Viper fangs and dragon claws. It’s time for. . .
The 10TH Annual HALLOWEENSIE CONTEST!!!
~ for children’s writers ~
The Contest: write a 100 word Halloween story appropriate for children (children here defined as 12 and under) (title not included in the 100 words), using the words skeleton, creep, and mask. Your story can be scary, funny, sweet, or anything in between, poetry or prose, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words (you can go under, but not over!) Get it? Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people 🙂 (And yes, I know 100 words is short, but that’s part of the fun and the challenge! We got over 325 fantastic entries last year, so I know you can do it!) Also, you may use the words in any form – e.g. skeletons, creepy/crept, masked/unmasked, whathaveyou 🙂 NO ILLUSTRATION NOTES PLEASE! (And yes, you may submit more than one entry if you’re so inclined 🙂 )
Post: your story on your blog between right now this very second and Saturday October 31st by 11:59 PM Eastern Time and add your post-specific link to the list below. There will be no Tuesday Debut, Perfect Picture Book or Would You Read It posts for the duration of the contest so the links will stay up for everyone to visit and enjoy. If you don’t have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section below (please include your byline if your posting handle is something like MamaWritesByNightlight so I can identify you.) If you have difficulty posting in the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com and I’ll post it for you. Please place your entry in the body of the email including your title and byline at the top – NO ATTACHMENTS! And please do not submit entries in more than one place because it becomes confusing.
The Judging: in a grueling marathon over the following days, my devoted assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 3 6 9 12? top choices (give or take… you know how hard it is to choose!) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Wednesday November 4th or Thursday November 5th (if the judging takes longer than we expect if could be later…but we will do our best!) The winner will be announced on Monday November 9th (good lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise 😊 )
Judging criteria will be as follows:
- 1. Kid-appeal! – These stories are intended for a young audience (ages 12 and under), so we’re looking for stories that children will enjoy and relate to.
- 2. Halloweeniness – the rules state a Halloween story, so it must be crystal clear that the story is about Halloween, not just some random spooky night.
- 3. Quality of story – entries must tell a story, including a main character of some kind and a true story arc even if it’s tiny 🙂 Entries must not be merely descriptions or mood pieces.
- 4. Quality of Writing: check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best 😊 Overall writing quality and use of language are also important.
- 5. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.
- 6. PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS! Large numbers of entries make it easy to cut entries that haven’t been entered as we asked.
The Prizes: SO AMAZING! What a generous community we have to donate so much awesomeness!!! 😊
1 – Get Your MS in Tip Top Shape With Vivian Kirkfield!
Vivian is offering a PB MS Critique (fiction or nonfiction/rhyming or prose), along with a 30 minute Skype or FB video chat to discuss, along with a read-through of the revision. And top it all off she will also help you with a query/cover letter edit to go with your polished up ms! WOW!
Vivian Kirkfield is the author of SWEET DREAMS, SARAH (Creston Books, 2019), PIPPA’S PASSOVER PLATE (Holiday House, 2019), FOUR OTTERS TOBOGGAN (Pomegranate 2019), MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD (Little Bee, January 14, 2020), and more…
2 – Penny’s Two Cents – an incredible opportunity for any picture book writer!
Sometimes it’s helpful to chat with a published author about your writing journey. Penny Parker Klostermann is offering her two cents. The prize includes General/Big-Picture Feedback on one picture book manuscript + One 30-Minute Chat (Rhyming or prose-750 words or under) Penny doesn’t claim to have it all figured out, (by any means) but she’s happy to share her two cents based on what she’s learned and continues to learn on her journey as an author.
Penny is the author of THERE WAS AN OLD DRAGON WHO SWALLOWED A KNIGHT (Random House 2015) (now available in board book and with matching pajamas! 🙂 ) and A COOKED-UP FAIRY TALE (Random House 2017)
3 – Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyme or prose) from Carrie Finison, author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS (Putnam, July 2020) and DON’T HUG DOUG (forthcoming from Putnam in January 2021.)
4 – Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Lydia Lukidis, author of NO BEARS ALLOWED (Blue Whale Press 2019) and many educational titles.
5 – Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction or nonfiction) from Teresa Robeson, author of Queen of Physics (Sterling, 2019) and Two Bicycles In Beijing (Albert Whitman, 2020)
6
6 – Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Kirsti Call author of The Raindrop Who Couldn’t Fall (Mazo Publishing, January 2019), Mootilda’s Bad Mood (Little Bee, September 2020), as well as COW SAYS MEOW (HMH) and COLD TURKEY (Little Brown) which will release in 2021.
7 – Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Ellen Leventhal, author of DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS (Spork 2017), LOLA CAN’T LEAP (Spork 2018), and HAYFEST A HOLIDAY QUEST (ABCs Press 2010)
8 – Picture Book Manuscript Critique from Heather Gale, author of Ho’onani Hula Warrior (Tundra Books, October 2019)
9 – a personalized signed copy of The King Cake Baby and 15 Minute “Ask Me Anything” Video Chat with Keila Dawson, author of The King Cake Baby (Pelican 2015), No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History (Charlesbridge 2020), and Opening The Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book (forthcoming from Beaming Books, January 2021)
10 – Making Picture Book Magic Self Study – an online picture book writing class – any month of winner’s choice!
