My writer friend, Susanna Leonard Hill, is hosting a contest on her blog - sorry, the deadline is 11:59 EST tomorrow night, so that doesn't give you much time to write a story and enter! Here's the link if you want to enter or if you just want to read the amazing versions of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas!
Susanna will choose three finalists and, on December 26th, she'll post them on her blog where her blog-followers can vote for their favorite. The winner will receive their choice of either a $15 Amazon gift card or the 2012 Children's Writers and Illustrators Market!
So, I wrote my own version of the story and have posted it below. Even if I don't make it to the finals, it was a lot of fun writing it!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah or Happy Kwanzaa!
'Twas the Morning of Christmas
'Twas the morning of Christmas with nothing much newish,
No stockings, no presents, no tree - 'cause we're Jewish
But still, Christmas day is a very big deal
We have our traditions and big family meal.
We lounge ‘round the house since we're not in a hurry,
We stay in our jammies and mukluks, so furry.
For breakfast we toast up some bagels to eat,
With layers of cream cheese and lox - what a treat!
We talk and tell stories and play a few games,
We light a nice fire and we gaze at the flames.
We eat Chinese dinner; they serve up big portions
and then, for dessert, we have cookies with fortunes.
We finish our feast, then we're off to the show,
‘Cause Jews go to movies on Christmas, you know.
And on our drive home, we admire all the lights,
Merry Christmas to all and - OY, what a night!
