***FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE***
Sorry for the delay in posting finalists, everyone! So many great entries – it’s really hard to narrow the field and it’s taking us longer than expected. I will do my best to post them no later than Monday afternoon, sooner if I can. Thank you all so much for your patience, and have a great weekend!
Witch’s wart and wing of bat! It’s time for. . .
The 11th Annual Halloweensie Writing 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 word count) using the words glow-in-the-dark, goosebumps, and goodies.
- Your story can be poetry or prose, scary, funny, sweet, or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes those 3 words and is 100 words. Get it? Halloweensie – because it’s not very long and it’s for little people 😊
- You can go under the word count but not over!
- Title is not included in the word count.
- Also, being super clear for this year, glow-in-the-dark counts as 1 word (even though it looks like 4 😊)
- You may use the words in any form i.e. glowed-in-the-dark, goosebumpley, goody (“Oh, goody!”, goody-two-shoes etc.), whathaveyou 😊
- You are welcome to enter more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself 😊
- No illustration notes please!
And yes, I know 100 words is short, but that’s part of the fun and the challenge! We got just shy of 300 fantastic entries last year, so I know you can do it!
POST: your story in the comment section below between right now this very second and Sunday October 31st at Midnight – the witching hour! Please include your title, word count, and byline with your entry so that if your posting handle is MomNeedsAVacation I’ll still be able to tell who wrote your entry 😊
- For those of you who would also like to post on your blogs, please feel free to do so! You are welcome to include the link to your blog with your entry in the comment section below so that people can come visit your blog, but all entries must be posted in the comment section of This Post between now and Sunday October 31st at Midnight.
- If you have difficulty posting your entry to the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I’ll post it for you! Contact button above or [susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com Please place your entry in the body of the email including your title and byline at the top – NO ATTACHMENTS! They will not be opened.
- I know how hard you all work on your entries, and how anxious you are to get them posted, but please try to be a little patient if your entry doesn’t show up immediately. Many comments have to be manually approved, and it sometimes takes me a little while to post entries that come in by email. I promise I will get to everything as soon as I can. I try never to leave my desk during contests, but sometimes it’s unavoidable 😊
- Side Note: WordPress will not properly format entries written in the shape of a pumpkin (or anything else!) or with fancy or colored fonts or unusual spacing. No matter how great it looks in whatever program you compose it in, be forewarned that when you post it in the comment section it is going to be basic and I am not able to change that for you, I’m afraid.
THE JUDGING: in a grueling marathon over the days following the contest close, my devoted assistants and I will read and re-read and narrow down the entries to a finalist field of about 12 which will be posted here for you to vote on I hope by Friday November 5th (though if the judging takes longer than expected it might be a little later – we will do our best!) The winner will be announced Monday November 8th (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. Use of all 3 required words and whether you came it at 100 words or less.
- 4. 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.
- 5. Quality of Writing: check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best 😊 Use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics, excellence of rhyme and meter if you use it, PROOFREADING!
- 6. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.
- 7. How well you followed the Submission Guidelines – agents and editors expect professionalism. This is a chance to practice making sure you read and follow specified guidelines. If you don’t follow agent and editor submission guidelines, they won’t even read your submission.
THE PRIZES: So amazing! What wonderful, generous people we have in our kidlit community! Just wait til you see what you can win!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique by Dawn Young, author of THE NIGHT BAAFORE CHRISTMAS (WorthyKids, 2019), COUNTING ELEPHANTS (Running Press Kids, 2020), THE NIGHT BAAFORE EASTER (WorthyKids, 2021), THE NIGHT BAAFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (WorthyKids, 2021), and the brand new ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS (WorthyKids, October 19, 2021)!

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (nonrhyming) by Janie Reinart, author of WHEN WATER MAKES MUD: A STORY OF REFUGEE CHILDREN (Blue Whale Press, 2021)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (biography) by Lindsey McDivitt, author of NATURE’S FRIEND: THE GWEN FROSTIC STORY (Sleeping Bear Press, 2018), TRUTH AND HONOR: THE PRESIDENT FORD STORY (Sleeping Bear Press, 2020), and A PLAN FOR THE PEOPLE: NELSON MANDELA’S HOPE FOR HIS NATION (Eerdman’s Books For Young Readers, 2021)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming or any) or First 10 Pages of a longer MS (winner’s choice) by Kenda Henthorn, author of the forthcoming BAA, BAA TAP SHEEP (Sleeping Bear Press, April 15, 2022)
Kenda works in the aviation industry now so it’s no surprise that her writing inspirations and aspirations are sky-high, too. She resides in Oklahoma and when the winds aren’t sweepin’ down the plains, Kenda enjoys acting, flying, kayaking and riding horses or her motorcycle. (Vroom-vroom!)She has served as a Regional Coordinator for the Oklahoma SCBWI and a Best in Rhyme Award committee member and judge.

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming or lyrical) by Randi Sonenshine, author of THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT (Candlewick March 2020) and the forthcoming THE LODGE THAT BEAVER BUILT (Candlewick Fall 2022)

⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique by Danielle Dufayet, author of YOU ARE YOUR STRONG (Magination Press, March 2019) and FANTASTIC YOU (Magination Press, September 2019)

⭐️ Storyboard Notebook – a great way to draft your picture books! PLUS a deck of What’s The Story Cards to inspire the drafts! PLUS the Making Picture Book Magic Self Study Course to help you craft your draft!

⭐️ Personalized signed copy of ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS by Dawn Young PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!

⭐️ Personalized signed copy of BRANCHES OF HOPE: The 9/11 Survivor Tree by Ann Magee PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!

⭐️ Personalized signed copy of MIMIC MAKERS: Biomimicry Inventors Inspired by Nature by Kristen Nordstrom PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!

⭐️ Personalized signed copy of A PLAN FOR THE PEOPLE: Nelson Mandela’s Hope for His Nation by Lindsey McDivitt PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!

⭐️ Personalized signed copy of THE NEST THAT WREN BUILT by Randi Sonenshine PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!

⭐️ Personalized signed copy of 13 WAYS TO EAT A FLY by Sue Heavenrich PLUS your choice of one of the writing craft books listed below!

⭐️ Winners of the 6 signed picture books above may also receive their choice of any one of the following writing craft books to go along with their picture book:






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 birthday, 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 and library visits, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊
Happy Writing! Happy Reading! And Happy Halloween!
Now, let the Halloweensie begin!
The 294 entries listed below are linked to where they appear in the comments so you can click on the titles and get right to them! (Assuming WordPress cooperates . . . fingers crossed!) Anyone who feels kind can start at the bottom of the list so those entries get some comments too! 🎃 😊
- Isolated For Halloween – S. J. Little
- A Halloween Time Machine – Sara Kruger