11 – a personalized signed copy of EITHER ROCK AND ROLL WOODS (PB) or an ARC of SPIRITS AMONG US (MG) from author Sherry Howard
AND a personalized signed copy of TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE (Abrams Appleseed, May 2020) by Gabi Snyder
12 – a personalized signed copy of NOT SO SCARY, JERRY (Spork, 2017) by Shelley Kinder
AND a personalized signed copy of MARS’ FIRST FRIENDS: COME ON OVER ROVERS! (Sourcebooks 2020) by Susanna Leonard Hill
Please join me in thanking these very generous authors and other writing professionals for contributing their books and writing expertise as prizes by visiting their websites and blogs, considering their books and services for holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N or anywhere else if you like them, recommending them for school visits, or supporting them in any other way you can dream up 😊
Now then, my pretties! It’s past the witching hour in the dead of night – very appropriate for a Halloween story, don’t you think? – and the time has come for me to embarrass myself my sample entry which should fill you with confidence in your own MUCH MUCH better efforts!!!
Halloween
A pumpkin moon
A ghostly ship
A still lagoon
Tattered sails
Like swirling mist
Ancient rigging
Creaks and twists
Skull and crossbones
Striking fear
Warning sailors
Far and near
Captain Jack
Comes thump-a-peg
Limping on
His broomstick leg
“Steady now,”
breathes Captain Jack,
“Mustn’t blow
our sneak attack!”
Silently
The ghost ship glides
Closer . . .
Closer . . .
On the tides
Guided through
The murky blue
By the ghastly
Skeleton crew
Stealthily
it comes abreast
creeping
uninvited guest
nearing windows
warm with light
no idea
of their plight
Captain Jack
Deceit complete
Unmasks and shouts out, “Trick-or-treat!”
It’s truly spooky how willing I am to embarrass myself for you! 😊😊😊
I can’t wait to read all of your entries! I’m so looking forward to them! I hope there will be a lot – the more the merrier! And there are still nearly 3 days to write, so you have time if you haven’t written yet. Feel free to spread the word to your writing friends as well. And your reading friends – parents, teachers, etc. The more people who read and enjoy your stories, the better!!!
Contest Entrants, remember to add your post-specific link to the google form below so we can all come read your awesome stories! (Post-specific means not your main blog url, but the actual url of the post that has your story in it – otherwise if you post again before the contest ends, your link will take readers… and judges!… to the wrong place!)
Eager Readers – just go along the list of links, click on them, and enjoy the stories!
Happy Writing and Happy Halloween!!! 😊 🎃
- Midnight Rescue – Laura Bost
- You Don’t Scare Me – Brenda B. Covert
- Rattle, Rattle Skeleton – Vashti Verbowski
- Corona’s Evil Plan – Marty Findley
- Littlest Witch’s Wild Ride – Marty Findley
- Shy Skeleton’s Dance – Marty Findley
- A Night Out. . . – Deb Sullivan
- See Billy Bony – Helen Addyman
- Scare School – Laura Howard
- Is It Time? – Sue Lancaster
- The Skeletons’ Masked Ball – Sue Lancaster
- Halloween Masquerade – Jamie Donahoe
- The Curse of Halloween – Bru Benson
- Halloween Hesitation – Beth Volkmann
- The Phantom Of The Library – Natalie Cohn
- Trick Or Treat – Alli Straus
- No Bones About It – Judy Sobanski
- Family Business – Natalie Cohn
- Tattered Treats – Marilyn Garcia
- Halloween Surprise – Anna Ouchchy
- A Spider’s Tale – Darcee A. Freier
- Grandfather’s Clock – Sarah Heaton
- Halloween Peeps – Jamie Donahoe
- Mystery Guest – Dawn Young
- Nelly O’Skelly – Danielle Sharkan
- First Halloween – Carol Jones
- One Noisy Halloween – Rebecca Thill
- Polly’s Not-So-Perfect Potion – Susan Summers
- Masquerade – Kathiann Weatherbee
- Howl-o-weenie – Ashlee Hashman
- Trick Or Treat – Stephanie Mena
- Skelly The Skeleton – Michelle S. Kennedy
- Trudy’s Toothy Halloween – Kelsey Gross
- Class Pet Trickery! – Mary Bleckwehl
- Hola Halloween! – ‘Boo Darkling’ (Roo Parkin)
- BOO! – Rebecca Woodall
- Haunted – Anne Lipton
- Creepy D’s – Martha Holguin
- Trick Or Treat – Marla Yablon
- Skellie’s Closet – KeelyWrites
- Skelly B. Skeleton – Cathy Chester
- When Skally Nearly Didn’t Show His Face – Diana Webb
- Sammy Goes Home – Courtney Rubo
- GRRRRRRRRRR! – Donna Kurtz
- Teeth Love HalloweenToo! – Donna Kurtz
- The Halloween Fair – Donna Kurtz
- Skeleton And Ghostina – Gail Hartman
- Little Bonesy Loves Halloween! – Paul Kurtz
- Mousey’s Batty For Halloween! – Paul Kurtz
- Spider-Claws Is Comin’ To Town – Paul Kurtz
