It’s Valentine’s Day, Thomas, the Worm

Maria Lahman
word count 211

Usually, Thomas, the Worm slept through winter in a warm underground hole.
This winter, a warm spell caused Thomas to burrow to the surface. POP!

Mole was digging upwards also.
“Mole, what time of year is it?”
Mole, holding a red package, grunted, “Winter.” “I’m late,” and off he went.

Rabbit hopped by carrying a red bag.
“Rabbit,” Thomas called, “What’s going on”?
“It’s Feb. 14th,” Rabbit cried. “Don’t be late,” and off he hopped.
“Late for what?”

Mouse scurried by squeaking, “for the Valentine’s party at the hollow stump.”
“Bring a heart to share,” Mouse twittered, flashing a heart-shaped box of candy.
Valentine’s!

Thomas had heard about this day but had always been asleep.
Squirming behind Mouse, Thomas worried. What could he bring?

Thomas reached the stump.
Rabbit’s bag had heart-shaped carrot cookies.
Mole’s package was filled with paper hearts.
Mouse was passing out red heart candies.
What could Thomas do?
He thought and thought, and then he knew!

Thomas wiggled and squiggled. He formed a curve.
Thomas jiggled and wriggled. He bent into 2 curves.

Thomas squirmed and wormed. He touched his nose to toes or toes to his nose.
Thomas GLOWED pink with pride. He was a valentine!

“Happy Valentines, Thomas!” the animals cheered.
“Be mine,” said Thomas.

I enjoyed the challenge of creating a picture book length story of 214 words or less for Susanna Leonard Hill’s Valentine’s Writing Day Contest. The word count stands for 2 for Feb. and 14 for the date of Valentine’s, 2.14. See the link to the contest below.

https://susannahill.com/2022/02/11/with-prideful-heart-the-7th-annual-valentiny-contest-is-here/comment-page-1/#comment-80452

Amazing published books about worms include

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin. It is hard to believe this book, which kicked off diary picture books for me as a then Kinder/preschool teacher, is over 25 years old! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/99296.Diary_of_a_Worm?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=EusOA1LJG4&rank=3

The Worm Family has Its Picture Taken by Jennifer Frank and illustrated by David Ezra Stein. This book was a 2021 Caldecott Nominee. At the following link, you can hear the book read! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrUGNVtNnRw

Wonderful Worms by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Loretta Krupinski. This is a classic non-fiction offering. For a reading of the book see this link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccfh7k5TYGM Linda Glaser has many other science offerings. Linda’s book may be viewed on her website. http://www.lindaglaserauthor.com/nature-books-for-young-naturalists-1

And one book to recognize the theme of the contest! Love From the Crayons by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBW_fB0Hn8o