- Weather’s Trick, Witch’s Treat – Abby N. Wooldridge
- Halloween Is LIT! – Anne Lipton
- Kit’s Costume – Kari Ann Gonzalez
- Mean Halloween – Heather Ferranti Kinser
- A Witchy Switch – Katie Schwartz
- The Porchlight – Chris Garcia-Halenar
- Bruce Goose – Jessica Hinrichs
- Undersea Halloween – Vashti Verbowski
- Sweet Swap – Daniella Kaufman-Schloss
- The Halloween Witch – Trista Herring Baughman
- The Lonely Pumpkin Head – Elle Jaufret
- Hallows’ Eve – E. A. Peterson
- Whose Cat Is THAT? – Beth Stillborn
- This Pumpkin’s Not For Picking – Laura Howard
- The Jimjam – Carrie Karnes-Fannin
- Trick Likes Treats, But So Does Swoop – Melissa Valente
- The Haunted House High Up On The Hill – Sue Lancaster
- Tricked The Treats – Katie Fischer
- A Helpful Ghost – Emily Durant
- The Wraith On My Wrist or Ghostie Lost In City Mist – Sally Yorke-Viney
- Three Little Geese Do Halloween – Linda Williams Swanson
- A Glowing Solution – Nicole Loos Miller
- Warning: May Contain Sugar – Amy Leskowski
- How Hannah Saved Halloween – Colleen Murphy
- Double Meaning Halloween Knight – Debbie Meneses
- Untitled – Shariffa
- The Scavenger’s
FeastBall – Sarah Hetu-Radny - ‘Tis The Season, Candy Eaters – Hannah Roy LaGrone
- Greta’s Glow-In-The-Dark Goosebumps – Susan E. Schipper
- Bobbing For Apples – Lyn Jekowsky
- The Perfect Pumpkin – Barbara Kimmel
- No More Sugar! – Sarah K. Rose
- Fairy-Fire – Vanessa Konoval
- Creepy Cook-Off – Sarah Meade
- Macy & Lucy’s Halloween – Sarah Meade
- Ghostly Linens – Stephanie Maksymiw
- Happy HOWL-oween – Lindsey Hobson
- Three Glowing Bats – Sherry Roberts
- Halloween Family Secret – Jennifer Mary Grolemund
- A Sick Day – Jany Campana
- The Pied Pumpkin Of Halloween – Marta Cutler
- Creatures From The Couch – Julie Hansen
- Alligator The Ghost – Marta Cutler
- Goose-Zilla – Linda Staszak
- Welcome To The Skeleton Dance – Sue Heavenrich
- Teal Halloween – Kathleen Lowry
- The Gloves – Stephanie Rondeau
- Ghoulie Rulies – Brenda Whitehead
- Tricky Treaters – P. J. Purtee
- Garth’s Game Changer – Darcee A. Freier
- Nabbed! – Abby Voss
- The Wart-Covered Tree – Danielle Arndt
- The Last Fall Firefly – Meagan T. Gentry
- Who Cares If It’s Cold? – Allison Strick
- Glenda’s Goosebumps – Susan Burd
- The Candy Thief – Meagan T. Gentry
- Halloween Hero – Rose Cappelli
- The Halloween Ball – Marta Cutler
- Scary-Go-Round – Catherine Catcho
- The Scariest Monster – Marty McCormick Bellis
- Fright Night – Marty Findley
- Halloween Eve – Barbara Renner
- Wilbur Werewolf – Deb Buschman
- Teeny Owl’s Spooky Halloween – Janet Parkinson Bryce
- No Room For Monsters – Jill Stuck
- Ghost House – HC Morris
- Boogie Man’s Bright Idea – Jenn Shetsen Wierda
- Swamp Beast Falls For Sweets – Jilanne Hoffman
- Have You Seen My Monster – Alan Elliott
- Halloween Hang-Ups – Russell Wolff
- Mark Lights The Way – Karyn Curtis
- Halloween Pie – Jill Stuck
- The Costume – C. E. King
- I’m Coming To Get You – Pat Holloway
- The Frightmare – Linda Staszak
- Frankie & Gigi: Trick Or Feet – Kira Barrett
- Home For Halloween – Melissa Miles
- Not The Costume I Wanted – Michelle S. Kennedy
- Goosey Glender’s Fall Feast – Bartybear
- Halloween Scavenger Hunt – Denise Seidman
- Stink Fairy’s Hallo-smelly-ween – Stacey Miller
- Hallowmas – Danielle S. Hammelef
- Goosebumps For Mother Goose – Lynne Marie
- How Do You Tickle A Ghost? – Kizzi Hutcheson
- Dragon Magic – Melissa Rotert
- Gretyl Hobbled Into Halloween History – Royal Baysinger
- Shiver And Sugar! – Abby Voss
- Monster Feast – Abby Voss
- Are You Ready To Trick-Or-Treat? – Corine Timmer
- Christmas In October – Vanessa Konoval
- Spooky ABCs – Alan Elliott
- Dragon And Pirate’s Halloween – Alan Elliott
- Tiny’s Halloween Flight – Carolyn C. Snelling
- Rainbow Bridge – Corine Timmer
- Great-Aunt Broomhilda – Josh Cohen
- Cirque Fantome – Kizzi Hutcheson
- A Knock On The Door – Pamela Swanson
- Trick-Or-Treat Nightmare – Cindy Sommer
- Worth The Climb – Armineh Manookian
- Thank You, Trick-Or-Treaters! For Protecting Your Mother – Sharon McCarthy
- Beware, Out There – Julie Lerczak
- The Haunted Bathroom – Jill Lambert
- Plan Bee – Jenny Morales
- “BOO!”K Spooky Halloween – Laura N. Clement
- The Witch’s Mistake – Jennifer Kaap
- Itsy B. Spider – Molly Ippolito
- Too Many Goodies – Rachel Krackeler
- Ghostmetics – Rozana Rajkumari
- Santa’s Halloween – Jen MacGregor
- My Scariest Halloween Night – Les Degnan
- Winnie Trick-Or-Treats – Dorothy Kohrherr
- Camping Surprise – Meredith Flory
- Halloween Hunt – Mary Ann Featherston
- The Glow-In-The-Dark Bowl – Kathy Scott
- The Haunted House – Carmen Castillo Gilbert
- Once Upon A Halloween – Colourbeam
- A Witchy Potion – Susan Summers
- A Giant Surprise – Susan Summers
- Hollow-Eeek! – Karen Keesling
- Once Upon A Halloween – Nadia Ali
- Halloween Battle: (Vampire) Squid vs. (Goblin) Shark – Laura Bower
- Happy, Happy Halloween – Claire Freeland
- Mr. O’Leary’s House – Nina Nolan
- Phantom Festival – Lynn Moore
- The Surprise Halloween Friend – Cindy Greene
- Goosebumps – Amy Flynn
- Ninja Goose And The Halloween Hi-Yah! – Deborah Foster
- Tricky Treat – Patricia Nozell
- A Halloween Snack – Debra Daugherty
- Escaping Planet Taradiddle – Colleen Daugherty
- First Halloween Treat – Natalie Cohn
- My Last Trick-Or-Treat – Reed Hilton-Eddy
- Glowing Ghost – Lauri C. Meyers
- hALLYween SPELL – Paul Roncone
- Halloween Love – Marla Yablon
- Cockroach’s Glowing Problem – Lori Himmel
- Scaredy-Cat Pat And The Haunted House – Sara Dean
- Let The Real Halloween Begin! – Lori Evans
- Ixchel’s Belizean Halloween – Blanca Manzanilla
- Emy Is Always Right – Katharyn R. Benessa
- Tricky Treat – Ann Grilli
- Jack’s Pumpkin Plan – Diana Murrell
- Lights In The Dark – Ivanka Dimitrova
- Fraidy Cat No More – Jennifer Cherry
- Galactic Trick-Or-Treat – Tiffany Hanson
- My Ghost Bubble Friend – Sheila R. Schmotzer
- R-R-R-Rattled – Gennie Gorback
- Glow-In-The-Dark Goodies – Leslie Collins
- Moonlit Love – Liz Kehrli
- Un-Spooky Halloween – Krista Legge
- Stella Shines – Laura Barens
- Tabby The Trouble Maker – Dawn Renee Young
- The Nameless Ghoul – Imelda Taylor
- How The Jack-O-Lantern Found His Real Smile – Sheri Palmer
- Halloween Chase – Connie Newbauer
- Spidey Sparkles – Angelique Lamour
- Never Trick A Witch – Tiffany Hanson
- Halloween Monster – Tiffany Hanson
- The Halloween Sleepover – Kelsey E. Gross
- Goose Bumped – Jen Subra
- The Rock – Trista Herring Baughman
- Halloween Pumpkin – Shariffa
- A Tricky Tattoo – Gregory E. Bray
- Brave, Adalaide – Katie Walsh
- March Of The Skeletons – Jill Richards Proctor
- Little Night Terrors – Obbverse
- The Mansion On Maple – Glenda Roberson
- The Graveyard Picnic – Gabrielle Cardwell
- Halloween Heebie-Jeebies – Karen Pickrell
- A Few Of The Scariest Things: A Parody To The Tune Of My Favorite Things – Ingrid Boydston
- The Witch Of Jekyll Island – Shampa Enayet
- FEELINGUNSEENONHALLOWEEN – Nicola Beach
- Hank’s Halloween Costume? (A Riddle In A Story) – Ken Major
- All Hallow’s Eve – Stacey Miller
- Molly’s Ghost – Hobbo
- The Witch’s House – Emma Wood
- My Word – It’s Halloween! – Jamie Donahoe
- Switched On And Off – Diana Webb
- A Night With Gran – Diana Webb
- Boys Will Be Boys – Matt Snyder
- Flicker Of A Cat’s Tail – Jacqui Boulter
- Pumpkin Train – Kathy Raggio
- The Alien – M. Waknitz
- Jellyfish George’s Halloween – Scott Kinder
- Skeleton’s Halloween – M. Waknitz
- Twyla Z. Witch – Lori Dubbin
- Witch’s Brew – K. Sibilia
- It’s Halloween – Elizabeth Muster
- Capture The Goodies On Halloween – Ames Jegen (age 11)
- (Not) A Very Scary Story – Linda Staszak
- Halloween Helpers – Ellen Seal
- Halloween Warning – Stephanie Henson
- Leaping Lizards! – Sharon Match
- Graveyard Bully – Jean James
- The Greatest Night Of The Year – Krista Harrington
- Halloween Hide And Seek – Melissa Wrex
- Trick Or Treat Night – Emily Keifer
- Oscar’s Irresistible Brew – Lucretia Schafroth
- All Hallow’s Eve At The Roller Rink – Bonnie Kelso
- My Halloween Crew – Alana DeVito
- Post Halloween Goals – Amy Reitz
- The Card Game – Cathy Lee
- Quiet Night – Thelia Hutchinson
- Trick-Or-Treat, Night Animals!: A Halloween Story – Mary Catherine Amadu
- A Halloween Tail – Janice Kay
- An Inch – Susan Leigh Needham
- Underwater Halloween – Judy Sobanski
- The Lonely Scarecrow – Sarah Atherton
- The Little Witch – Deborah Hunt
- Waking The Dead – Nancy Derey Riley
- A Not-So-Sweet Halloween – Erika Romero