- A Bone-afide Friend – Kristen Reinsel
- Wendy’s Sugar Spell – Caitlin Eslinger
- A Very Scary Halloween – Kerrie Elizabeth Godding
- Haunted Hallo-weave – Cathrene Valente Youngquist
- Spider’s Can’t Dance! – Cathrene Valente Youngquist
- The Beady Eye – Libby Hartwell
- Stitch – Amy Duchene
- Halloween Surprise – Sarah Hawklyn
- Four Dancing Skeletons – Isabel Rodriguez
- First Trick-or-Treat – Carol Samuelson-Woodson
- BIG Boney Story – Yolanda Danyi Szuch
- Skeleton Knights – Islancy Guada
- Halloween, This Year – Nina Nolan
- The Arnold Rock – Polly Sheldon
- Skeleton’s Scare – Erin K. McCabe
- Skeleton’s In The Closet – Karen Keesling
- Vampire And Skeleton Go Shopping – Jay Reece
- Haiku – Corine Timmer
- Opportunity Wanders – Florbela Nienaber
- The Skele-Mummy – Linda Staszak
- All On A Halloween Night – Linda Staszak
- Creep A Little Closer – Yvonne McCutchen
- Moonlight Party – Yvonne McCutchen
- Stella Decorates – Melissa Warren
- Candy Heist – Sarah Hawklyn
- Pillows In Pants – Christine Menke
- The Masked Skeleton – Deborah Dolan Hunt
- Mask Required – Lucretia Schafroth
- Psyched Out – Karen Pickrell
- The Case Of The Missing Skeleton – Karen Pickrell
- All Hallows’ Eve – Liz Kehrli
- My Worst Thirty-first – Obbverse
- Scary Mary – Geraldine Jones
- Sweet Escape – Allison Strick
- Bones: A Love Story – Keatley Eastman
- Phoebe’s Magic Stew – Linda Hofke
- Paco And The Skeletons – Katie Schwartz
- Lester Skeleton’s Halloween Hunt – Ford Waight
- Little Frankie Patches Things Up – Rozana Rajkumari
- Witch’s Fiery Broth – Corine Timmer
- Jack’s Halloween – Kara Sibilia
- The Jolly Skeleton – Linda Staszak
- Sammy Skeleton’s Warm Halloween – Lily Erlic
- Slinky Skeleton – Penelope McNally
- Annabelle’s Halloween – Penelope McNally
- The Hungry Corpse – Robert Schechter
- Little Goblin’s Halloween – Kathleen Mazurowski
- The Curse – Glenda Roberson
- Moving Day – Laura Bower
- Halloweenie – Lauren Harris
- Letter On The Door – Jessica Reed
- Sebastian’s Halloween – Polly Owen
- Skeleton’s Halloween Party – Polly Owen
- Halloween High Jinx – Stacey Miller
- Weensie’s Potion – Lisa Lee Furness
- The Nightmarish Place – Suzie Olsen
- I’m Not Scared – Desirae Moten
- What A Haul! – Diane Hanington
- The Halloween Trick – Aimee Larke
- A Skeleton’s Fright – Nadia Ali
- The Maple Tree Fright – Rebecca Allain
- Creepy Cookie Night – Annette LaFortune Murray
- The Night Stacey Saved Halloween – Autumn Haley (age 8)
- The Skeleton Ball – Jenny Caddy
- The Halloween Car Parade – Laura Bower
- The Halloween Ball – Crystal Lamb
- A Halloween Scare – Sarah Hetu-Radny
- Skeleton And Jack – Jennifer Bochonowicz
- Halloween – Marjorie David
- Ben’s Biggest Fear – Maria Pichler
- Skeletons – Patty Wright
- GHOST On The COAST – Becky Loescher
- The Scare Dare – Nancy Derey Riley
- Lonely Spider’s Dance – Danielle Sharkan
- Things That Go Cronk – Carla Bourne
- Grrrr! Brothers! – Susan Drew
- Midnight Mortal Ball – Nicola Thackrey
- The Monsters Of Halloween – Ryan Roberts
- The Perfect Halloween Present – Jenny Buchet
- Hopeless Heist – Karyn Curtis
- A 2020 Halloween Bash – Kristen Foote
- Boneyard Ballet – Jennifer Broedel
- Halloween Night – Di Litwer
- Tom Bones Goes Rogue – Marty Bellis
- A Bone-Fide Halloween Tale – Marty Bellis
- Dad’s Halloween – Lisa Lipsey
- Final Moments – E. Elle Bea
- How To Hug A Ghost – Cathy Lee Patterson
- Not This Year! – Carmen Castillo Gilbert, PhD
- Shh! Party In My Room! – MeiLin Chan
- Little Witch – Tracy Detz
- A Pumpkins Story – Christine Graham
- Beware Of Humans – Janelle Springer-Willms
- Beware Of Skeletons – Lea Boyd (age 8)
- Little Badger’s Great Big Scare – Bridget Grey
- Lightning And A Mask Of Stars – Rhett Trull
- Creature Of The Night – Lindsey Aduskevich
- Thorny Lane’s Treasure – Rhonda Gatlin
- Argleby’s New School Adventure – Echo Roben
- A Cat-astrophic Halloween – Elizabeth Meyer zu Heringdorf
- Two Can Play – JC Kelly
- Mia’s Halloween Celebration – Lily Erlic
- Seven Jack-O-Lanterns – Mary Arkiszewski
- A-Z: Who’s Behind Me? – Ashley Congdon
- The Attic Mask – Barbara DiMarco
- Not-So-Happy Halloween – Claire Schlinkert
- The Skeleton Creep – Tracy Curran
- The Brown, Brown Boots On The Cold, Cold Floor – Crystal Lamb
- Hedgehogs In The Garden – Nicola Holden
- Home Sweet Home – Mona Pease
- All Bones – Desi Valle
- Hallowcake Cravings – Katie Pals
- Foggy Halloween – Denise Seidman
- Halloween Is Scary – Valerie McPherson
- The Sweetest Halloween Treat On Earth – Jill Burns
ENTRY POSTED FOR CARMEN
NOT THIS YEAR!
