a Dog - featuring ADDIE as a puppy is the book for you. It features suggestions for training your puppy and a great story for young readers that includes an invitation to write their own short stories about their pets and other topics.

ADDIE all Grown Up

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/dogs-101-golden-retriever.html

Click here to order a signed copy of Storee Wryter Gets a Dog.

Storee's Writing Prompt of the Week

Storee Wryter was helping her mom by sorting and folding the clean laundry when she notice one of her favorite socks was missing.
That's curious, Storee thought. She was too intent on her work to notice  Critique pawing at the still warm pile of socks belonging to Mr. Wryter that Storee had placed on the sofa.

When she finished her work Storee realized on of her father's socks was missing too!

Write a story about what happens to all the socks that get lost in the dryer. Where do they  go?

For more fun include Critique in your story. Why was she pawing at the pile of warm socks?

Post your story as a reply to this prompt. Storee and Critique look forward to reading it.

Until next week, Happy Writing!

Storee Wryter Gets a Dog Named a Best Dog Book for Young Readers by The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan

To be named as one of the best dog books for young readers by such a prestigious publication is an honor. Barbara Simpson Carducci, Author of Storee Wryter Gets a Dog is thrilled have her book recommended to young readers by the publishers of Cesar's Way. Teachers and parents may contact her regarding author visits and writing workshops at the following email address storeewryter@gmail.com 

Critique is Missing by Alexis Zimmer-Chu

Alexis was also a participant in the writing camp taught by Barbara Simpson Carducci. Here is her version of Critique is Missing. Unfortunately, Alexis didn't have time to write chapter five.  Can you provide an ending for her story?  

Chapter 1 –Where O  Where Did My Little Cat Go? 

“Critique! Where are you?” eight-year-old Storee Wryter called.  Ten minutes ago Critique, Storee’s black and white cat had been happily looking for mice or grasshoppers in the backyard. Storee had just looked up and realized Critique was gone.

“Critique!” Storee called again.

Just then her parents came out. “What’s wrong Storee?” asked Storee’s dad.

“Critique is missing!” Storee cried. “She was right here a few minutes ago.”

“Calm down, honey. I’m sure Critique will be back soon, “soothed her mom.

Can’t we at least put up posters?” Storee said. Both her parents agreed that was a good idea. They went inside to make them. While they made the posters, the Wryters went over possible ideas. She could have wandered, gotten hurt, been catnapped, or stuck.

‘What if she were kidnapped?’ thought Storee. Wouldn’t that make an interesting story?

Chapter 2 – Grumpy Grumpis  Interferes.

Critique had been gone for three days. Mr. and Mrs. Wryter went out to put up posters with Storee. They put them on every tree and post they could find.

CAT MISSING, said the posters.

BLACK AND WHITE FEMALE.

PLEASE CALL 111-234-5678 IF YOU FIND CRITIQUE

“Do you think someone will find her?” Storee asked her mom.

                “I hope so. But we’ll get her back one way or another,” she replied.

“I guess,” said Storee, hoping her mom was right. They did all the trees on the Wryter’s side and then crossed the street to the home of Mrs. Grumpis. As they were putting a poster on a tree in front of Mrs. Grumpis’ house, she came out to stop them.

“Don’t you put them ugly posters up anyplace near this home of mine!” she cried. Her old leathery skin made her seem very tough. She peered down at Storee through her spectacles and said, “Git away from here. Do y’all here me?”

Storee and her mom said they were sorry and went to put posters on the next house down.

“That’s right! Git gone, y’hear?” Mrs. Grumpis called after them, waving her fist in the air.

What is she took Critique? Storee speculated. What if…?

Chapter 3 –  Storee Suspects Jake

The next day Storee took a walk to look for Critique. She peered under bushes and behind houses. She even asked neighbors if they had seen Critique, though she avoided Mrs. Grumpis’ house.

She was heading home very disheartened, when she saw a boy in the backyard of Mrs. Grumpis’ house. He looked slightly older than Storee and had jet -black hair. He was practicing something in the backyard but Storee couldn’t tell what it was. She went closer and saw him kicking and punching.

“What are you doing? Storee asked.

                “Aya! Karate! I’m a black belt you know,” he answered. “And my name’s Jake. I’m here for the summer.”

Storee was trying not to giggle. Jake looked so concentrated on doing his karate and talking that he looked rather comical.

“I’m Storee,” she giggled.

“You know, karate isn’t funny!” yelled jake. “But your name is!”

That made Storee stop laughing.

“You be quiet about my name!” she said, on the verge of tears. She turned and walked home crying.

“Mom! You know Mrs. Grumpis across the street?”

“Yes, why?”

“She has a grandson named Jake!”

“Well that’s nice. Is he your age?”

“About. But he said I have a funny name.”

“That was very mean of him,” Mrs. Wryter told Storee. Storee nodded. Her mom gave her a big hug.

“You shouldn’t listen to what people like that say, though, Storee. You have a beautiful name,” her mom said, stroking Storee’s hair. Storee nodded again.

