Hair of bat and witch’s ear! It’s time for. . .
The 14th 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 tiptoe, goblin, and chill.
- 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.
- You may use the words in any form i.e. tiptoe, tiptoeing, tiptoed, chills, chilling, etc. 😊
- 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! 😊
POST: your story in the comment section below between right now this very second and 11:59PM Eastern Thursday October 31st (So you have 3 full days to post – Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.)
- 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 of the Official Contest Post so that people can come visit your blog, but all entries must be posted in the comment section of the Official Contest Post between 12:01 AM Eastern Tuesday October 29th and Thursday October 31st at 11:59PM Eastern.
- 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! [susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com Please place your entry in the body of the email including your title, byline (that means who the story is by – you! – so for example, By Jane Doe) and word count at the top – NO ATTACHMENTS!
- 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. In addition, I can’t add the links until 51 entries are posted or they get messed up and have to be redone. 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 😊
THE JUDGING: over the following days, 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 as soon as I can get them up! The winners will be announced a couple days after the voting to give everyone time to vote.
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!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ FABULOUS PRIZES FROM GENEROUS PEOPLE!!! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
⭐️ Signed Copy of LITTLE DREIDEL LEARNS TO SPIN PLUS A 30 Minute Ask Me Anything with Rebecca Gardyn Levington, author of BRAINSTORM! (Sleeping Bear Press, 2022), WHATEVER COMES TOMORROW (Barefoot Books, Mar 7, 2023), I WILL ALWAYS BE…(HarperCollins, 4/15/25 – Available for Pre-Order Now), AFIKOMAN, WHERE’D YOU GO? A Passover Hide-And-Seek Adventure (Penguin/Rocky Pond, Spring 2024), LITTLE DREIDEL LEARNS TO SPIN (Scholastic, 9/3/24), WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW! (Capstone, 1/1/25 – Available for Pre-Order Now), FINDING FORGIVENESS (Macmillan/FSG, 8/5/25), SOME DAYS I’M THE WIND (Barefoot Books, Fall 2025), and LOOKING FOR LIGHT: A Shabbat Story (Macmillan/FSG, Fall 2026)
Sign up for Rebecca’s NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/h2sK8X
⭐️ Zoom Ask Me Anything about Indie Publishing or Writing Chapter Books with author Kizzie Hutcheson Roberts, indie author of THE ELVES GO MARCHING (Elemental Ink, December 1, 2022), THE EGGS GO ROLLING (Learning Spark, February 16, 2023), and HARPER AND THE RAPTOR RESCUE (chapter book) (Learning Spark Educational Publishing, June 27, 2023)
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique OR First Chapter MG Critique with Beth Stillborn, writer of middle-grade fiction, occasional picture books, fiction for grownups, and poetry, and qualified editor of anything you put in front of her!
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non-rhyming) OR 30 Minute Ask Me Anything Zoom Session (winner’s choice) from Kari Ann Gonzalez, author of HOW TO HATCH A READER (Gnome Road Publishing, August 15, 2023)
⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique OR First Chapter CB, MG, or YA Critique from Candice Marley Conner, author of M IS FOR MOON PIE: ABCs IN THE BIRTHPLACE OF MARDI GRAS (Derby Press, January 6, 2023), SASSAFRAS AND HER TEENY TINY TAIL (MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing, June 8th, 2021), THE EXISTENCE OF BEA PEARL (Owl Hollow Press, June 15th, 2021), and CHOMPSEY CHOMPS BOOKS (MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing, October 12th, 2021)
⭐️ Picture Book Manuscript Critique OR 30 Minute Ask Me Anything Call – winner’s choice – with Ellen Leventhal! Ellen is the author of DON’T EAT THE BLUEBONNETS (Spork, 2017), LOLA CAN’T LEAP (Spork, 2018), HAYFEST: A HOLIDAY QUEST (ABCs Press, 2010), A FLOOD OF KINDNESS (WorthyKids, 2021), and DEBBIE’S SONG (Kar-Ben Publishing, April 4, 2023)
⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming) from Gayle C. Krause, author of ZADIE AND THE WITCH’S TEA (Trowbridge Books, LLC, July 1, 2023), ROCK STAR SANTA (Scholastic, January 1, 2008), DADDY, CAN YOU SEE THE MOON? (Spork, April 9, 2019), ONCE UPON A TWISTED TALE (Spork, June 18, 2019), as well as two YAs and a MG!
⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyming or non-rhyming) from Nancy Derey Riley, author/illustrator of CURIOSITY’S DISCOVERY (Rolling Prairie Publishing LLC, November 10, 2020), BUTTERFLY INN (Rolling Prairie Publishing LLC, May 25, 2022), YETI IN THE SERENGETI (Rolling Prairie Publishing LLC, May 30, 2023), and a new book due out next spring that is still hush-hush 😊
⭐️ A 30 Minute Ask Infowoman: A Library Consult Zoom session for an author visit presentation slide deck review from Kathy Halsey! Please visit her website to see her many, many qualifications!