by Carmen Castillo Gilbert, Ph.D.
(91 words)
Wearing pumpkin costumes, the three cousins crept behind bushes, hearts pounding.
They clutched their Halloween bags.
The bullies from last year appeared before them.
“GIVE US YOUR CANDY,” Skeleton, Superman, and Spiderman hollered.
The cousins handed over their bulging bags.
Agghh!
Puke!
Yuk!
Rotten pumpkins.
Wormy apples.
Mushy tomatoes.
“You ruined our costumes,” the bullies cried. “Who are you?”
The cousins tore off their masks.
We’re ¡LOS PRIMOS CALABAZAS! = THE PUMPKIN COUSINS!
“Remember us from last year?”
You guys are not going to take our Halloween candy!
NOT THIS YEAR!
❤️Glad the bullies got what they deserved. Well done.❤️
ENTRY POSTED FOR MEILIN
Shh! Party in My Room!
by MeiLin Chan
It is half past four.
Ghosts had come before.
It is half past five.
Bats will soon arrive.
It is half past six.
Witches come for tricks.
It is half past seven.
In creeps Baby Kevin.
It is half past eight.
Skeleton is late.
It is half past nine.
Moonwalk in a line.
It is half past ten.
Shuffle like a hen.
Dancing till eleven.
Kevin is in heaven.
It is almost midnight.
Wave bye-bye to masked knight.
Stair squeaks, floor shrieks, doorknob creaks.
Lights off before Mommy peeks!
ENTRY POSTED FOR TRACY
LITTLE WITCH
By Tracy Detz
LITTLE WITCH
By Tracy Detz
The woods are alive on Halloween night,
wolves howl at the moon and witches take flight.
Black cats, snakes and poisonous toads,
skeletons, spiders, and dead-end roads.
Little witch crept through the forests of gloom,
While over a bubbling cauldron, she loomed.
Masked in a cloak and a black magic hat,
The witchiest spells made her heart pitter-pat.
But mom is a good witch, and she knows all,
Watching me closely from her crystal ball.
So, I fly all night on my wicked new broom,
Spreading the love and dreaming of doom.
Lovely story! Well done!
ENTRY POSTED FOR CHRISTINE
A Pumpkins Story
By Christine Graham
Spider webs upon the houses,
Squeaking rats and bats and mouses.
Pumpkins view the scary scene.
Their smiles say, “Almost Halloween!”
A skeleton comes creeping in
With creaking bones and toothy grin.
She’s thinking of some great cuisine:
A pumpkin soup for Halloween.
She hauls the pumpkins to her tomb
They shiver, picturing their doom.
They count the days that lie between
Their kidnapping and Halloween.
Then skeleton masks up to shop
For spices so her soup will pop.
The pumpkins rot. Their grins go mean.
They won’t be soup this Halloween.
ENTRY POSTED FOR JANELLE
BEWARE OF HUMANS
by Janelle Springer-Willms
On the dark night of halloween,
Two little skeletons played unseen.
Hiding in the shadows near to home.
Playing catch and poke my bone.
Mum said, “beware of humans, my dears.
They’re the creatures of your worst nightmares.
They creep, they prowl and disturb your beds.
Take you apart. Play catch with your heads.”
The two made a new little friend that night.
Another skeleton. What a delight.
He took them to play trick or treat.
Grabbed some candy and said, “c’mon let’s eat.”
Off came his mask, a frightening surprise.
Their worst nightmare (a boy) dressed in disguise.
Fun story, nice twist at the end!
What a clever spin! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR LEA
Beware of the Skeletons
By: Lea Boyd age 8
“Hey Stella”
“WOW Mom, you scared me!”
“Oh sorry. Well… you know how tonight is… Halloween…”
“Yeah, I don’t like where this is going. You’re acting very strange”
“No no no.. it is good news!”
“Yay So spill the beans!”
“Ha! Okay so tonight you’re going trick-or-treating with your friend Molly!”
“YAY!”
“But beware… there are very dangerous skeletons out there.”
“Okay…”
“Stella went into her closet to get changed into her lobster costume and then turned around and saw a skeleton!”
“MOM! MOM!”
“The skeleton attacked Stella!”
“And brought her to… Molly’s house” …ahh!
Great job Lea! Love the crab costume 😄 and the surprise ending.
Little Badger’s Great Big Scare
By Bridget Grey
Twitter: @BeeGee915
WC: 92
Bucket ready, shoes are tied.