- It’s Halloween In Toothytown – Kristen Littlefield
- Until It’s Safe – Brittany Saulnier
- First Halloween – Karen deWilde
- You Are What You Eat – Alexa Tuttle
- Once Upon A Halloween – Carrie O’Leary
- Goodie Ghost’s Halloween Screams – KJ Albright
- A Bunny Can Dream – Becky Walker
- Ogre’s Halloween – Barbara DiMarco
- Monster Lipstick – Kathi Morrison-Taylor
- Ghoulies Grand Soiree – MaryAnn Cortez
- Haunting Gnomes – Lindsay Moretti
- Goosebumped Ghoul And Scattered Skeleton – Sarah Kohls Roberts
- Not This Time – Sandhya Acharya
- How To Sneak A Halloween Treat – Alicia Meyers
- I Wish. . . – Amy Duchene
- Bram’s Hunt – Michaela Almeida
- Terrific Toothpaste! – Heather Gallagher
- The After Party – Samantha Sinclair
- The Final Hour – Ashlee MacCallum
- Halloween Gala – Tonnye Williams Fletcher
- Halloween Bites – Melissa-Jane Nguyen
- Double, Double Toilet Trouble – Stephanie Amargi
- Henley’s Haunted House – Jeannette Suhr
- Disguise Surprise – Nancy Derey Riley
- Enough – David McMullin
- Witches Aren’t Supposed To Be Afraid Of The Dark – Ally Piper
- Frankenpixie – Paul Kurtz
- Scaredy-Monster – Paul Kurtz
- Halloween’s The Worst! – Donna Kurtz
- Bunny’s Bored! – Donna Kurtz
- The Goblin Market – Aly Kenna
- Wilfred The Wizard – Nicola Thackrey
- Halloweenie – Jana Mattern
- The Last House On Halloween – Bru Benson
- Ghostly, Ghastly, Goosebumps – Janet F. Smart
- Astronaut Aidan – Kaye Wright
- The Halloween Dare – Erin Cleary
- Dracula’s First Halloween – Eleanor Cullen
- Pumpkin Dawn – TSW Sharman
- A Southern Halloween – Trista Herring Baughman
- The Candy Monster – Judy Cooper
- The Halloween Potty – Andrew Hacket
- It Absolutely Will Be A Fine Night – Susan Krevat
- Halloween Goodies – Una Belle Townsend
- It’s Dark In Here – Sue Ko
- Eyelashes – Sue Ko
- Fall – Sue Ko
- Too Dark – Rae Harkness
- Boo – Mary Ann Napolitano
- Much Too Goody – Sarah Hawklyn
- Candy Surprise – Julianna Kurtz
- Halloween Surprise – Judy Egan
- Trick-Or-Treat At 20 Below – Matthew Lasley
- Gotcha! – Pat Finnegan
- The House Next Door – Aundra Tomlins
- No Grownups! – Penny McNally
- The Halloween Party – Claire Schlinkert
- Can We Please Skip The Costumes? – JC Kelly
- How Would She Know? – Meredith Adams
- The Day After Halloween – Haven Blough
- Brujita’s Treat – Desi Vee
- Spooky Investigates – Jessica Murray
- The Best Medicine – Becky Falkum
- You Ain’t Nothin’ But A Hot Dog – Joyce Schriebman
- Witches Holiday – Nadia Nakib
- Halloween Hocus Potion – Shelley Kinder
- Goats And Goblins – Briana Joy McCormick
- Next Halloween – JC Kelly
- Pirate’s Halloween – Marjorie David
- Silly Goose – Sarah Marhevsky
- All’s Fair In Spook And Scare – Patricia J. Weaver
- Smartie Treat – Steena Hernandez
- Haunted Hunt – Dea Brayden and Linsday Brayden Ellis
- The Glow-In-The-Dark Goodies – Christopher Singleton, Sr
- Witches Woods – Bevin Rolfs Spencer
- Invite A Witch To Your Halloween Party?! – Holly Vagley
- Pumpkin’s Halloween – Holly Vagley
- Halloween Moon – Martha Holguin
HALLOWEENIE
By Jana Mattern
99 Words
Last year I was a green crayon.
I tried to bury that embarrassing pointy hat, but somehow my human found it.
Let’s not even discuss the year I was a mermaid.
With so much fur showing, I had goosebumps all night.
At least I got beef-flavored goodies afterward.
Then there was the year I accidentally became a mummy after getting into toilet paper.
I’m crossing my paws for a good costume this year.
I heard the Labrador next door gets to be a glow-in-the-dark skeleton. Lucky!
Here comes my costume.
It’s a…
HOT DOG!
It’s perfect!
Happy HalloWEENIE!
Fun! My favorite line: Then there was the year I accidentally became a mummy after getting into toilet paper.
This dog POV poem is fun! the mummy bit is funny (and very dog appropriate!), and I love the HalloWEENIE ending!
I enjoyed the dog’s POV. I’m sure it’s a common canine concern at this time of year–what sort of discomfort and public humiliation will my owner subject me to this year?! Well done!
Very fun. I’m glad the dog was happy being a Halloweenie! My daughter and I made a costume for our brittany, Abby, one year – wings, beak, and feathered tail, a bird dog (brittanys are hunting dogs that hunt birds). She won 1st place at the school fair. So fun!
Hahaha – What a perfect ending, and one of my favorite other lines was “i’m crossing my paws . . .:
That punchline! 😂 Very fun!
Word Count: 97 The Last House on Halloween
Bru Benson
“Have enough candy on your first Halloween?” Risha’s older sister asked.
“I do. My school friends told me about this last house, it’s scary,” ten-year-old Risha said.
While her sister waited, Risha followed glow-in-the-dark tape to the front porch.
The door opened. It was true. Risha had goosebumps.
“Pick one,” a voice said.
So many goodies to choose from, “This one will do fine. Thank You.”
Risha walked back to meet her sister.
“What was so scary?” her sister asked.
“No candy, just books,” Risha said,
“You can have all this candy, I’ll just carry my book.”
Love this twists giving out books!
Thank You.
Cool! I would have loved to get books on Halloween! Nicely done.
Thank you. I’ve been giving out books for 2 years now
The dialogue between the two sisters is so natural, AND I did NOT see that great ending coming:-)
Thank you. I’m glad you liked it.
Now that’s a treat! 🎃
You should see the look on their faces when I give the books out. There are some,”What is that?” while others go, “Oh boy! a book.”
Here is my entry:
GHOSTLY, GHASTLY, GOOSEBUMPS
98 words by Janet F. Smart
Ghostly, ghastly, goosebumps,
Big eared bats and spider filled stumps.
Eek! What do I see?
Over in the pumpkin patch,
I just saw a goblin hatch
On this spooooooky Halloween!
It glows in the dark.
It looks like an aardvark—
And it’s running right towards me!
I scream and grab my goody sack
I fling it like a lumberjack.
My candy soars through the air!
When it hits him in the head,
He scowls at me; his face turns red.
He grunts, glares and growls!
He snatches one and takes a bite
Then to my shocked delight
He shouts, “Mmm, chocolate!”
I enjoyed your story. Chocolate melting the distance between human and goblin. Yay for chocolate!
Thanks, Corine!
Love, “I fling it like a lumberjack.” Glad that chocolate soothes the angry beast! Nice job!
Thanks! I love chocolate, so I figured a goblin would, too.
Your idea about a goblin hatching in a pumpkin patch is so clever, as is the surprise ending:-)
Thanks, Patricia! Glad you enjoyed it.
That had a fun rhythm to it! And a fun ending too! 🎃
Astronaut Aidan
By Kaye Wright
Word Count: 100
Spacesuit? Check.
Stuffed bear co-pilot? Check.
Rocketship? Almost.
Goosebumps covered Aidan’s arms.
This Halloween he was flying into space.
No huge piles of goodies like last year, he thought.
No parading through the streets with his brother either.
Nervously he waited to take flight.
“The nurses have a special surprise for you,” Mom encouraged.
Do all astronauts feel this topsy-turvy before take off, he wondered.
“Ready, Astronaut Aidan?” the nurse called.
Slowly the lights dimmed.
One by one, glow-in-the-dark stars shone from above.
Reassured, Aidan smiled.
From his seat aboard the radiation machine rocketship he bravely counted.
“3, 2, 1 … blastoff!”
The power of imagination, creativity and empathy. A sweet and caring story. I enjoyed reading it. Halloween in hospital can’t be much fun, unless . . .
I liked this story very much.
Oh so sweet! All the best wishes to Astronaut Aidan and his trip aboard the radiation rocket ship. Sweet
Children confronting medical challenges with courage and innocence leave me in awe – Your story beautifully captured that bravery.
My heart goes out to all the astronaut Aidens out there….🧡🎃!
THE HALLOWEEN DARE
by Erin Cleary
100 words
Blog: https://www.erincleary.com/post/happy-halloween
The dark, decaying house towers above me. A shiver prickles my spine.
I can do this!
I start up the path. Leaves crunch under my feet.
“It’s been nice knowing you!” My friends laugh.
They make ghostly sounds that give me goosebumps.
I can do this!
I climb the rickety stairs and point one trembling finger. Cobwebs cover the doorbell.
Bong-Bong-Bong…
Slowly, the door creeeeeeaks open.
I can do this!
My voice cracks. “Trick or treat?”
Glow-in-the-dark eyes pierce the darkness.
A bony hand reaches out.
A scratchy voice asks,
“M&Ms or Snickers? Would your friends like some goodies too?”
