Oh, my goodness gracious! There is a LOT going on around here!

No time for details!

No time for the usual high jinx!

We’re just going to jump straight into the FINALISTS for. . .

The 9th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest

~ for children’s writers ~

In the interest of getting the finalist up for you to vote on, I am dispensing with ALL the extras!

The only thing I’m going to say is that the entries were fantastic and this was one of the hardest contests we’ve ever had to judge. There were so many deserving entries, we would have liked to choose about 50. We did our best to choose the ones that felt like they really showed enthusiasm, had strong kid appeal, and were strong stories. But there were MANY great entries that, while they fell just shy of the contest parameters, were still great stories!

So that’s it from me for now because things are afoot.

I am thrilled to present to you your finalists!

Please read through them and ENJOY! and then vote for your favorite in the poll below by 5 PM Eastern Tuesday February 27th! And as always, if you are a finalist, please do not troll for votes. It is counter to the spirit of the competition!

#1 – RED’S BLUE VALENTINE’S DAY

Yippee! It’s Valentine’s Day!

I share Christmas with Green—and 4th of July with Blue and White. But Valentine’s Day belongs to me, the red crayon. Sure, Pink helps, but she pales in comparison.

Annie plans to make her own cards today. Woo-hoo. Hearts, hearts, hearts—my favorite. What a glorious day.

Here come Annie’s busy fingers. Fantastic. She’s humming, as usual. We’ll color card after card and continue until bedtime. I can hardly contain myself. This will be the best day ever.

Wait. Why would Annie rummage past me and choose Maroon? Maroon isn’t true red—like me.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Ugh, I can’t stand it. If only I could stretch to the top of this box. If only I weren’t worn down to a nub. My faded paper barely covers my bottom.

Fingers again.

Wait. Lucky Magenta. Unlucky me.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Wait. Not Scarlet, too. I give up.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Time for bed and I’m sunk at the bottom of this gloomy box. No doubt, Annie forgot about me. “Night-night, Maroon, Magenta, and Scarlet. Did Annie mention me?”

“Nonstop. Worried she’d use you up and miss you forever. Here’s the card she made for you. She hummed while she drew your favorite—a heart.”

Red + Annie forever.
I [heart] you.
XOXO,
Annie “Yippee!”

#2 – VALENTINE’S EVE

Tonight’s the night! It’s almost time –
to hang up my surprise!
When Mommy comes to wake me up,
she won’t believe her eyes!

I’ve gathered, glued and glittered.
I have sparkled, stamped and sprayed.
I tried my very hardest –
it’s the best I’ve ever made.

It even has a box to check her answer:
yes or no.
I hope when Mommy reads it
that her love for me will grow.

My eyes won’t shut. I can’t lay still,
and it’s already late.
How am I supposed to sleep
when it’s this hard to wait.

Tomorrow when I see her
both my love and sign will shine!
Can’t wait to know if she’ll say yes…
and be my Valentine.

#3 – Strawberry Valentine

Vann bounces in his seat as Miss Mills explains today’s art project.
“Now, go get the supplies you need,” she tells the class.
Vann dashes to the supply table. He grabs paper, scissors, and markers and runs back to his desk. He cuts a shape from the paper and uses a marker to pen a poem on it.
RED is for your skin, bright red and shiny.
BLUE is for your legs and funny blue hiney.
BLACK is for your eyes and spots on your back.
I love all your colors, there’s nothing you lack!
BROWN is for the ants that you like to swallow.
GREEN is for the leaves on your log that’s hollow.
I can’t think of a better Valentine.
This one is for you! I’m lucky you are mine!
As Vann holds up his white valentine, Emma leans toward him.
“Is that for me?”
Vann draws back in horror. “What? No! This is for my frog, the cutest frog there is!”
Emma scrunches up her nose. “EWWW! You’re really odd, Vann. I didn’t want a valentine from you anyway.”
Vann shrugs. “You wish you were as cute as a frog,” he mutters in his classmate’s direction. He draws a picture of Otis, his strawberry dart frog, and adds, “I 🖤 Otis.”

#4 – For! The! Love!