What if Jake’s in on Critique’s disappearance, Storee thought. What a story that would make.

Chapter 4 – Critique Gone for Good?

Critique had been gone for a week. Storee had almost given up hope, even though she still asked the neighbors. One day, Storee decided to as Mrs. Grumpis.

Well, here goes nothing, she thought, knocking on the door.  The door opened. Storee found herself looking into Jake’s face.

“Uh, hi,” he said.

“Hey,” Storee said.  “You haven’t seen a cat around, have you?”

Jake grunted.

“What?” Storee asked.

“I don’t think so. Grandma hates cats,” Jake answered.

“Oh. You know, I’m sorry I laughed at your karate. I don’t know what I was thinking,“ mumbled Storee.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry I made fun of your name. I actually think it’s pretty cool,” Jake said.

“Don’t worry about it. What’s on your sofa?” Storee said. She had just seen black and white fur on the sofa. It looked like cat fur!

“Oh, uh, nothing,” Jake said hurriedly.

Yeah right, Storee thought.  “See ya,” Storee said.

“Yeah,” said Jake. So Storee left

As she was leaving an idea came to her. Animal Control! She ran home to tell her parents. As she rounded the corner she saw an Animal Control truck. Storee ran up and asked the man in the truck if he’d seen a black and white cat.

“Excuse me, uh, Trapper!” Storee called, reading the name on his uniform. “You haven’t picked up a black and white female cat, have you?”

“Yes, actually. Earlier in the week. She was put to sleep though,” said Trapper, his long arms gesticulating.

“NO!” cried Storee, running as fast as she could. Critique could be dead? Imagine a story about how a girl copes with losing her cat, she thought.

Allison Lyne presents Critique is Missing!

Sixth Grader, Allison Lyne recently took part in a creative writing camp taught by Storee's creator, Author Barbara Simpson Carducci. Here is Allison's version of the story, Critique is Missing, written as a workshop exercise.

Chapter 1 – Critique is Missing

“Hey Mom, did you see Critique this morning? I can’t find her anywhere!” Storee asked.

Mom was on the couch watching TV. “Why no Sweetie. Is she outside or under the bed?” Mom asked.

Storee shook her head. “Those are the two places I checked as soon as I knew she was gone. Dad did you see Critique?”

Her dad was eating eggs and bacon in the kitchen. “Well, not in my eggs and bacon, so I don’t see her.”

Storee walked over to her mom and said, “may I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

Storee sat down next to her mom. “I want to ell you what happened before Critique was gone. She was laying on me while I was writing. I just finished my last sentence of my chapter when Critique was gone.  I called her a million of times, but she didn’t come. I checked outside and under the bed, even her sunny spots, but she wasn’t there. Then I asked you guys. But you said, “no.”

Mom hugged Storee tightly. “Don’t worry. She’ll come back. What most people say, “What goes around comes back around.”

That rose Storee’s hopes up a little. “But what if she never comes back? I’ll miss her so much!” That’s when Storee started to cry.  While she was crying, a story formed in her head.  Cats go missing all around the world and a group of kids team up to save them. That’ll make for a good story, Storee thought as she ran up the stairs.

Chapter 2 – Encounter with Mrs. Grumpus

It had been a day since Critique was gone. Storee has been beginning to feel worser as the hours passed.

“Honey, Storee was right, Critique was missing yesterday. We should start to put out posters around town,” Mom said.

Dad was finishing the last poster when Storee walked in. “C’mon Honey, we are going to put posters up,” Dad announced.  Storee glanced at the poster. It said:

Critique Gone Missing!

If you see a BLACK AND WHITE FEMALE cat

Report to 47 Elk Street. OR call 111-379-2015.
Reward is $25.06

Storee nodded, OK. “I’m ready when you are.”

Storee and her parents walked around town putting up posters on almost every visible tree. But when they got to a white house with a red door, and elderly lady stopped them.

“You can’t put one of those mangy posters on my property. I forbid it!”

The Wryters stopped instantly. Storee peered at the lady. “Who are you?”

“I’m Mrs. Grumpus, duh!” She had white curly hair and looked like her age was in the sixties. She had leathery skin and glasses that slid all the way to the tip of her nose. “Now get away from me, you cat lovers! Or I’ll beat you with my cane!”

The Wryters walked away quietly.  “That’s some lady, let me tell you,” Dad said as they walked back home. “She may look old and helpless, but she has rough guts, and she looks like she isn’t afraid to use them.”

Storee was thinking of that too, but a story popped in.  An elderly lady who had stolen Critique, thought Storee. That can happen, Storee thought as she walked in through the door.

Chapter 3 – Black Belt Jake

Storee was walking home from school when she decided to go to Mrs. Grumpus’s house. When she rounded the corner she heard a, Yah! And COCOW!” in the back yard.  Storee quietly went to check to see the person with the funny talking. There in the backyard stood a boy in a karate uniform! He had brown hair and a black belt around his waist. He was practicing his stance and looked like an elephant. Storee giggled. But the boy heard. He busted the gate down with his right foot and stalked over to Storee. “Who are you that insulted my elephant stance?”

