Three Minutes Helping an Elephant

Normanday #82: I can’t remember what he wanted.

Write for three minutes about…

…the time an elephant asked you to do him a favor.

Email what you wrote to woof at bright dot net by the end of the day June 30 (put “Norman is a Genius” in the subject line). I’ll post as many of my favorite entries as I want next Monday. Include your first name (or, even better, use a pen name) and age (unless you’re tortoise-old). If you’re a published children’s or young adult writer, include a biography to be posted with your entry.

Here are the entries from last week when I asked you to write for three minutes about…

…a place you’d like to visit.


Cranberly

I would love to visit Greece. I have seen photos and it looks like a beautiful place. I am excited by the white buildings against the blue of the ocean and sky. The colors alone just look so vibrant. Also, I imagine the history is quite awe inspiring. In America, things are still relatively new. Even the oldest buildings are no more than a couple of hundred years old. In Greece, things are centuries old.

I would also love to spend more time in Europe in general. I have been to London, but only for a day. I would love a week to explore London more in depth. I would really like to go on the Harry Potter tour and visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum. I would love to see art museums and visit The Globe Theatre. And maybe have a chance to go to Italy and Spain after I am done touring London.

Norman the Half-Invisible Turtle

Zeenton is where I want to go. After knowing Morzant for all these years, I want to know if the other Zeentonians are like him. You know, squat and gullible. I want to see one of those teleporting Zementiny things he’s always talking about. But what if I find out he made those up? Then it would turn out that I’m the gullible one. I don’t think I could handle finding out that Morzant pulled one over on me. If everybody found out, they’d all gang up on me. Pretty soon it’d be 365 days of April’s Fools’ pranks all directed at me. I’d have to move to Wisconsin. I can’t move to Wisconsin! Turtles can’t eat cheese. This is a disaster. Why did I go to Zeenton? I don’t even like traveling. Next time I’m staying home and taking a nap instead.

Three Minutes on a Trip

Normanday #81: There’s more to do in Ohio than you might think.

Write for three minutes about…

…a place you’d like to visit.

Email what you wrote to woof at bright dot net by the end of the day June 23 (put “Norman is Adventurous” in the subject line). I’ll post as many of my favorite entries as I want next Monday. Include your first name (or, even better, use a pen name) and age (unless you’re tortoise-old). If you’re a published children’s or young adult writer, include a biography to be posted with your entry.

Here is the single entry from last week when I asked you to write for three minutes about…

…something that might happen in a restaurant.

Bigfoot

I order the soup. When it comes, there’s a hair in it.
“Waiter,” I say. “There’s a hair in my soup.”
“Yes, sir. Can I bring you anything else?”
“Yes, soup with no hairs.”
“My apologies, sir. I must have given you the gentleman at table four’s order.”
The waiter brings me a fresh bowl of soup. There’s a fingernail in it.
“Waiter,” I say. “There’s a fingernail in my soup. And it’s cold.”
“Yes, sir. Can I bring you anything else?”
“Yes, hot soup with no fingernails.”
“You didn’t order cold fingernail soup?”
“No.”
“My apologies.”
The waiter brings me a fresh bowl of soup. It has a bat wing in it and it smells like two-day’s-dead skunk.
“Can I get you anything else?” the waiter asks.
“Yes!” I exclaim. “A second helping!”

Three minutes at the drive-thru.

Normanday #80: Do you want fries with that?

Write for three minutes about…

…something that might happen at a restaurant.

Email what you wrote to woof at bright dot net by the end of the day June 16 (put “Norman’s Dad is as Handsome as Norman” in the subject line). I’ll post as many of my favorite entries as I want next Monday. Include your first name (or, even better, use a pen name) and age (unless you’re tortoise-old). If you’re a published children’s or young adult writer, include a biography to be posted with your entry.

Here are the entries from last week when I asked you to write for three minutes about…

…something you think of because I need another break.

Cranberly

Time is a Liar

Each day passes quickly by
Sun rises in a summer sky

Seems like I have been here forever.

In my arms lies a baby new
Yet I feel like he is someone I knew

Seems like he has been here forever.

Watching home movies from 21 years ago
Surprised at what we didn't know

Seems like our memories are fading.

Tren Rewy Steb

I dreamt that my brother dropped something heavy on his foot. His foot was covered in a dark purple bruise. His toenails fell off. I had to pick them up. They were like giant cockroach carapaces and I cringed as I touched them.