Check the costume one more time.
Out the door, walk down the street.
Bucket fills with tiny treats.
Skeletons and something hairy…
Where’d they come from? This is scary.
Little Badger starts to whine.
Mama says “Go get in line!”
Something creeps out from the bushes!
Little Badger SHRIEKS and pushes!
“It is scary – all these masks.
Who’s behind it? Let’s go ask!”
Holding Mama’s hand, and then
“What’s your name?” …it is a friend!
Friends help clean up treats with care.
Run together – race you there!
Love this story! My children loved to trick and treat at night with friends and these sort of things happened. Thanks for bringing back those memories!
ENTRY POSTED FOR RHETT
LIGHTNING AND A MASK OF STARS (100 words)
by Rhett Trull
“El-TON! Ske-le-TON!”
Clay’s teasing was like ink
darkening the day.
MOLLY: “Don’t listen. He’s a creep.”
ELTON: “Well, he’s right. I look like a skeleton.”
Little Elton.
Skinny Elton.
Elton who kept getting sicker.
MOLLY: “More like a bolt of lightning!
He doesn’t know how strong you are.”
So…
Elton was a lightning bolt for Halloween.
Molly wore a mask of stars.
When candy spilled, they helped.
When capes tore, they mended.
When Clay’s dog bolted,
Elton shined a path.
Molly coaxed her from the briars.
And Clay took off his monster suit—
“I’m sorry”—
his words, candlelight
against darkness.
Nice! Sweet, with captivating language! And satisfying end! Good luck!
Such a different perspective for a Halloween story. I like how you created a heartwarming story instead of the usual “scary stuff.”
Aww. I love a friendship story. Very cool how you developed this endearing character in such a small number of words. Love lightening bolt and mask of stars!
ENTRY POSTED FOR LINDSEY
Lindsey Aduskevich
CREATURE OF THE NIGHT
Tonight’s the Scare-o-rama. I leave my mask home, for I am already a creature of the night.
A salty-sweet smell permeates the air. Bloodthirsty, I creep closer to the stage, ready to scare. When my turn comes, I stay in the shadows and clear my throat. “I am a vampire. I am here to drink your blood.”
The crowd is quiet before they erupt into laughter. “You’re not a vampire, you’re a fly!” yells a skeleton.
“Muahahaha!” I laugh.
“Mitsy! Quit skeetin around and come drink your blood!”
“Yes, Mom,” I call over the screams of the crowd.
-Mitsy Mosquito
Haha. Nice twist!
ENTRY POSTED FOR RHONDA
Thorny Lane’s Treasure
by Rhonda Gatlin
Inky black was the night, but with sack, treasure map and glow sticks they were ready. Boney Bluetooth Skeleton and his friend Milktoast Ghost creep along the Thorny Lane in hopes of finding a treasure trunk. Boney Bluetooth and Milktoast wore their mask to protect them from the Microscopic Halloween Grungies.
As they trudge down the lane the first trunk was covered in darkness. The treasure hunters sigh, but the search continues. The next three trunks on both sides of the lane were empty. Turning the corner there set the Treasure Trunk filled with many candies.
I like it Rhonda! I love the character names and so glad they finally found some treasure.
Argleby’s New School Adventure
by Echo Roben
100 words
“Argh,” said Argleby as he walked into his new classroom.
“Yeeps!” yelled the children as they fled the room.
“Argh,” said Argleby as he approached children at a lunch table.
“Yeeps!” yelled the students as they ran away.
Nobody would befriend Argleby.
On Halloween, Arghleby forgot to wear his costume to school. Walking down the hallway he saw witches, skeletons, and monsters.
“Argh!” said Argleby, as he ran away from the creepy characters and hid underneath a table.
The monster peeked under the table, “My costume worked! My name’s Henry. What’s yours?”
“Argh,” said Argleby.
“Let’s be friends,” said Henry.
Echo! Way to go! You got an entry in so fast! Looking forward to actually reading it 😊
ENTRY POSTED FOR ELIZABETH
A Cat-astrophic Halloween
Elizabeth Meyer zu Heringdorf
Jamie and Kevin were struggling into their costumes in the hall.
“Too scared to go to the Epstein’s haunted house?” taunted Jamie.
“Nah,” said Kevin, but he didn’t look his brother in the eye.
Suddenly there was a crash. The cat crept out of the kitchen, leaving bloody paw prints.
The brothers stared at each other as they heard manic laughter.
As the kitchen door creaked slowly open, they grabbed each other.
Just as they were about to run, a bloody, masked skeleton appeared around the door.
“That cat,” said Mom’s voice. “She knocked the ketchup all over my costume!”
LOL That was scary!
Two Can Play (100 words)
JC Kelly
What did I see in the closet this morning?
A skeleton, of course, how boring.
What’s stuffed inside my shoes? Mice.
Of course, how nice.
A vampire mask in the kitchen…didn’t make me shiver.
And the pitcher of blood…didn’t cause me to quiver.
I didn’t scream when I saw the giant spider…not a peep.
I wasn’t surprised…because my brother is a creep.
He does this every Halloween.
He says that it’s fun and he’s not being mean.