Nice suspense building. I love the ending. Things aren’t always as they seem. Good luck!
Thank you!
Enjoyed all the tension and suspense–and your lovely surprise ending, too!
Thank you, Lucretia!
Oooh, just the right amount of creepy. Like the repetition of, “I can do this!” Love the ending! Nice job!
Thanks, Nancy!
Cute. I love the last line.
Thank you, Maryann!
Your description of this brave little trick-or-treater was so vivid, and the surprise ending was perfect:-)
Thank you, Patricia!
Ooh! The story is spooky but the choice is truly difficult! I think….M & Ms! 🎃
Good choice! 🙂
‘Dracula’s first Halloween’ by Eleanor Cullen (EleanorRCullen)
Word Count: 100 Words
Today’s the day, the day to scream,
it’s my frightfully fabulous first Halloween!
There are things to do and people to scare,
but first I must find a costume to wear!
I could dress as a bat, or a spider or shark,
or one of those fish that glow-in-the-dark.
I could give you goosebumps as a horrid old hag,
and carry my goodies in a cauldron-shaped bag!
Though my normal look might be spooky enough,
with my fangs and my cape, and my vampire-y stuff.
So this Halloween, you wait and see,
the scariest costume will look just like me!
How fun!
Very fun! Good job!
Such great descriptions embedded in your poem – I especially liked “my frightfully fabulous first Halloween.”
Wonderful! Fun rhythm, rhyme and story! 🎃
Title: Pumpkin Dawn
By: TSW Sharman
Word count: 100
When Dad lit the candle inside our pumpkin my head was suddenly all goosebumps. Dad recoiled, and Mum screamed.
We’d bought the pumpkin at ‘D’Veels Goodies’. The man who sold it to us had weird eyes above his mask, which frightened me. But we’d carved a fun, goofy smile onto it.
But now, on our doorstep, it was flaming. But not burning up. The fire crackled, but it sounded like cackling. Dad said, “In the car. Now!” We drove away. Fast.
All the houses we passed had the same burning pumpkins outside, and the horizon was like a glow-in-the-dark necklace.
Spooky!
Note to self: Do not buy pumpkins at ‘D’Veels Goodies’! 😀 Spooky.
Very creepy! Remind me not to go trick-or-treating in that neighborhood! Good luck!
This would make a perfect scene in a horror movie – It’s delightfully creepy:-)
Truly creepy! 🎃
A Southern Halloween
by Trista Herring Baughman
Word Count: 98
“Oh nooo! Your goodies are all rurnt and junk. Did I do that?” Dulzebella, dressed as the Geico Pothole, cackled mischievously.
Tater watched grumpily as goopy, green, glow-in-the-dark slime oozed over his trick-or-treat bag.
AAAAHHHRRROOOO!
“What’s that?” Dulzebella squeaked.
“That was the werewolf of Creepy Holler. Look, I see its eyes in the bushes! RUN!”
Dulzebella ran quicker’n a scalded dog. Tater laughed until he couldn’t see her anymore. “You can come out now, Hank. We got her good! That howl even gave me goosebumps. Hank?”
A low growl came from the bushes. It didn’t sound like Hank.
Bahaha! Watch out Tater and Hank!
You crafted quite a spooky scene – I especially liked when “Dulzebella ran quicker’n a scalded dog” 🙂
Crimenattly! Those Southern tails”ell scare the hide right offl all y’all! 🎃
THE CANDY MONSTER (99 words)
by Judy Cooper
It was Halloween, a night when anything could knock on your door…
witches, glow-in-the-dark ghosts, zombies or who knows what?
Suddenly, a thump, thump, thump sounded.
Goosebumps covered Quinn’s arms.
Nervously, Raffi peeked out the window.
“It’s a monster,” he yelled. “Quick. Hide!”
The creature shrieked. “Trick or treat! Give me something good to eat!”
Raffi peered from under the blanket.
“Don’t worry,” said Quinn. “I have a plan.”
She opened the door and tossed goodies into the creature’s bag.
He scurried away.
“You saved us,” cried Raff-Raff. “You’re my hero.”
Quinn smiled. “I know how to handle monsters.”
Spooky fun!
Very cute! Love the last line! Good luck!
I loved that phrase “a night when anything could knock on your door” – It quickly set the scene of spooky and scary.
Sounds like the older sibling (a brave girl!!!) has it all under control, LOL. Good luck!
A spooky tale with a happy ending! Nicely done! 🎃
THE HALLOWEEN POTTY
By Andrew Hacket
100 Words
Halloween night.
Goosebumps bristle
as monsters arrive, goodies in hand.
Time to party.
“Too little,” they say. I’m ushered away.
I stand in my lavatory, laboratory.
My cauldron, shiny white.
A trick up my sleeve.
Time to mix.
Time to make.
Conjure.
Create.
But footsteps on stairs means hurry,
move quick. Too rushed to measure, I toss it all in.
With a flush of excitement, I give it a whirl.
The cauldron strains,
gurgles, groans,
about to explode.
My family bursts in
as the toilet erupts.
They’re now dripping in slime
that glows-in-the-dark.
They shouldn’t have said TOO LITTLE! Serves them right. My favorite sentence: With a flush of excitement, I give it a whirl. Wicked fun!
Cool, Andrew! LOL!!!
Very clever and fun tale! Lesson learned: Never underestimate a youngster’s talents for Halloween trickery!
Very fun! Love, “With a flush of excitement, I give it a whirl.”
Hahaha – Such clever allusions to his laboratory: “My cauldron, shiny white” . . .”With a flush of excitement”
Kids do love potty humor! 😂🎃
Happy Halloween! Here is my 69 word poem.
It Absolutely Will Be A Fine Night
By Susan Krevat
Black cats whose eyes shine bright
Will absolutely be a fine sight
As they creep among all these treats
Being stealthy and sly beasts.
Goodies that glow-in-the-dark
Will absolutely make their mark
Upon my arms where I find in clumps
A serious case of goosebumps.
Masked goblins who travel down my street
Will absolutely find something to eat
While they happily run around
Swishing through leaves upon the ground.
I like your rhyme. Very Halloween-y!
Love the repetition of, “Will absolutely . . . ” Your story captured the feel of Halloween. Nice job!
So many absolutely Halloween images in your poem – Because I still love doing this, my absolute favorite is:
While they happily run around
Swishing through leaves upon the ground.
Absolutely fun! 🎃
HALLOWEEN GOODIES
By
Una Belle Townsend
Word count: 100 wds.
My Aunt Halley makes me weird Halloween goodies. Sometimes it’s banana bat wings, crunchy cattails, or peppermint pig’s ears.
This year, I decided to surprise her with a treat. I made glow-in-the-dark pumpkin pudding with tiny black spiders on top.
“It’s delicious,” she said. Soon she shivered and broke out with orange and black goosebumps all over her face, arms, and hands.
What had I done?
Aunt Halley burped a tiny burp and smiled. Then, she burped a huge, smelly burp and giggled. Finally, she belched out a humongous burp and cackled.
“You got me,” she said. “Where’s that recipe?”
Deliciously gross! Fun, too.
Thank you for your remarks. I see you like haiku. I do, too. I take many pictures of sunsets, and my book, “:Sunsets and Haiku” was published in 2015. Congratulations on all your awards.
Una Belle Townsend unabelletownsend.blogspot.com
Thanks, Una. I’ll look you up on Facebook, if you’re there. Congratulations on the publication of your haiku book.
Haha, kids will love the fun grossness of the burps and belches. Very fun!
Aunt Halley has such a Hally-oween name – I liked the alliterative Halloween goodies and the Halloween-colored goosebumps. With the burping finale, your story was a hit with me:-)
Thank you. It was fun to write.
Una Belle Townsend
Kids love burping and belching too! 🎃
Happy Halloween, Everyone!
IT’S DARK IN HERE
By Sue Ko
Word Count: 97
It’s the day after Halloween
And it’s dark in here.
Skittles went at 9am.
Kiss at 10.
Glow-In-the-Dark Jelly Fangs left at recess.
And here I sit.
I pointed out at the factory that we didn’t taste like anything. And why name us after a vegetable? I mean, where’s the kid appeal in that?
I’m competing—whoa! Bright light! Here comes The Hand! Me, Cody! Pick me!
Whopper.
OK.
I’m competing with these goodies: cutesie rolls, raspberry diamonds, rocks that pop and give kids goosebumps- seriously!
I’m sweating in this plastic sleeve
And it’s dark in here.
Aww, poor left-behind candy!
Ha! Fun and unusual perspective. Always has to be one treat that feels unwanted. 😦
Sad candy, don’t worry, the parents will get you. 😀 Cute story. Happy Halloween!
What a fun POV! I love the “Me, Cody! Pick me!” part.
Sooo, my guess is candy corn? Very cute, it’s like how I felt when we picked teams for dodgeball! A was almost always last. Poor candy!
What vegetable could this be? If it’s a candied sweet potato, there won’t be a bite left by the end of Thanksgiving Day – What a clever point of view for your story:-)
Ah! The fate of the candy corn! Fun p.o.v.! 🎃
EYELASHES
By Sue Ko
Word Count: 99
I imagined this moment during the long weeks our shipping container sat at sea.