Briar’s Journal (June 4 to 27, 2013)

Dream Entry*
November 3, 2010

I can only remember fragments of my dream:

Norman breaking into a gum factory to steal the recipe for asparagus bubble gum.

Morzant using dental floss as jumping rope.

Penny swimming in an ocean of peanut butter.

My friends, a duck, and three puppies reading to their dads.



The books BIGFOOT reads to his dad:

BOWLING ALLEY BANDIT
by Laurie Keller
[CHAPTER BOOK—FIRST IN THE 
ADVENTURES OF ARNIE THE DOUGHNUT SERIES]
Henry Holt
June 4, 2013


The books MORZANT reads to his dad:

ERUPTION!: VOLCANOES AND 
THE SCIENCE OF SAVING LIVES 
(SCIENTISTS IN THE FIELD SERIES)
by Elizabeth Rusch, photographs by Tom Uhlman
[MIDDLE GRADE—NON-FICTION]
Houghton Mifflin
July 18, 2013

MISTER AND LADY DAY: BILLIE HOLIDAY AND 
THE DOG WHO LOVED HER
by Amy Novesky, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
[PICTURE BOOK—NON-FICTION]
Houghton Mifflin-Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
June 18, 2013

THE BOY WHO LOVED MATH: 
THE IMPROBABLE LIFE OF PAUL ERDOS
by Deborah Heiligman, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
[PICTURE BOOK—NON-FICTION]
Roaring Brook
June 25, 2013

BRUSH OF THE GODS
by Lenore Look, illustrated by Meilo So
[PICTURE BOOK—NON-FICTION]
Schwartz & Wade-Random House
June 25, 2013


The books PENNY reads to her dad:

THE TESTING
by Joelle Charbonneau
[YOUNG ADULT—FIRST IN THE TRILOGY]
Houghton Mifflin-Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
June 4, 2013

A MATTER OF DAYS
by Amber Kizer
[YOUNG ADULT]
Delacorte-Random House
June 11, 2013

ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE
by Kate Karyus Quinn
[YOUNG ADULT]
HarperTeen-HarperCollins
June 11, 2013

BORN OF ILLUSION
by Teri Brown
[YOUNG ADULT—FIRST IN THE SERIES]
Balzer & Bray-HarperCollins
June 11, 2013

BOY NOBODY
by Allen Zadoff
[YOUNG ADULT—FIRST IN THE SERIES]
Little, Brown-Hachette
June 11, 2013

THE GIRL WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE
by April Henry
[YOUNG ADULT]
Henry Holt
June 11, 2013

LINKED
by Imogen Howson
[YOUNG ADULT]
Simon & Schuster
June 11, 2013

MY CHEMICAL MOUNTAIN
by Corina Vacco
[YOUNG ADULT]
Delacorte-Random House
June 11, 2013

RUSH
by Eve Silver
[YOUNG ADULT—FIRST IN THE GAME SERIES]
Katherine Tegen-HarperCollins
June 11, 2013

PROXY
by Alex London
[YOUNG ADULT]
Philomel-Penguin
June 18, 2013

SOLSTICE
by P.J. Hoover
[YOUNG ADULT]
Tor Teen-Tom Doherty Associates
June 18, 2013

IN THE AFTER
by Demitria Lunetta
[YOUNG ADULT]
HarperTeen-HarperCollins
June 25, 2013

NEPTUNE’S TEARS
by Susan Waggoner
[YOUNG ADULT]
Henry Holt
June 25, 2013

 
The books THE DUCK reads to her dad:

FAR FAR AWAY
by Tom McNeal
[YOUNG ADULT]
Knopf-Random House
June 11, 2013

MORTAL FIRE
by Elizabeth Knox
[YOUNG ADULT]
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
June 11, 2013

INTUITION
by C.J. Omololu
[YOUNG ADULT—SEQUEL TO 
TRANSCENDENCE]
Walker
June 18, 2013

THE LOST SUN
by Tessa Gratton
[YOUNG ADULT—FIRST IN THE 
UNITED STATES OF ASGARD SERIES]
Random House
June 25, 2013

ASHES ON THE WAVES
by Mary Lindsey
[YOUNG ADULT]
Philomel-Penguin
June 27, 2013


The books NORMAN reads to his dad:

PI IN THE SKY
by Wendy Mass
[MIDDLE GRADE]
Little, Brown-Hachette
June 11, 2013

CLUELESS MCGHEE AND THE INFLATABLE PANTS
by Jeff Mack
[MIDDLE GRADE—SECOND IN THE SERIES]
Philomel-Penguin
June 13, 2013

ESCAPE FROM MR. LEMONCELLO’S LIBRARY
by Chris Grabenstein
[MIDDLE GRADE]
Random House
June 25, 2013

THE NORTHERN FRIGHTS
by Derek the Ghost, 
with illustrations by Scott M. Fischer
[MIDDLE GRADE—THIRD IN THE 
SCARY SCHOOL SERIES]
HarperCollins
June 25, 2013

CHEWS YOUR DESTINY
by Rhode Montijo
[CHAPTER BOOK—FIRST IN THE GUM GIRL SERIES]
Disney-Hyperion
August 20, 2013


The books BEVERLY reads to her dad:

THE ELEMENTALS
by Saundra Mitchell
[YOUNG ADULT]
Harcourt-Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
June 4, 2013

THE WALL
by William Sutcliffe
[YOUNG ADULT]
Walker
June 4, 2013

WHEN YOU WERE HERE
by Daisy Whitney
[YOUNG ADULT]
Little, Brown-Hachette
June 4, 2013

CHARM & STRANGE
by Stephanie Kuehn
[YOUNG ADULT]
St. Martin's Griffin
June 11, 2013

BO AT BALLARD CREEK
by Kirkpatrick Hill, with illustrations by LeUyen Pham
[MIDDLE GRADE]
Henry Holt
June 18, 2013


 
The books OLIVER reads to his dad:

DOWNPOUR
by Emily Martin, illustrated by Mara Shaughnessy
[PICTURE BOOK]
Sky Pony Press-Skyhorse
June 4, 2013

THE LOST (AND FOUND) BALLOON
by Celeste Jenkins, illustrated by Maria Bogade
[PICTURE BOOK]
Aladdin-Simon & Schuster
June 11, 2013

RUFF!: AND THE WONDERFULLY AMAZING BUSY DAY
by Caroline Jayne Church
[PICTURE BOOK]
HarperCollins
June 11, 2013

TWENTY BIG TRUCKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET
by Mark Lee, illustrated by Kurt Cyrus
[PICTURE BOOK]
Candlewick
June 11, 2013

SQUIRREL’S FUN DAY
by Lisa Moser, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev
[EARLY READER—SECOND IN THE SERIES]
Candlewick
June 11, 2013

A SINGLE PEARL
by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Jim LaMarche
[PICTURE BOOK]
Disney-Hyperion
June 18, 2013

COUNT THE MONKEYS
by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kevin Cornell
[PICTURE BOOK]
Disney-Hyperion
June 25, 2013

HENRY’S MAP
by David Elliot
[PICTURE BOOK]
Philomel-Penguin
June 27, 2013


The books LENNY reads to his dad:

COUSIN IRV FROM MARS
by Bruce Eric Kaplan
[EARLY READER]
Simon & Schuster
June 4, 2013

THE MONSTORE
by Tara Lazar, illustrated by James Burks
[PICTURE BOOK]
Aladdin-Simon & Schuster
June 4, 2013

JOE AND SPARKY GO TO SCHOOL
by Jamie Michalak, 
with illustrations by Frank Remkiewicz
[EARLY READER—THIRD IN THE SERIES]
Candlewick
June 11, 2013

BOGART AND VINNIE: A COMPLETELY 
MADE-UP STORY OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP
by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Henry Cole
[PICTURE BOOK]
Walker
June 18, 2013

THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO 
RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME
by Jennifer Huget, 
with illustrations by Red Nose Studio
[PICTURE BOOK]
Schwartz & Wade-Random House
June 25, 2013

CLARK THE SHARK
by Bruce Hale, illustrated by Guy Francis
[PICTURE BOOK]
HarperCollins
June 25, 2013

THE THINGS I CAN DO
by Jeff Mack
[PICTURE BOOK]
Roaring Brook
June 25, 2013

THE WHEELS ON THE BUS
by James Dean
[PICTURE BOOK—FIFTH IN THE 
PETE THE CAT SERIES]
HarperCollins
June 25, 2013