At Punctuation Grammar School,
love is in the air!
Students pass out valentines,
there’s candy everywhere.
A modest little celebration,
delightful, on the whole…
But Exclamation Point arrives,
And BAM! He’s lost control!
“It’s Valentine’s! Today’s the day!
Everyone! Be mine!
Yippee! Yahoo! Huzzah! Hurray!
Be my valentine!”
He passed out cards and filled the room
with tiny heart confetti!
He sang of love, and then he danced
‘til out of breath and sweaty!
Comma tried to slow him down.
“Bruh, just take a breath.”
But Exclamation Point burst out,
“I LOVE YOU GUYS TO DEATH!”
Another classmate tried to help.
Period said, “STOP!’
But Exclamation Point just crooned
into a lollipop.
Question Mark inquired, “Can you
ditch the ditties, dude?
But EP’s vast enthusiasm
couldn’t be subdued.
He sang! He danced! He sang some more!
He passed out cake and flowers!
He shared his love for all his friends;
the process lasted hours!
And in those hours, something more
than flowers bloomed and blossomed:
Something special! Something sweet!
Something kinda awesome!
Comma sighed and said, “My friend,
I guess I love you, too!”
Period concluded that
she loved him, through and through.
Question Mark was wondering,
“Could this be a thing?”
When it comes to love, perhaps,
you get back what you bring!

#5 – Blake Shakes!

Blake is making an Ice-Cream Sundae for Mum.
It’s going to be a super-duper, special Valentine’s surprise!
Blake is going to make the most fab-dabaroo Ice-Cream Sundae in the entire universe because Blake loves mum to the moon and back.
Blake looks in the fruit bowl. Hmmm…what should she put in?
First, bananas. Sweet, soft bananas! Into the glass they go.
Next, raspberries. Plump, juicy raspberries. The perfect color for Valentines Day.
Now it’s time for some ice-cream!
Vanilla or chocolate? Once scoop of each, because Mum loves both.
It’s whipped cream time.
Squirt, squirt! Whoops! This is so much fun!
Not finished yet. Mini Marshmallows!
Wow! What a sweet surprise.
Hang on a minute – this Sundae needs strawberry sauce!
Easy-Squeezy!
And now for the best bit. Sprinkle time!
Blake picks up a tub of pink and red sprinkles.
Blake shakes!
Mum deserves LOTS of sprinkles! Oops. Blake shakes so hard, that the lid comes off!
Mum gets all the sprinkles!
The whole entire tub!
Now the Sundae looks a little bit too – ‘sprinkly’.
Perhaps a few strawberries on the top will disguise it!
There. Wow!
What a fantastic, super-duper, magnificent, surprising, extra-special, sprinkly, ice-cream Sundae, Blake!
Blake loves mum to the moon and back.

#6 – Glitter and Glue

Wow! Valentine’s Day was tomorrow!
And Emersyn just couldn’t wait!
She gathered her pencils,
some markers and stencils,
a card box she’d have to create!

Her mom made a cut with some scissors
so cards could slip right down inside.
The next thing to do,
was cut hearts and pour glue—
the glitter could then be applied!

CUT, CUT, SNIP, SNIP, SNIP went the scissors,
big hearts of pink, purple, and red.
As she opened the glue,
her doggy ran through—
now Spike wears a heart on his head!

“Hey Mom, do we have any ribbon?”
Out came the big box of craft tools.
With loops and big twirls,
forming hearts, shaping curls—
she ended up using six spools!

Excitement just kept growing bigger!
Her box would surprise EVERYONE!
She colored and painted,
her mom almost fainted,
POOF! Glitter had just now begun!

In no time she twinkled with color.
Her Valentine box sparkled too!
The table, the cat,
and her kitchen’s floor mat
were coated in sticky, wet glue.

But Emersyn cheered, “YAY, I did it!
It’s magical just like I planned!”
Mom said to her sweetly,
“Come set it here neatly.”
“I can’t Mom, it’s stuck to my hand!”

#7 – Daisy and Macy’s Best Valentine’s Day Ever!

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” Daisy squealed. “BEST DAY EVER!”
“Morning,” Macy mumbled.

Daisy danced while dressing.
“YAY!” She zipped her heart hoodie.
“My red sweater’s too small,” Macy grumbled.
“Here!” Daisy offered a homemade heart for her sister’s shirt.
“Thanks,” Macy muttered.