We heard the people onboard saying what a rough year it was. And now this.
I worried we wouldn’t make it in time for Halloween. My Child was counting on me. The thought gave me goosebumps.
Finally, we were unloaded!
We travelled to a place called Costco and were hung on a very long rack.
Now the moment I imagined is here. The night is cool. Glow-in-the-dark Jack O’Lanterns smile. And My Child’s eyelashes brush against me as she peers into her bag of goodies.
That image at the end is everything! ❤ Great job
Aw! This is great. I haven’t read all the stories yet, but I’m so impressed with the different perspectives and twists. Great job!
So sweet! Love the title and perspective. Nice job! Good luck!
The costume’s perspective is so unique – I especially liked the part where you smoothly integrated the current supply line issues.
Wow, that’s an impressive p.o.v. concept! 🎃
FALL
By Sue Ko
Word Count: 86
Oh dearie me
It’s that time of year
When darkness descends
And The Reaper appears
My colorless brethren lie in piles down below
While we desperately cling
To our branch in the snow
Reds flutter with fright
Yellows flap in their panic
Tans twirl on their twigs
And me—I’m quite manic
Out tumble the kiddies
In sheets and with humps
With glow-in-the-dark grins
That give me goosebumps
To them Halloween
Brings a season of goodies
But for me
It’s the season I
Fall.
Bummer, right?
Unique and clever!
A clever entry from an interesting perspective. Well done!
I enjoyed this! Nice rhythm, unusual POV, and funny ending.
Love the POV and the pace. Great descriptive language. Love the last line!
Your perspective in this story and in the story “Eyelashes” is so unique! I loved the imagery you created in this story especially with these lines:
Reds flutter with fright
Yellows flap in their panic
Tans twirl on their twigs
And me—I’m quite manic
Lyrical and funny! Well done. 🎃
TOO DARK
by Rae Harkness
Word count: 95 words
Halloween called for a dark and spooky night, but it was too dark to go trick or treating.
Gus Ghost was covered in goosebumps. “ We can’t go out like this” he moaned.
Marsha Mummy cried “How will we get our goodies??”
Vonn Vampire sat and pouted “Hmph, Halloween is Cancelled.”
Sacha Skeleton had an idea! She cracked bones one by one.
Then she wiggled and shook and her bones started to glow!
Sacha was a glow-in-the-dark Skeleton!
The little monsters followed Sacha through Monster Town.
“Trick or Treat” they all yelled happily through the night.
Saved by the skeleton! Yay!
Sacha saved Halloween! Fun story!
Sacha reminds me of Rudolph! Such a clever resolution to contending with the too dark night.
She cracks her bones like light sticks, so clever! 🎃
Boo
By Mary Ann Napolitano
Word Count: 97 words
Black cat, furry rat, flying bat – Boo!
It’s the night of fright with a goblin or two.
Masked face, quick pace, fun race – Boo!
Glow-in-the dark from house to house with my favorite crew.
Candy corn, costumes worn, wrappers torn – Boo!
Walking through the streets giving goosebumps to you.
Scary sight, orange light, spooky night – Boo!
Halloween is the scene to be someone new.
Paint face, wear lace, slow pace – Boo!
Once a year, dress up, no fear, and eat some goodies, too.
Shout out, don’t pout, no doubt – Boo!
Everyone you meet – say, “Happy Halloween to you!”
I love the rhythm of this piece. Super cute and fun images too! Good luck!
Fun!
Very cute. Nice pace and rhyme. Love the repeated Boo! Good luck!
Your poem does such a great job in transmitting the fun energy of trick-or-treating on a Halloween night.
This was fun to read aloud! 🎃
ENTRY POSTED FOR SARAH
Much Too Goody
by Sarah Hawklyn
WC 99
Tonight, ghosts and goblins parade the streets.
So, this quiet witch’s familiar can be a frightening monster too.
Hiding,
sliding,
slinking by.
With inky fur I disappear into smokey shadows.
In the darkness my eyes shine like glow-in-the-dark jack-o-lanterns.
Rattle,
tattle,
clink klonk.
I prick my ears at skeletons in the night.
Quickly up the stairs to Witch’s door to guard the goodies.
None shall have them but me.
I arch my back in all my glorious terribleness.
My goosebump raising roar will make you tremble.
rumbly,
grumbly,
gravely…
RRR…PPP…PURRR!
Oh drats, she left catnip for me!
My nemesis.
A fun late night romp through the glowing eyes of a kitty-cat. I like the ending too. Good luck!
Oh so fun. Oh drats, done in by catnip again! Love your word choices and onomatopoeia! Nicely done!
I did not see that catnip and the let down it created for this ferocious cat coming – What a fun surprise:-)
Nooo! Not the catnip? 😂🎃
ENTRY POSTED FOR JULIANNA
Julianna Kurtz 99 words
Kurtzmom54@gmail.com
Candy Surprise by Julianna Kurtz
It’s Halloween Night!
“Out of my way! I should be first! I am the best!””
“I am the most popular. I am on the top of everyone’s list!”
Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!
Knock, knock,
“Trick or treat!”
“I am sure they are after me! Outta my way!
“Squish! Ouch! Whew! Made it!”
“See, I told you they would pick me!
“I’m outta here! So long suckers!”
Plop into a glow-in-the- dark pumpkin!
“On top of all the goodies, where I belong!”
“Wait a minute!”
“What’s happening?”
Where did my wrapper go?
Brrr! I’ve got goosebumps!
Are those teeth? Save me!!!!!
Gulp!
Ha, just desserts!
So fun!
Oh no, candy karma! LOL!
WOW! Your dialogue was so incredibly effective at creating a fast-moving pace for this story.
No one chooses the suckers… maybe it’s good to be unwanted after all? 🎃
Halloween Surprise
Judy Egan (@JudyEgan2)
91 Words
“I’m not going trick or treating!” Sarah slammed her door.
“You love trick or treating. Think of all the goodies you’ll get,” Mom said.
“I loved it when I went with Haley. Everything is ruined since we moved!” Sarah sobbed.
“I’ll go with you. We can be Goosebump garden gnomes,” Sarah’s brother said.
Sarah wailed louder.
Halloween night the doorbell rang.
“Sarah, there’s someone here to see you.”
“Haley!”
Haley helped Sarah put on her glow-in-the-dark fairy wings from last year. Haley wore hers too. Twin fairies again.
Halloween was saved.
Yay for besties and twin costumes!
Good luck!
Such a sweet surprise to have your BFF show up. Very sweet.
I love the special “treat” you wrote into your story – I don’t think anything in Sarah’s goody bag will compare to having Haley there to share the Halloween fun:-)
No treat like a best friend! 🧡🎃
Trick-or-Treat at 20 Below
Matthew Lasley
84 words
Children laugh as they pile out of the car
Costumes stretched over winter gear
Covered in glow-in-the-dark reflective tape.
Goosebumps pimple any exposed skin.
Welcomed warm blasts of air from open doors
As we collect our goodies.
Snow boots in place of princess slippers
A clown mask strapped over a ski mask
As our candy freezes solid in the bag.
Dad driving us up and down the street
Warming up chattering teeth between stops.
That is how we trick-or-treat
When it is 20 below.
Wow that’s very different than that California Trick-or-treating where its sometimes 80o out.
Sounds familiar, we are lucky not to have snow this year but our kiddos will be bundled up as the temps drop to 33 here in Colorado.
Love the clown mask over the ski mask and the chattering teeth between stops. Brrrr Good luck!
Brrr! We’ve lived in NE and it snowed on Halloween once. I can visualize. So different from where I grew up in Mississippi. Sometimes it *might* be cool-ish out on Halloween. A nice atmospheric piece.
The things we do for treats! Dad is a superhero.
Yes, I’ve gone with kids in Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Colorado, even Iowa where we had to pull costumes over coats and boots. Love it!
Where there’s a will, there’s a way – The cold weather costume innovations you embedded in your story are so clever.
I would prefer to hand out the treats! Way to go braver tricksters! 🎃
GOTCHA!
By Pat Finnegan (99 Words)
Halloween was finally here,
Witch’s special time of year.
Sharing treats would make Witch scream,
So she planned a wicked scheme.
Blasting skyward on her broom,
Witch roared out this spell of doom.
“Monster clouds, glow in the dark!
“Lightning bolts, light up the park!”
Goodies flew into the air;
Kids got goosebumps everywhere.
Suddenly, the children cheered.
“Hmmm,” thought Witch, “how very weird.
“Are you scared?” she asked with doubt.
“Terrified,” kids shouted out.
“Haunt us! Spook us!” children dared.
“This is fun to be so scared.”
Then the tricksters shouted, “BOO!
“GOTCHA, Witch! Now we scared you!”
How fun! I really love this! Good luck!
Fun twist with awesome rhyme!
LOL! Such a fun turn of events!
Great rhyme and really fun!
A fun read!
Wonderful rhyming and a fun story!
Very fun. Love the rhyme and fun scaring the witch at the end. Good job!
Gotcha got me!! Great, fun twist!!! Love this! 🙂
What fun! I love the unexpected surprise ending. Great job!
“This is fun to be so scared.” What a great concept. Nice twists with empowered children getting the last word.