That’s okay…
Two can play…
Just wait until he goes to bed tonight…
I’ve prepared the ultimate Halloween fright!
Ah, I remember the fun of getting back at my brother growing up. Great concept, gotta love sibling wars!
Oooh I like the last verse! Good luck!
Mia is an innovative and creative girl. In this story, she thinks outside the box. There are craft instructions included in the full version of this picture book. I created the ‘candy dropper’ for this Halloween! 🙂
Mia’s Halloween Celebration 100 words
Mia loved Halloween celebrations but this year there were no parties because of Co-vid.
“How can we celebrate Halloween if I can’t be with my friends?” asked Mia.
“I’ll dress up in my creepy cat costume and mask. This will help me think,” said Mia.
“I know, I’ll make a ‘candy dropper’. I’ll tape a paper bowl at the end of a skeleton cardboard tube,” said Mia.
She called her friends, “Let’s social distance!”
They agreed.
On Halloween night, Mia’s friends lined up for a treat from the candy dropper.
Flip Flop
Candy Drop
“Thank you,” they said, “Happy Halloween!”
The End.
What a great way for kids to see how to adapt to a situation. Love the line, Flip Flop Candy Drop. Good luck!
Thank you so much! Best of luck to you as well!
SEVEN JACK-O-LANTERNS by Mary Arkiszewski
90WC
Seven jack-o-lanterns on a Saturday night
Sat shivering on a fence in total fright
As creepy skeletons clanked their knees
And wicked witches did as they please
Oh, why oh why couldn’t we just remain gourds?
Left in the patch of farmer George
Swirling ghosts blew to and fro
As spider webs cast an eerie glow
Then giggles and footsteps of costumes and masks
Showed the little pumpkins and their fear soon passed
That Halloween is for pretending, dress up and fun
Filled with tricks and treats and friendship won
This is cute you certainly captured the mood of Halloween. Good luck!
Thank you! Good luck to you too!
So sweet with just the right amount of creep 🙂
Aww thanks!! 🙂
You nicely set the mood with just 90 words. Sweet story.
Thank you so much!! 🙂
The last tanza sums up Halloween perfectly. Great job! Good luck!
Thank you, Ashley! All the best to you too!
A-Z: Who’s Behind Me?
by Ashley Congdon
WC: 98
It’s Halloween!
Time to trick-or-treat!
Rustle. Rustle. Crunch! Crunch!
Who’s creeping behind me?
Run!
What if it’s an . . .
Alien!
Bat,
Creepy Cat, or
Dragon!
Eek! Evil Elf!
Frankenstein,
Ghost, or
Horseman!
Crunch! Scream!
Ice Queen!
Jack-O-Lantern,
King Kong, or a . . .
Leprechaun!
M-m-m . . . Monster!
Ninja,
Ogre, or a
Pirate!
Crunch! Dart!
Queen of Hearts!
Reaper,
Sorcerer, or a
Troll!
Uh-oh . . . Unmasked Mummy,
Vampire, or a
Witch!
Crunch! Run!
X-Ray Skeleton!
Yeti! Yikes!!!
DEAD end!
It’s a . . .
ZOMBIE!!!!
“It’s MOMMY!!!! You left your bag for treats.”
“Phew! It’s just you. It’s Halloween! Let’s trick-or-treat!”
Rustle. Crunch!
Now who’s creeping behind us?
I love the way you captured the way imaginations loom large in the dark. All that stress and it was just Mommy-hilarious! Another wonderful entry, Ashley!
Thank you Jill for reading. I appreciate all the support. It was fun to to write.
There is a lot of action going on here. Great job!
Thank you for reading!
Great build up/anticipation…lots of cool sounds too – this was a fun read!
Thanks for reading Deborah!
Super cute! I could see this morphing into a PB or board book ❤
Thanks for reading! That would be so much fun! ABC books are one of my favorites.
Always love an alphabet story. Fun ending.
Me too! Thank you for reading.
Great entry – love the A-Z idea!
Thanks Claire! It was fun to write. 😊
This is so clever, Ashley! I couldn’t imagine when I started reading how you would manage every letter of the alphabet, but you pulled it off so well – and it rhymes too! Well done!
Thank you Helen for you reading and your kind words. I know, the risky alphabet structure 😬. The story just showed up 😄. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Great Halloween alphabet story!
So clever, Ashley! Fun ending too. Spooky and cute!
Thanks Shannon for all your support!
Way to get every letter of the alphabet, Ashley! Very impressive!
The alphabet is a tricky structure to tackle. Thank you for reading 😊.
Nice job Ashley! I love the build-up with the clever alphabet words and then the twist ending! Good luck with your entry!
Thank you Michelle!
Amazing. Brilliant. Creative. Delightful twist Ending. Unmasked Mummy/Mommy, indeed. @AnneLipton
Wow, thank you for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Love it Ashley, great ABC for Halloween!
Thanks for reading!
Clever Halloween ABC book! Love the wild imagination and the ending with a twist!
Thank you Karen for reading!
Love it, Ashley! So much fun with the A-Z creepy characters and twist ending.
Thanks Sarah!
well-done abc story. I like the twist at the end.
Thanks for reading!
It’s so clever! Love the imaginary creatures in alphabetical order. Good luck!
Thank you!