THE GINGERBREAD MAN LOOSE ON THE FIRE TRUCK
by Laura Murray, illustrated by Mike Lowery
[PICTURE BOOK—SECOND IN THE SERIES]
Putman-Penguin
June 27, 2013


The books VIOLET reads to her dad:

STICKY, STICKY, STUCK!
by Michael Gutch, illustrated by Steve Bjorkman
[PICTURE BOOK]
HarperCollins
June 4, 2013

BOOM!: BIG, BIG THUNDER AND ONE SMALL DOG
by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Steven Salerno
[PICTURE BOOK]
Disney-Hyperion
June 11, 2013

CUTE & CUTER
by Michael Townsend
[PICTURE BOOK]
Knopf-Random House
June 11, 2013

LOST SLOTH
by J. Otto Seibold
[PICTURE BOOK]
McSweeney’s McMullens
June 11, 2013

HOORAY PARADE
by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Hyewon Yum
[PICTURE BOOK]
Viking-Penguin
June 13, 2013

JOONE
by Emily Kate Moon
[PICTURE BOOK]
Dial-Penguin
June 13, 2013

NO FITS, NILSON!
by Zachariah OHora
[PICTURE BOOK]
Dial-Penguin
June 13, 2013

THE STORY OF FISH AND SNAIL
by Deborah Freedman
[PICTURE BOOK]
Viking-Penguin
June 13, 2013

CHAMELIA AND THE NEW KID IN CLASS
by Ethan Long
[PICTURE BOOK—SECOND IN THE SERIES]
Little, Brown-Hachette
June 25, 2013

CHARLIE THE RANCH DOG: WHERE’S THE BACON?
by Ree Drummond, illustrated by Diane deGroat
[EARLY READER—FIRST IN THE SERIES]
HarperCollins
June 25, 2013

CHARLIE GOES TO SCHOOL
by Ree Drummond, illustrated by Diane deGroat
[PICTURE BOOK—THIRD IN THE SERIES]
HarperCollins
June 25, 2013

CHICK ’N’ PUG MEET THE DUDE
by Jennifer Sattler
[PICTURE BOOK—SECOND IN THE SERIES]
Bloomsbury USA
June 25, 2013

OLIVER AND HIS ALLIGATOR
by Paul Schmid
[PICTURE BOOK]
Disney-Hyperion
June 25, 2013

UNICORN THINKS HE’S PRETTY GREAT
by Bob Shea
[PICTURE BOOK]
Disney-Hyperion
June 25, 2013

YOU’RE WEARING THAT TO SCHOOL?
by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Sue Cornelison
[PICTURE BOOK]
Disney-Hyperion
June 25, 2013

THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT
by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
[PICTURE BOOK]
Philomel-Penguin
June 27, 2013




* The dream entries from Briar’s journal contain premonitions of books that will be published in the future. Briar’s dream self foresees the books’ summaries and knows which will likely appeal to each of her friends. Briar always wakes up before she can see whether her friends will enjoy the books.
 

Three Minutes On Your Own. Again.

Normanday #79: Norman takes a vacation. Again.

Write for three minutes about…

…something you think of because I need another break.

Email what you wrote to woof at bright dot net by the end of the day June 9 (put “Norman Looks Great in a Swimsuit” in the subject line). I’ll post as many of my favorite entries as I want next Monday. Include your first name (or, even better, use a pen name) and age (unless you’re tortoise-old). If you’re a published children’s or young adult writer, include a biography to be posted with your entry.

Here is the single entry from last week when I asked you to write for three minutes about…

…channeling a spirit.

Bigfoot

Hey there. Am I coming through? It’s kind of staticky on this end. Go stand by that old silo. Perfect. Look, I really, really, really need a favor. I had to leave suddenly and I have a nagging feeling I may have left my stove on. I need you to go to my house and check. Can you do that? And while you’re at it, would you mind bringing in my mail? The box leaks and the forecast is for rain. One more thing and I’ll leave you alone. Oh, come on. Like you’re so busy. Really? Thanks! When I was a kid, the neighborhood bully threw my bike in a ravine. He was huge, so I couldn’t do anything about it. I always fantasized about coming back as a ghost and haunting him. The thing is, I don’t know where he lives. I need you to track him down for me. You will? That’s great. If you’d have said no, I was going to settle for haunting you.