Brilliant premise and poetry! I love how Witch “blasted skyward on her broom” and the spell she “roared out “
Tricksters turned the tables on that witch! Fun! 🎃
Super fun to read, and had me on the edge of my chair until the end! Great story arc, kids would love this, it should be a PB! Good luck!
The House Next Door
By Aundra Tomlins
95 words
Gabby stood outside the dark crumbling house.
Goosebumps pricked her skin.
Did a curtain move?
The house had been empty for as long as she could remember.
She grabbed goodies from her pillowcase, unwrapped chocolate, munching.
“Are you afraid?!” the zombie teased from the lamp-lit sidewalk.
“I’m not afraid,” she whispered.
Her heart pounded, palms damp.
She stepped up.
Screech,
Groan,
Squeak.
Her glow-in-the-dark bracelet lit up the tarnished door knocker.
Knock – FLASH!
The house became illuminated.
The dingy walls- now glimmering.
Petunias growing.
She looked at the empty bright sidewalk.
“Ah! Where am I?”
You gave me goosebumps!
Oooh! Very intriguing! Spooky, too.
Well, I’m hooked. I want to read more!
That story ending felt like such a “You’re not in Kansas anymore” moment. I love the set up for adventure, and spookiness, that the story ending created.
Gabby is braver than I! Spooky! 🎃
No Grownups!
By Penny McNally
97 words
Goody, no trick-or-treating with the grownups this year! After the millionth reminder to be careful, Max goes out alone into the dark Halloween night. He cracks open his glow-in-the-dark wand, crunching over the dead sidewalk leaves. Walking to meet his friends, Max suddenly stops short. Instant goosebumps!
A dark, haunted house looms before him. Tombstones cover the lawn, bloody zombies and ghastly ghouls dance and spin. Witches, swaying to the sounds of ominous organ music and ghostly oohs, stir a smoky cauldron. A piercing scream fills the night air. And doesn’t stop until Max is safely home.
Oh, spooky!
Spooky!
Yikes! Poor Max! Hope this doesn’t haunt him until next Halloween! Good job!
The first time doing anything alone can be scary and intimidating, but this Halloween solo walk was petrifying. It was interesting how you left it up to the reader to decide whether the “piercing scream” was made by the zombies, ghouls, and witches OR did Max hear himself screaming all the way home?
Yeah, I agree , trick or treating alone is tooo spooky! 🎃
The Halloween Party
By Claire Schlinkert
(99 words)
“Oh goody!” Mom whooped. “At your Halloween party,
we’ll show your friends REAL tricks and treats – nothing tame!”
The thought gave me goosebumps. Despite my misgivings,
the invites went out and the dreaded day came.
Mom’s glow-in-the-dark cakes delighted my classmates.
Her cauldron display showered stars through the air!
Yet suddenly Mom, with her wand waving wildly,
sent too many spells out with too little care …
Magnolia’s Mom didn’t want a toad daughter,
and parents whose kids became rats made a scene.
But grown-ups who grumbled got turned into tadpoles.
There’s NO CHANCE that Mom’s in charge next Halloween!
Lol, a witchy Mom (and I mean that in the nicest way possible.)
Thank you, Claire!
This is very fun! Love the rollicking rhyme. Nicely done!
Thank you, Nancy!
Haha I love this! Mom’s can be so embarrassing lol. Great job!
Thank you, Penelope!
Hahaha – Hysterical, especially “Magnolia’s Mom didn’t want a toad daughter.”
🙂 Thank you, Patricia!
Fun and spooky and funny again! 😂🧡
Thank you, Ingrid!
Can We Please Skip the Costumes?
by JC Kelly
99 words
Rob threatened to boycott trick-or-treating.
He always liked all the ghost and goblin stuff, and
gobbling up the goodies he collected.
It was the dressing up part, ugh.
Costumes never fit quite right.
But Dad promised he was making an amazing surprise in his workshop.
On Halloween, Rob was rather puzzled by what Dad gave him.
There was a cool sword and a shield,
but the main piece looked like…A DRESS?
Suddenly, Dad shouted, “Your chariot awaits.”
And Rob got goosebumps when he saw that Dad had transformed his wheelchair into an awesome Gladiator’s chariot, complete with glow-in-the-dark wheels!
Awesome story!
That’s a sweet story. I think it’s very kid-relatable.Good luck!
Wow!!! 🙂
I hope to see this published one day. Well done!
What a great dad! This is so sweet. Very nice.
The wheelchair/chariot was an awesome idea — I think reading this story to trick-or-treaters could lead to some great conversations.
Oh yeah, that’s a cool costume for sure! 🎃
I do hope my posting the word count of my story in the comments counts??
I do not envy you the job of judging!! Happy Halloweensie!!
It’s fine, Colleen – no worries! I mostly want everyone to check their own word counts before they post so they don’t accidentally exclude themselves for something they could have fixed 😊 It doesn’t matter where you put it. I don’t envy me either! 😊😊😊
LOL!! And you will do this again come Christmas! You are amazingly generous with your time. Thank you!!
Sibling rivalry . . . so much fun . . . not! Very cute story. Good luck!
So alive and easy to picture. Fun story! Good luck!
How Would She Know?
By Meredith Adams
91 words
Jack worked on his costume for weeks and weeks
Cut, sew, glitter, glue…all the crafty techniques
Working late nights, without complaint
Feathers, felt and glow-in-the-dark paint
Halloween night finally arrived
Jack was ready, all disguised.
Plastic pumpkin for collecting goodies
‘Here’s your coat. It’s cold, you’ll freeze.”
Mom just didn’t understand
How hard Jack worked, how hard he planned.
He can’t cover up his costume now
Jack must lose his coat, but how?
He left it hidden, near some tree stumps.
Mom will never know, well, except for his goosebumps.
sneaky 🙂
I can relate to this. I was wrapped in bandages with a skeleton mask for the school’s carnival contest. I won but almost froze to death without my coat. Well done!
Nicely done. No one wants to cover up their costume. Of course, freezing is never part of the thought process. Nicely done!
You did such an effective job describing how hard Jack worked on his costume that it was soooo easy to understand his disappointment . . . and the need to craft a plan NOT to cover up his costume with his coat.
We used to try to loose our coats! 😂🎃
The Day After Halloween
by Haven Blough
WC- 78
Sometimes I wish I would have been
Something else for Halloween
Like something pink and fluffy
Instead of sickly green
You see, goosebumps are nice for the evening
And glow-in-the-dark’s just as good
But on November 1st
Your feel the worst
When you’re the only ghoul left in the neighborhood
Yes I should’ve been a princess or fairy
Or some other goody-two-shoes
Because now I’m stuck
With hair colored like muck
And fangs in my picture for school
Oh dear, post-Halloween blues. I hope it will blow over soon. Next year a fairy then? I’ve heard they can be scarier than you think.
Haha! Very cute. Love, “…the only ghoul left in the neighborhood.” Good luck!
Hahaha – Never saw the ending coming! I used to let my kids pick out their own outfits for their class pictures, but mucky hair and fangs never appeared in their photos:-)
Oh, the day after blues… 🎃!
Love the rhyme!
Brujita’s treat
Word Count: 78
Brujita Traviesa warned Gloria not to eat the glistening goodies before wearing her costume on Halloween night.
“She did say goodies. If I eat one after dinner she won’t know. One will do the trick.” thought Gloria.
Shivery, heebie-jeebies-goosebumps!
A short stomachache later… Poof!
Nada.
“Bruja mentirosa. There was nothing wrong with these treats. Tonight, I get more!”
Costume? On.
Bag? Ready.
Flashlights? Not needed.
Brujita Traviesa’s treat did the trick.
Into the dark, Glo-Worm lit the way.
Haha! I had to look up the meaning of your Spanish words. Fun to mix it in.
Hahaha – What a tricky treat from Brujita:-)
Glowing treats, that’s a trick! 🎃
Spooky Investigates
by Jessica Murray
WC 100
Spooky had goosebumps. Unusual, because she LOVED scary sounds.
Creaking floorboards.
Tappity trees.
She peeked out the window.
EEK!
Something in the tumbled-down garden glowed in the dark…
and moany-groany wailed!
Fido growled and nudged her hand.
“You’re right. We have to investigate.”
Spooky grabbed…a dog bone.
From tree to tree, the moany-groan got louder. EEK!
Spooky shivered.
“It” flapped and slapped and swayed.
“Moany-groan,” whispered Spooky. “Give a dog a…BONE!”
She heaved, Fido bounded, the bone bounced, and ppppppffffftt.
“HAA!” Behind the deflated ghoul
was a speaker and note:
Congrats, Spooky!
Enjoy these ghoulish goodies.
Love,
Your big sis
I like Spooky’s perseverance. Well done.
I love Spooky! She’s such a brave little detective!
Ahh, sweet but scary!
Very fun. Just a touch of scary. Love the little mystery. Good job!
Two surprises in one ending: a deflated ghoul and a bib sis who is a trickster! Spooky’s one-sided conversation with Fido was great: “You’re right. We have to investigate.”
Sweet and scary! 🎃
A mini mystery, I loved it! Your characters are cute. Good luck in the contest!