Love how you garnered the excitement of Halloween night! Good luck!
Thank you for reading!
The Attic Mask by Barbara DiMarco
The mask in the attic had been worn before.
Lulu picked it up and blew off thick dust.
“Give me that!” ordered brother Luke.
“You better not put that on.” warned Lulu.
“Why not! Those stories are phony, just like your witch costume.”
“Just find an old sheet. A ghost costume is creepy enough.” said Lulu.
“This Halloween, I want to be different!” Luke said, putting the mask on.
His body contorted.
A skeleton.
Bones.
Poof!
Dust.
Lulu swept the dust with her witch’s broom and sprinkled it over the mask.
“Mom!” she yelled. I need a new brother…again.”
Ha, ha, made me laugh! Great job, good luck!
Clever story. Great last line!
Haha, the ending. Good luck!
Hahaha. So funny!
creepy and funny at the same time. Nice work.
Not-so-happy Halloween
by Claire Schlinkert
(100 words)
With spooky masks, we eagerly set out to ‘trick-or-treat’.
In heavy fog, we headed down an unfamiliar street.
We crept to where a lonely house stood shrouded in decay
and in the mist, we missed the sign marked, “Danger! Keep away!”
The creaking door swung open wide. We froze in icy fear:
a levitating skeleton was beckoning us near.
It offered squirming candies. How we longed to turn and run,
but sorcery entrapped us till we’d swallowed every one.
Then, as we stumbled homewards, we observed our skin glow green.
Incessant voices in our ears howled, “Happy Halloween!”
A perfect mix of fun and fright for a Halloweensie story! Good luck with your entry!
So fun, and love the rhyme! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR TRACY
The Skeleton Creep
By Tracy Curran
On All Hallows Eve
when I’m meant to be asleep
I peep out at the graveyard
where skeletons creep.
They push aside their gravestones,
rising from the ground.
Have they come to haunt us?
No!
They simply…
hang around.
They melt into the shadows
until they’re masked from view,
scaring one other
by playing…
PEEK-A Boo!
I really want to join them,
play their games, hang out!
But the teeny tiny problem is…
MY BODY’S INSIDE OUT!
If my bones were on the outside
would they let me play?
“No, but you’ll be welcome…
WHEN YOUR RIBS ARE ON DISPLAY!”
REALLY enjoyed this story. Great concept of being inside out, and I can easily visualize this as a picture book.
Such a fun concept and a great last line!
This is such a fun story with a really cute “voice”. Well done, Tracy!
This is great fun, Tracy, with a great punchline! Good luck x
ENTRY POSTED FOR CRYSTAL
The Brown, Brown Boots on the Cold, Cold Floor
By Crystal Lamb
I was slurping soup on Halloween night
When…
KNOCK…..KNOCK…..KNOCK
“Who is it?”
Creeeeeeeeeaaaaaaak
In stomped two brown, brown boots on the
cold, cold floor.
I crept to the corner, clutching my napkin like a mask
and waited.
KNOCK……KNOCK…..KNOCK….
“Who…..who is it?”
Creeeeeeeeeaaaaaaak
A bony, bony body floated in and placed itself on
brown….brown boots…..
on the
cold…cold floor……….
KNOCK……KNOCK…..KNOCK….
“Who…..who is it?”
Creeeeeeeeeaaaaaaak
A skull floated and sat on the bony, bony body
on
brown, brown boots
on the
cold……….cold floor.
“WHAT DO YOU WANT?!”
The skeleton pointed:
“You’re…eating…my…soup!”
“It’s yours!” I said as I ran into
the shivering
night.
Spooky story, and so suspenseful! Great job, good luck!
Super cute!
Great cumulative effect and repetition. Just scary enough for kids. Cute!
Ooo…you had me hooked! Full of suspense and spookiness!
Love the repetition.
Delicious! Good luck!
ENTRY POSTED FOR NICOLA
Hedgehogs in the Garden
by Nicola Holden
The 31st of October is a special night for hedgehogs, because that’s when they put on their Halloween masks before going to sleep for the winter months.
That night, the hedgehogs crept into the garden for their Halloween snack. A fox was sniffing their treats and a cat was watching the fox.
“Charge!!” ordered Captain Hedgehog, activating the security lights, lighting up the skeleton hanging from the tree, and illuminating the masked hedgehogs racing toward the food. The fox was scared and ran away, and the cat chased after him. Happy hedgehog Halloween!
ENTRY POSTED FOR MONA
Home Sweet Home
by Mona Pease
A young barn cat
feeling ever so brave
decided to run away.
He hopped from his loft
spiff spoff
to creep and sneak into
the dark black night.
He didn’t know
a storm was looming
until thunder boomed
Bang!
The wind blew
Whoosh!
Bones of two skeletons
creaked and cracked
thwacked and whacked!
As if that wasn’t
quite enough fright
out of the brush
jumped scary creatures
in masks and capes
screeching,
“Trick or Treat or we’ll eat your feet.”
The not so brave cat spun around
and run back home to his loft
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>MEEEOOOWWWW!
I enjoyed the rhyme and your cute story! So much fun.
This is lovely. Great word choices and nice tension building. Love “spiff spoff” and “thwacked and whacked”. Trick or treat or we’ll eat your feet” made me giggle.