Daisy danced during breakfast.
“WOOHOO!” She drizzled syrup on her heart-shaped pancake.
“Whoops!” Macy dropped hers on the floor. Then Bitsy gobbled it!
“Here!” Daisy offered half her heart-cake.
“Thanks,” Macy murmured.

Daisy danced to the desk.
“HOORAY!” She signed Grandma’s valentine.
But . . .
Macy’s red crayon was kaput.
“Here!” Daisy offered her gel pen.
“Thanks,” Macy mumbled.

“Let’s go to GRANDMA’S!” Daisy whooped.
They peeked outside.
Drip-drop! Plip-plop!
“I’ll get the umbrella,” Macy grumbled.
“I’ll carry the CANDY! And CUPCAKES! And VALENTINES!” Daisy skipped outside.

“YAHOOOOOOO!” She sprinted off.
“Daisy, wait!” Macy called.
But . . .

Daisy tripped–
and slipped–
and everything flipped!

The candy hearts?
Crushed.
The Cupid cupcakes?
Mushed.
The valentines?
Soggy in the slush.

Daisy’s face flushed.
Her lip trembled.
Her shoulders shook.

“Here.” Macy offered her sister . . . a hug.
Daisy sniffled, then smiled.

At Grandma’s . . .
They set the valentines out to dry.
Grandma got a big bowl.
The crushed-up candy and mushed-up cupcakes became . . .
“Valentine’s stew!” Macy smiled.
“YAY!” Daisy giggled.

Daisy, Macy, and Grandma danced all afternoon.
“BEST DAY EVER!”

#8 – Finn and Bug—So in Love!

Finn was snoozing in his bed.
“What’s that sitting on my head?

“Is it fluff? Or fuzz? Or dirt?”
Finn raised an eyebrow—BUG ALERT!

He bounded up to check it out.
Gadzooks—it moved! Alive, no doubt.

It crept across the dusty floor.
A little dot. And nothing more.

He leaned in close, his eyes were bright.
“Hi buggy-boo!” Unbound delight.

“I love you buggy! Say you’ll stay.
Today is True-Blue-Sweetheart’s Day!”

Finn ran around her, end-to-end.
Overjoyed…”I have a friend!”

“She loves me too. I know because—
hear her love song?” Buzzy-buzz!”

Heartfelt sighs and moony eyes.
“I’m your Valentine surprise!”

Buggy didn’t seem to hear.
She kept creeping – rear in gear.

“Hmm…I’ll try a little lick.
Nothing drooly, slimy, slick…”.

Slop slop FLOP! He held his breath—
Oh NO! I’ve loved my bug to death!

Bug revived. She crawled outside.
Finn stepped slowly. Well—he tried.

She circled through the dirt, and then—
circled back around again.

Silently she winged away
Finn’s face fell…no words to say.

He meandered to the place
he’d last seen his sweetheart’s face….

Whoa! A heart shape on the ground,
where his boo had inched around. His heart went THUMP!

He beamed and knew
his lovebug loved him, through and through.

#9 – Tara and the Valentine’s Day Dino Dance-Off!

Tara Pterodactyl smiled as a sliver of sunlight snuck up from the horizon.
“Yippee! Today’s the Valentine’s Day Dino Dance-Off!”
Whoosh!
Tara dashed to Mama’s bed.
Tara’s pink leotard sparkled and her ruby tap shoes glistened.
Tap! Tap! Tappity-Tap!
“Woohoo! I’m ready, Mama. Let’s go!”
“Arr. . . Tara, Did you sleep in your costume? Today’s not . . .”
“The Valentine’s Day Dino Dance-Off is here! Hooray! It’s going to be ROARsome!”
“Tara, today’s not the . . .”
“Valentine’s Day Dino Dance-Off, here I come! Yay!
I can’t wait to see the Tyrannosaurus Rexes TANGO!
The Spinosauri SALSA!
The Brachiosauruses BREAK DANCE!
The Triceratopses TANGO!
The Stegosauruses SWING DANCE!
The Iguanodons IRISH DANCE!”
Tara stopped to catch her breath.
“And . . . We, the Pterodactyls, will TAP DANCE . . . all the WAY . . . to the WINNERS CIRCLE!”
Tap! Tap! Tappity-Tap!
Swoosh!
Tara flew forward.
Crash!
And flipped Mama out of bed!
“Sorry, Mama. I didn’t mean to. I’m just SO EXCITED!”
“Sigh . . . Tara, today is not the Valentine’s Day Dino Dance-Off!”
“Look! My calendar says February . . . Oh no! Today’s February 13th. It’s NOT Valentine’s Day!”
Tara’s head dropped.
Her wings drooped.
But only for a moment.
Tap! Tap! Tappity-Tap!
“Dino-mite! I LOVE having another day to practice for the Valentine’s Day Dino Dance-Off! Let’s go, Mama!”
“Uh, Tara. I’m going back to bed.”