THE BEST MEDICINE
By Becky Falkum
Word Count: 98
Sam’s gown was nothing like the princess dresses dancing past her window. It barely covered the goosebumps on her skeletal legs. If only she could escape the beeping monitors, their glow-in-the-dark numbers, and the tubes tethering her to machines.
“I’ve brought you goodies!” a sweet voice rang out.
Sam couldn’t face Nurse Betty. Not tonight. “Can’t my pills wait until morning?”
“Not those goodies,” Betty whispered. “The other ones.”
Sam turned around. “You didn’t.”
Nurse Betty, donning black hat and broom, cackled with glee as she handed over a bag full of sugary sin.
“It’ll be our secret!”
Lovely, Becky!
Best line, “bag full of sugary sin.” I love the love Nurse Betty has for Sam. I can only hope she gets to go out next Halloween! Nice job!
The best medicine indeed:-) Your story title was absolutely perfect in capturing the essence of your touching story.
This is truly poignant! 🧡
YOU AIN’T NOTHIN’ BUT A HOT DOG by Joyce Schriebman (W/C 83)
When Halloween came ‘round last year, I had nothing to wear.
They called me Goody Frank Furter. BALONEY! You beware!
I could not splurge on glowing-in-the-dark. I had no cash.
How could I conjure goosebumps and become a jumbo smash?
I wrapped myself in paper towels—a mummy from the crypt!
I relished using catsup for the blood, which oozed and dripped.
I mustered all my spiciness to be the biggest meanie,
but once outside a brat rolled by and greeted, “Hallo, Weenie!”
A perfect little story in so few words. Well done! Great choice of words, too. Fun!
Haha – mustered is the best! And I loved the title 🙂
Ha!!!
Haha! Joyce you always come through with a memorable story. Love all the word play! Great title. Nicely done!
Ha ha ha! Love the ending.
This was a fun read, Joyce! Hallo Weenie!
This is so cute! I also love “mustered all my spiciness” and that hilarious last line.
Well done Joyce. What a unique point of view. Love it!
LOL “Mustered” . . . “Relished” . . . “Hallo, Weenie” . . . So funny—You must have enjoyed writing this:-)
Some kids can’t help but play tricks! Nice word play! 🎃
Ha, ha, love your last line! And all the ‘lunch meat/hot dog’ puns, they’re everywhere, had me laughing! Good luck!
Ha ha! This story is so well done and absolutely hilarious, Joyce! Love it!
Witches Holiday
By: Nadia Nakib
Gather ‘round witches it’s time to focus.
Tonight is more than just some hocus-pocus!
Grab your spell books and please don’t fear,
The witching hour is finally here!
Children wear masks, costumes and hoodies,
We’ll lure them in with our potion of goodies!
Brewing magic that will glow-in-the-dark,
Riding our broomsticks over the park.
Instead of candy when they say, “Trick-or-Treat”,
We’ll send goosebumps down from their heads to their feet!
It’s the spookiest night you’ve ever seen,
So grab your fellow witch and have a Happy Halloween!
Delightful. A coven of witches. Let the witching hour begin!
very cute!
Very cute with a touch of magic. Nice!
You created such a vivid picture with your words that I could practically see the witches circling and plotting and planning
Spooky! 🎃
Halloween Hocus Potion
by Shelley Kinder
WC 100
Too cold outside to trick-or-treat.
But making potion sure sounds neat!
I’ll gather goodies. Stir them up.
Have no fear, my Fritzy pup!
I’ll use this broth here as my base.
Wipe that worry off your face!
Finding goodies left and right –
mousetrap, glitter, broken kite.
Spider rings aglow in dark,
clumps of lint, and gummy shark.
Baby booties, sticks of glue.
Getting goosebumps as I brew!
What are words that witches use?
Hocus pocus slimy ooze?!
Garblewacky bubbly drip?!
Okay, Fritzy, take a sip!
Don’t be shy. Try it now …
Oh no! OOPS! What have I …?
MEEEEOW!
This is well written and full of action. I can picture all the scenes in my mind. I like your choice of words and the rhyme works for me (though I’m not an expert). I thoroughly enjoyed it despite Fritzy’s unfortunate transformation.
Thanks so much, Corine 🙂 I just read your story, as well, and how cute! Ocean stories are fun, and yours is educational, which is even better. My husband wrote a jellyfish story this year: Jellyfish George’s Halloween (#188, I think). Maybe George can be friends with your sea creatures 🙂
Shelley, oh my – this is awesome! What an ending…
Thank you, Jessica. I like your Spooky story, as well 🙂 I changed the name from Fido to Fritzy right before submitting, so now I know why (so there wouldn’t be two Fidos in those final submissions…LOL). Good luck!
This is cute. I love the image of her stirring all things in the cooking pot. (I’m picturing a cauldron) I also like your surprise twist at the end, Poor Fritzy maybe he’ll like being a cat.
I know, right? Maybe he’ll actually like being a cat 🙂 Thank you for the compliments. I just read your ghoulies story. Well written and nice rhymes! Good luck!
This is delightful, Shelley! I love all the potion ingredients and the twist ending.
Thank you, Sarah. I appreciate the compliments 🙂
Very fun rhyme. Love the, “Garblewacky bubbly drip” and all the potion ingredients. But poor Fritzy! Nicely done and good luck!
Thank you, Nancy. Yes, poor Fritzy, but like someone above said, maybe he will like being a cat. Ha!
hahah! Poor dog. LOL. Hope once Halloween is over he’ll be turned back into himself! Great job with the rhyme!
Thank you, Michelle 🙂 I started out without intending to rhyme. I was going to write using tons of G words, since Susanna gave us all G words this year, but it just didn’t work out that way. Rhyme is just too much fun! I like your idea of Fritzy turning back after Halloween.
LOL – I didn’t see that ending coming:-)
Congrats on Honorable Mention, Patricia!
Funny transformation! Fun rhymes!🎃
Thanks, Ingrid. And CONGRATS to you for fourth place! YAY!!!! Wonderfully written story! My husband came in right after you in fifth with his jellyfish story. So proud of him.
Goats and Goblins
by: Briana Joy McCormick
100 Words
Pumpkins.
Farmer thought they’d be a goodie.
But Halloween’s here and fields are still orange.
The animals love tasty pumpkins, why is Farmer sad?
At dusk, Farmer prepares for trick-or-treaters.
Animals gather to plan.
Poor Farmer wants pumpkins gone.
If they eat them, there won’t be so many!
Sneak over gate.
Through dark fields.
Scraaaape. Crunch. Thud!
Animals stiffen.
What’s out there?
Raasssp. Bump. Thump.
Goose’s goosebumps raise.
Goblins near.
Scraaatch. Whack. Grunt.
Cow has milkshakes.
Ghouls everywhere.
Wide eyes glow-in-the-dark.
Ghosts straight ahead!
Pointy chins! Sharp, hooked fangs—
Wait! Not fangs. Horns.
Animals relax.
Not ghosts; goats! Gobblin’ pumpkins!
Love the ending and the title! Very fun!
I was guessing the whole way through the story about what was causing all the farmyard spookiness! It was easy to imagine how scared the cow was when you wrote: “Cow has milkshakes.” —Such a great line:-)
Goblin pumpkins! Very clever! 🎃
Next Halloween
JC Kelly
100 words
My costume is so spooky that I can actually feel
goosebumps erupting through my skin.
It’s THAT scary.
Gee, those goosebumps keep coming.
I haven’t told anyone about my costume.
Can you keep a secret?
They’re getting awfully itchy.
My costume is so awesome,
I hope I’m not allergic to it?
Scratch, scratch.
Now they’re on my face.
I wonder if the glow-in-the-dark make-up will cover them?
“Yikes,” screamed Mom.
It wasn’t the costume that scared Mom.
It was chicken pox.
No trick-or-treating. No goodies for me.
Good thing I didn’t tell you.
I’m saving my costume for next Halloween.
I had a last minute idea, and thought I’d give it a shot. But, as I went to post it, I realized that Chicken pox are pretty much a thing of the past (thankfully). Oops! I’m one of those old timers who has sad memories of spending an Easter in bed with the chicken pox & missing out on all the candy and fun!
I like it 🙂 I was out of school for a couple of weeks with chicken pox in Kindergarten.
I know the feeling! – but chicken pox still happen occasionally, don’t they? I guess I’m an old timer too!
I read it still exist, so your story is still current. How unfortunate to get chicken pox on Halloween. I hope mom spoiled him/her (not sure which gender-neutral pronouns to use. The other day I read ze/hir/hirs).
Oh no, chicken pox! What a bummer! Very cute story though.
It was great how the goosebump tension kept growing as the story progressed — By the end of the story, I was kind of itchy-scratchy myself:-)
Oh man! Now I have to wait a year to find out what the costume is! 😂🧡🎃
PIRATES’ HALLOWEEN
By Marjorie David
“Ahoy, you maties! Raise your hooks! Let’s go plunder!”
Three pirates charge into the night.
“Steady as you go mates, thars bounty enough for all,” says one pirate.
“Argh!” agree the other two.
A caped figure with glow-in-the-dark jewelry and captain’s hat joins them.
“Mind your steps, maties, we’ll stop wherever front lights shine.”