ENTRY POSTED FOR DESI
Title: All bones
Word Count: 95
By: Desi Valle
Halloween was here!
No “kid mask” required.
Cree P. Bones just wanted to scare his friends.
“Awesome costume!”
“So real!”
Compliments here, compliments there.
“Not a costume! The real thing!”
Cree was frustrated.
What to do?
“Watch. I’m eating candy! It will go right through me. You know, because I am a real skeleton.”
Nobody listened.
“Great disguise.”
Not again.
Cree ate all the candy he could find.
Nom. Nom. Nom.
Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.
Audible gasps.
Loud screams.
Kids running away.
“Your, your candy is on the, the floor.”
Cree grinned.
Finally.
“Told you…. I am all bones.”
Creepy and cute! I like the nom, nom, nom, clunk, clunk, clunk.
Hallowcake Cravings
By Katie Pals
100 words
On Halloween—just this day—skeletons come out to play.
By midnight they must be back to their graves.
Some dance. Some sing. Sam sprints to the bakery.
“Annual Hallowcake!” His grin fades seeing Dax Dog guarding.
“Bones!” Dax lunges.
Sam flees. Back to the graveyard until dusk.
“Creep and crawl. Dax won’t see me if I’m small…AHH!”
Sam bolts. Back to the graveyard until night.
“I want Hallowcake! But it’s 11:53. Dax won’t notice if I’m not me!”
With a furry mask and sweater, Sam strolls past Dax and opens the door.
He devours Hallowcake as “Sam the Dog.”
Fun! Glad Sam found the perfect disguise to eat his Hallowcake.
Foggy Halloween
By Denise Seidman WC= 92
On Halloween, a fog rolled in, thick as pea soup. My brother dared me to cut through the cemetery to treat-or-treat. I tiptoed inside.
Tree roots tripped and branches grabbed me. I struggled to free myself. Trembling, I crept by a crypt when I felt a bony hand on my shoulder…
I turned around to see a skeleton wearing a clown mask with blood dripping. I ran.
Panting, by my door I heard the skeleton’s maniacal laugh. My blood chilled and heartbeat raced as I fumbled for the doorknob. Then everything turned…
What a cliff-hangar Denise! Now you got me interested to know the REST OF THE STORY! LOL Nice job!
Thanks Michelle! I am glad you liked it. Maybe I will write more!
Oh no, what happened?! Nice scary story
ENTRY POSTED FOR VALERIE
HALLOWEEN IS SCARY!
by Valerie McPherson
Mama thought little Joey was scared by spooks that came to our door, so she sent him to bed early, snuggled with him, and read about bunnies.
I decided to creep above her shoulder with my bloodiest mask.
Brother shrieked and tried to get away. Mom pulled him back “Sweet, cuddly bunnies,” she read.
Brother reached for me. Screamed again.
Mom said, “Get away! You’re scaring him.”
“No!” he cried, “Bunnies are scary!”
He stood up, a bony, groany skeleton painted on his pajamas.
Grabbing my hand, we raced to answer our door.
Nice twist at the end!
Bunnies can be scary. Glad the brothers are getting to answer their door. One of my happiest memories was answering the door after trick or treating
.
The Sweetest Halloween Treat on Earth
by Jill Burns
I crept into my little brother’s room and found him sleeping in his mask and skeleton costume.
Life’s so unfair.
No trick-or-treating for him this Halloween night.
Instead, like a grand warrior, Pablo’s fighting for his life.
“Wake up silly skeleton!” I hollered.
Tons of treats tumbled from Pablo’s Halloween bag.
Pablo’s eyes grew misty. “All mine?”
I nodded. “Our neighbors said to stay brave and strong and get well. They love and miss you.”
Our eyes exploded with happy tears as we clung to each other.
And I know I had received the sweetest Halloween treat on earth.
Awww. Such a sweet story Jill.
Thank you so much!
What a touching story! Nice job, Jill! Good luck with your entry. ❤
Thank you so much, Michelle! Good luck to you!
I have the chills…really powerful story, Jill – love the uplifting ending.
Thank you so much, Deborah! The story is based on a Halloween long ago. It also had a happy ending!
sweet story
good luck!
Thank you, Linda!
Very sweet and touching story Jill.
Thank you, Penelope!
It came out so good Mia. Good luck!
Tricky and creepy, Mia! I just read it to my son, and he’s asking me to read it again. 🙂 Great job!
I need to look on a computer, but I didn’t see my story in your list of 169. Was there something wrong?
Nevermind. I understand.
Great Halloween story, Susan! I love the “Spider spins a web. Follow the thread. Land on her head!” Good luck!
What a fun setting! Loved the rhyming!
typo! The word should have been “cute” not “cite” LOL
I’ve been singing Monster with new lyrics thanks to you, Susan!
Fun idea for a skeleton shuffle.
Hahaha! Awesome ending! The meltdown!
Aww. What a sweet little peacemaker.
Good thing it was all a dream. Cute! Good luck!
I could picture some fun illustrations with your descriptions. Good luck!
You paint a great picture of the getting ready for the party. Good luck!
Sweet story.
Loved how spider saved skeleton.
I love it! I sure recognize the Halloween patterns of childhood!