#10 – R-EEL LOVE

Ella and Ed
are eels with a dream,
to shock their dear mom
with a Valentine’s scheme.

They shake with excitement
and can’t wait to see
how pleased and EEL-ated
their mama will be.

They admire a note
that they wrote in their cave.
But soon it’s erased
by the swirl of a wave.

A lily pad leaf,
that is shaped like a heart,
becomes the eels’ canvas
for Valentine art.

They giggle with glee
and commence jubilations.
But Turtle appears
and consumes their creations!

With hopefulness fading,
the eels swim away,
determined to catch
and cook one fish filet.

Together they charge up
and zap it with zeal.
The fish turns to ashes,
and gone is their meal.

Supposing the whole day
has been a disgrace,
the eels offer comfort–
a heart-shaped embrace.

When Mama emerges,
she rEELs at the sight!
Her four hearts are touched
and she twirls with delight.

What could be better
than love in their cave?
Now, that’s the best present
that Ed and El gave.

#11 – SHORT STACK

A deliciously sweet smell tickled Violet’s nose, teasing her awake. She blinked open her eyes and smiled. “It’s today! It’s finally today!” she shouted. Violet jumped out of bed and raced down the stairs.

She couldn’t wait to taste the syrupy-sweet pancakes that her Grandpa made each year on Valentine’s Day! Sure, he made pancakes other times, but today’s would be special.

Extra-fluffy,
chocolate-chippy,
stacked-to-the-sky,
whipped-creamy,
with not one, but two cherries on top!
And….
they would be heart-shaped!
A fresh-off-the-griddle, mouth-watering stack of heart-shaped love.

Violet knew Grandpa always added extra love to the plate for her on Valentine’s. Her stomach knew too, and it grumbled in excitement.

She sped around the corner and into the kitchen to find Grandpa placing a steaming plate on the table. He gave her his perfect, wrinkly, eye-sparkly smile. Violet smiled back, and gave Grandpa a
popping-at-the-seams,
squeeze-til-you-can’t-breathe,
I-love-you-this-much
kind of hug.
Then they both plopped down in their chairs and inhaled the sweet smell of happiness-in-the-morning. “Better get them while they’re hot, Short Stack!” said Grandpa.
She didn’t need to be told twice. Grandpa winked at her, and Violet tried to wink back, smiling as she took the first love-filled bite.

#12 – BEVERLY BUNNY’S VALENTINE SURPRISE

The clock had struck seven on Valentine’s Eve.
It was bedtime for Beverly Bunny.
“Sweet dreams,” said her mother, while tucking her in,
but Beverly thought that was funny.

She wouldn’t be dreaming — she had other plans.
In fact, she’d remain wide awake,
because she’d decided to stay up all night,
creating a Valentine’s cake!

That sweet treat would be a surprise for her mom!
She was feeling so enthusiastic!
A cake made of carrots and topped with whipped cream?
It would taste just divine and fantastic!!

She switched on her flashlight, crawled under her sheets,
tore open her recipe book,
then flipped to the page that explained how to make
the confection she wanted to cook.

Much later, her bedroom was quiet and dark.
Her clock said a quarter past three,
but Beverly Bunny was not in her bed.
Can you guess where that bunny could be?

She was not in her closet, nor perched at her desk,
she was not in her room at that hour,
but there in the kitchen, right next to the sink,
slept Beverly, covered in flour!

She’d grated the carrots and beaten the eggs,
the batter was ready to pour,
but Beverly Bunny had not stayed awake –
she had fallen asleep on the floor!

PHEW! What a display of talent! Good luck making your choice! Please vote for it in the poll below by 5PM Eastern Tuesday February 27th!

There will be a Tuesday Debut on February 27th, so winners will be posted on the 28th.

I can’t wait to see who you pick! 😊