“Your goodies or our tricks,” cry the pirates at every door.
“Alas, our plundering is over. Retreat!”
With heavy loot-bags, the pirates turn toward the caped figure, but….
Only glow-in-the-darks, atop a folded cape and captain’s hat, remain.
Goosebumps raise.
The pirates yell, skedaddling.
Yoho! A fine yarn, matey! Good luck t’ ye.
Lots of fun language, Marjorie!
Well done! “Your goodies or our tricks,” and a scary twist at the end.
Oh no, what happened to the captain? Marauders, other pirates, ghosts??? Very fun story.
The dialogue in your story was great:-) I could just picture those pirates marauding from house to house, and the mysterious captain was a great spooky touch for the ending.
Argh! It’s Davy Jones’ locker for the captain I guess. Very fun!
Silly Goose
by Sarah Marhevsky
87 words
I reached in for the goodies
on this Halloween night,
then paused, just for a moment,
’cause something wasn’t right.
The moon’s reflection on the pond
was marred by growing ripples.
What had made the water move?
My skin began to prickle.
Luminescent algae, bright,
there did glow-in-the-dark;
around me, all was silent
in the quiet little park.
I dipped my head again for treats
but something held me back;
goosebumps rose like warnings,
so I waited on my snack.
A flash – I struck – success – a-ha!
Why worry? No excuse!
I caught a fish. The bumps went down.
I’d been a silly goose!
Cute! I’d say a brave goose.
Very cute. Not such a silly goose.
Loved the spooky scene you created with the mysterious ripple on the pond, creepy silence, and spooky luminescence — and then the fish LOL
Thanks, Patricia!
It was fun figuring out the point of view! 🎃
Not the usual narrator – glad you liked it!
All’s Fair in Spook and Scare
“Come on Cliff, it’s your turn to go first,” Clayton said and pushed his brother toward the ancient gate.
Cliff opened the gate engraved with snakes and spiders. Its eerie whine made goosebumps on his spine. One step on the path and the haunting began. Glow-in-the-dark eyes watched from every corner of the yard. Rows of Jack-o-latten ignited with blinding light. Zombies and werewolves reached for him. When he reached the house, the door creaked open and green vapers drifted out.
“Enough!” Cliff shouted and everything stopped.
“Good grief! Why can’t you hand out goodies like other grandmothers?”
Word count 98 Patricia J Weaver
Love this! My kinda grandmother…
Lovely! Its eerie whine made goosebumps on his spine. Great twist at the end.
Haha! I’m that kind of grandmother! Very fun!
The title is a great set up – and that’s one brave kid!
LOL – Grandma still has the Halloween spirit:-)
I think this grandmother lives on my block! 😂🎃
Smartie Treat WC100 By Steena Hernandez
Clear wrapper, twisted sides, and always a sweet surprise.
One bite brings on a sugary rush.
But being a goody isn’t always easy this time of year.
Tonight, kids will trick-or-treat ‘til buckets weigh heavy.
A ghost with legs approaches—my flavorful goosebumps rise!
“A giant Smartie! Can I have it, mom?” the ghost voice asks.
“You’ll get lots of candy tonight!” mom says.
“Not for eating!” ghost replies. “I’ll make a haunted house using glow-in-the-dark glue. It’ll bring smart energy—a glimmer of light.”
Smartie smiles a grin of hope and cheers, “I’m one lucky treat this Halloween night!”
LOL! That’s one smart candy! Very cute!
Thank you Nancy! 🙂 Happy Fall!
Loved the play on words by Ghost saying that the giant Smartie would bring smart energy to his haunted house:-)
I love the idea of making a haunted candy house! 🎃
HAUNTED HUNT
by Dea Brayden and Lindsay Brayden Ellis
84 words
Whose got goosebumps? Me. Wish me luck.
Time to start the quest.
A map, 10 clues to outdoor decor.
Haunted Hunt’s the best.
10 plump pumpkins perch on a porch.
9 suspended spiders.
8 gross goblins glow-in-the-dark
7 headless riders.
6 wee witches whirl in the wind.
5 gray ghosts go Booooo!
4 scared scarecrows stand on some steps.
3 old owls whoo-Whooooo!
2 mad mummies moan in the mud.
1 devilish display.
Goody! Done. Oh no, where’d they go?
My answers blew away!
I love all of your alliteration, and the ending is fun!
Love the alliteration and rhyme. I can see this as a Halloween counting book
A haunted house decor scavenger hunt – What fun! Little trick-or-treaters looking at illustrations of your story would have lots of fun counting all the Halloween decorations.
This is so much fun! Great job! 🎃
A not so scary scary story. I love the ending. Well done.
POSTED FOR CHRISTOPHER
(ENTRY RECEIVED ON TIME, POSTED LATE BY ME)
The Glow-In-The-Dark Goodies
“Good evening kids…
I mean… trick or treat!
I have lots of Halloween goodies for you
But these goodies, do not eat!
For if you eat them
They will make you glow-in-the-dark
You’ll never ever be able to play
hide and seek again,
Especially at night in the park!
Before you change
You’ll get goosebumps from head to toe!
Please…
Don’t make me say I told you so!”
CJ didn’t believe the old man.
He unwrapped a forbidden goodie,
And decided to give it a try
His hands got bumpy, his body shivered.
And now…
CJ glows like a firefly
Christopher E. Singleton Sr.
LOL – I hate to say I told you so…seriously, fun laughs for a spooky Halloween tale!
Oh no, poor CJ. Can’t say he wasn’t warned. LOL!
Hahaha – Yep, if you glowed like a firefly, it would make hide and seek pretty hard.
Nothing more tempting than forbidden candy! 🎃
Witch’s Woods
Bevin Rolfs Spencer
100 words
To get through Witch’s Woods on Halloween night I brought:
1. Glow-in-the-dark spiders to entertain the ogres.
2. Goodies for the trolls under Grendel’s bridge: werewolf bones, metal parts and rocks.
3. Goosebumps—my pet bat knew the way.
4. A mirror–revealed him.
5. Garlic–distracted him.
6. An excuse: She found the book fair and square.
7. My fighting cloak—he broke the deal.
8. Scabbard. A sword fight ensued.
9. My wits—never trust vampires.
10. Witch’s Book of Spells–to trade for my sister. But we used a hex instead and escaped with the book.
Ah, fun! Super condensed and love that the intrepid MC escapes w/ the book & the sis!
Very fun. You could turn this into a chapter book or a middle grade novel. Nice job!
What an adventure! So glad that brother and sister were united in the end AND they got to keep the book of spells
Ooh fun! I want to read the expanded version of this! 🎃
ENTRY POSTED FOR HOLLY
(ENTRY RECEIVED ON TIME, POSTED LATE BY ME)
INVITE A WITCH TO YOUR HALLOWEEN PARTY?!
By Holly Vagley
100 words
Beware! Witches wear pointy, wide-brimmed hats – GREAT for serving goodies – like tea sandwiches…
But not for guacamole.
Those enormous pencil sharpeners in their purses?
Sprinkle decorative hat-shavings all over the pita chips.
Witches paint their faces glow-in-the-dark green.
Green faces work best for roller coaster rides, sea cruises …
And accidentally eating hat-shavings with guacamole and pita chips.
Brooms?
In the corner. So stand-offish.
Unless you do the Limbo.
Toads… Splash in your teapot.
Like it’s a hot tub!
And cats?
Screech feline Cat-aoke.
So…
Invite a witch to your Halloween party?! Goosebumptious!
Make sure she brings the whole gang!
delightfully kooky – those pencil shavings!
Love goosebumptious! Cute story!
Hahaha – Stand-offish brooms, toads splashing in teapots, and cats screeching Cat-aoke. Your take on a witch at a party was so clever.
It reminds me a little of Dragons Love Tacos – you create a world where weird things happen but present it all as normal. Fun!
Now there’s a great word- goosebumptious! 🎃
ENTRY POSTED FOR HOLLY
(ENTRY RECEIVED ON TIME, POSTED LATE BY ME)
PUMPKIN’S HALLOWEEN
by Holly Vagley
98 words
Alone near the farm truck, Pumpkin sagged and straightened his white tag like a tie.
Ryan zigzagged through the pumpkin patch. “Here’s the last one!”
Grandpa shook his head, “Cracked.”
Ryan touched Pumpkin’s white tag. “What’s it say?”
“Sound it out.”
Ryan traced the letters. “F-R-E-E. We’ll take Free home! Put two happy eyes and a great grin on his goose-bumply face!”
Glowing-in-the-dark on Ryan’s stoop, Pumpkin enjoyed the costumes. The giggles. “Halloween is beautiful…”
Ryan thanked her shining friend with goodies. “Your midnight snacks.”
Soon, Pumpkin’s light faded. His eyes drooped. But his smile didn’t. “I’m Free.”
Love it. Love Grandpa having Ryan sound out the word on the tag. The ending gave me happy goosebumps. God job!
What a fun story! I love the ending with the double meaning about being “free”. Well done!
Your story had such a warm, friendly tone. I enjoyed the relationship between Ryan and Grandpa, as well as Ryan’s simple, happy vision for Free.
Wow! I had to read this one aloud to my daughter and she had the same reaction. 🧡! You got us both!