“I’m Storee Wryter and I insulted your elephant stance. Who are you that heard me giggle?”

“I’m Jake Grumpus, grandson of Mrs. Grumpus and I heard you giggle. I suggest you get out of …” The door to the backyard opened and Mrs. Grumpus stood on the patio.

“Jake, who in heavens are you talking to?” You should be practicing karate.” Then she saw Storee. “So you’re back, cat lover. I told you not to and you disobeyed me, huh? Jake! Get me my cane!”

Storee started to run but that lady was fast. Soon she was a foot behind her.  As soon as Storee got home she got ten cane beats. “I’m going upstairs,” Storee called. As she got to her bedroom a story popped up again.

Karate boy and his grandmother held Critique in a cage. Then they decided to beat her with sticks. How horrible, but it would be a good story, Storee thought as she grabbed her notebook and pencil.

Chapter 4 – Trapper and Black and White Fur

Critique wasn't found and it had been a week now. Storee though she must be starving! Then her dad burst in.  “Storee your mom and I might have found a clue about Critique!” This made Storee very happy.

“Show me!” Storee followed her dad all the way to Mrs. Grumpus’s house. Her mom was there with a man. They sounded like they were arguing!  Her dad picked up the pace with Storee right on his heels.

“Sweetie, you must let me do my job and catch the cat!” Mrs. Wryter ain’t gonna put up a fight. “We can manage ourselves, you know. Who are you anyway?”

The man held out his badge. “I’m Trapper and I;m part of animal control Catching lost pets is my priority. Those fliers tell me you have a lost cat.”

But before Mrs. Wryter can say anything, Mrs. Grumpus and Jake came out.  “What are you cat lovers doing out here?”

Trapper held out his badge. “Animal Control, ma’am. I hear you have black and white fur on your bed.”

While everyone was complaining, Storee ran into Jake. Jake knelt on the ground and said, “ Help me get out of this, Storee. I’ll do anything for you. ANYTHING!”

Storee saw the plea in his eyes. “Help me find my cat and you’re in.”

Jake nodded and they shook hands on it. Mrs. Grumpus looked bewildered.

“That’s not cat fur! It’s my old fur coat when I went to prom. I’m throwing it out.”

Storee wasn't  buying any of this when Trapper sniffed it. “It doesn’t have cat smell on it. She’s not guilty.” 

So Critique is not here, Storee thought, strange.  Then a new story came in! Trapper and Mrs. Grumpus working together. What a story that will make!

Chapter 5 - Critique is found!

It has been 2 weeks and Critique isn't back yet. 'I give up. Critique is dead.' Storee thought. She and Jake looked all over town. They asked all the neighbors and examined all the houses. No Critique. Then there was a knock at the door. Storee got up and slugged to the door.

Guess who was there? Jake Grumpus.

"What do you want Karate boy?" That was her new nickname for him. Jake gave her sparkling eyes. "I think I found your cat."

Now THAT woke Storee up. "Come on in and explain to me and my parents." Storee rushed into the kitchen.

"Mom! Dad! Karate boy might have found Critique! Meet us in the family room,Okay Karate boy?" Soon everyone was in the family room. Storee was bouncing in her seat.

"Now Jake, please tell us how you found our cat." Her dad asked calmly. Jake took a deep breath and started.

 "Well, when Storee and I finished checking the neighborhood, I decided to go back to Mrs.Grumpus when I started to hear a "MEOW!"  I froze and thought for a moment if this was a trick. Then I heard it again and again until I decided to go check it out. The meowing led me to a cave at the very back of the animal control center. Lucky for me, I had a flashlight.

At the very end of the cave was a female cat with black and white fur. This part might be weird, but I asked it something. "Are you Critique?" It responded by nodding yes and held up small chains hooked to it's feet." Jake must of been out of breath because he was panting for water.

"So it was animal control who took her!" Storee announced.

"Yes and we should get Critique back." Mrs. Wryter declared. Storee felt SSSOOO happy that she kissed Jake and said "You’re my hero. Now, why don't you go back to Mrs. Grumpus and tell her we found her."

Before Jake could say anything, Storee and her family were out the door.A few hours later, the Wryter family was at animal control.

"Why did you need Critique anyway?" Storee asked. Trapper admitted that the animal control needed animals so they can analyze their behavior so if they try to escape, the guys and girls can be prepared. "I would of made it too, if it weren't for you meddling girl and your parents!" Then Trapper shut the door shut.

"Well it doesn't matter right now. I have critique back!" Storee exclaimed. Then a story floated into her mind. 'A girl and her neighbor's grandson finding her cat,' Storee thought. That calls for a true novel!

 **** Young writers ( those in grades K-8) are invited to send a Storee Wryter Adventure or a completely original story of any genre  to storreewryter@gmail.com  select submissions will be published on Storee's blog.