⭐️ A 30 Minute Ask Me Anything Zoom Chat with Carrie Finison, author of DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition, July 21, 2020), DON’T HUG DOUG (He Doesn’t Like It) (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, January 26, 2021), LULU AND ZOEY: A Sister Story (Running Press Kids, June 7, 2022), HURRY LITTLE TORTOISE, TIME FOR SCHOOL (Random House Studio, July 19, 2022), and PIGS DIG A ROAD (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, September 10, 2024)
⭐️ 30 Minute Ask Me Anything Zoom Chat (anything relating to writing/publishing) OR a signed copy of winner’s choice of any of her picture books from Becky Scharnhorst, author of MY SCHOOL STINKS! (Flamingo Books, July 2021), THIS FIELD TRIP STINKS! (Flamingo Books, August 2022), and HOW TO GET YOUR OCTOPUS TO SCHOOL (Flamingo Books, May 16, 2023)
⭐️ A Signed Copy of THE PIE THAT MOLLY GREW (Sleeping Bear Press, August 2023) OR 13 WAYS TO EAT A FLY (Charlesbridge, 2021) – winner’s choice – from Sue Heavenrich, author of THE PIE THAT MOLLY GREW (Sleeping Bear Press, August 2023), 13 WAYS TO EAT A FLY (Charlesbridge, 2021), DIET FOR A CHANGING CLIMATE (21st Century Books, August, 2018), FUNKY FUNGI (Chicago Review Press, July, 2022), the Super Science Series, and The Human Machine Series.
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, recommending their books for school and library purchases, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊
With so many great prizes up for grabs I hope there will be a lot of entries – the more the merrier! And you’ve still got a couple days to write, so you can squeeze in under the wire 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 you MUST post your entry in the comment section below and include title, byline, and word count.
Eager Readers – just go along the list of links below, click on them (they’ll take you directly to whichever story you click on), and enjoy the stories!
So, let the Halloweensie begin!
Happy Reading! Happy Writing! Happy Halloween! 🎃 🎃 🎃
I can’t wait to read your entries!
The 274 entries listed below are linked to where they appear in the comments so you can click on the titles and get right to them! (I promise I will get to this as soon as I can!) Anyone who feels kind can start at the bottom of the list so those entries get some comments too! 🎃 😊
2024 Halloweensie Contest Entries!
- Skeleton’s Halloween – Lucretia Schafroth
- Ninja Goblins – Mike Flowers
- Goblin Sundaes – Jocelyn Watkinson
- Loblin Goblin’s Pile of Toes – Liz Stitt
- The Peanut Butter Cup Caper – Mikki DeFever
- Goblin Hunt – Margaret Robison
- ‘Tis The Season – Tamara Hecht
- Five Grumbling Goblins One Halloween Night – Susan Elizabeth Schipper
- We Are All Monsters Here – Jamie Donahoe
- Goblin-Fun! – Paul Kurtz
- Gobblin’ Goblin! – Paul Kurtz
- Happiest Halloween Ever! – Donna Kurtz
- Scree-eechh! – Donna Kurtz
- Goblin Mess – Jeanette O’Toole
- Trick or Treat? – Corine Timmer
- Halloween Fright – Corine Timmer
- Helicopter Parent Halloween – Elizabeth Meyer zu Heringdorf
- Prankster, Pranked! – Sofia Pileggi
- Goblin, Cat, And The Halloween Night Ball – Susan Burdorf
- Evie’s Perfect Halloween – Sydnie Suskind
- Halloween Hunt For A Midnight Munch – Jodie Houghton
- The Halloween Candy Caper – Lindsay Moretti
- Witch One? – Stephanie Ward
- Can Goblins Learn To Chill? – Maggie Rowland
- A Boo-itful Night – Jany Campana
- A Goblin Halloween – Maggie Rowland
- The Goblin’s Stare – Russell Wolff
- The Goblin’s Secret – Mona Voelkel
- What’s That Creepy Sound? – Russell Wolff
- Drella’s Halloween Treat – Elizabeth Volkmann
- Five Days To Halloween – Isabel Rodriguez
- It’s Time! – Jean Leotta
- Halloweensie Story From Nairobi – Shariffa Keshavjee
- Untitled – Shariffa Keshavjee
- A Halloween Night Invite – Emily Roberts
- Night of Hallows – Shariffa Keshavjee
- Trick-or-Treat At The New Neighbors – Nicole Loos Miller
- Grandma Goblin’s Ghastly Goulash – Emily Roberts
- Gabby and Garrett’s Halloween – Sarah Meade
- Halloween With Autumn and Summer – Sarah Meade
- Halloween In Creepytown – Sarah Meade
- Creating Black Cats In A Cauldron – P.J. Purtee
- Tonight’s Performance – Robin Currie
- Tricky Treats – Charlie Griffin
- The ABC’S of Halloween – Stephanie Mena
- Hairy Princess – Dana Dillaman
- The Scarf and the Scarecrow – Kelly Clasen
- Gobblin’ Goblin – Lori Bonati
- What Will I Be This Year? – Eric Sondergeld
- Skeleton Shivers – Angel Gantnier
- The Goblin King – RJ Clarken
- Sustenance – Elizabeth Thoms Charles
- Spooky ABCs – Alan Elliott
- A Real Halloween Horror – Keatley Eastman
- Goblins! – Marla Yablon
- The Glamorous Little Goblin – Melissa Miles
- A Terrifying Sight – Sarah Musolino
- Don’t Wake The Werewolf! – Laura Wippell
- Goblin’s Trick – Kelly Kates
- The Haunted House Dare – Melissa Miles
- You Can Have Our Candy! – Carmen Castillo Gilbert, PhD
- Goblin’s Rule – Linda Staszak
- Ghoul’s Trick and Treat at School – Nancy Ferguson
- Trick-or-Treat, Smell My Feet – Jacinta Patterson
- The Craving – Julie Lerczak
- Goblin Snacks – Bonnie Hall
- Beach Halloween – Christine Bassham
- Two B’s Or ot Two B’s – Linda Staszak
- It Happened On Halloween – Denise Seidman
- Tricked Out of Treats – Lorraine McCown
- The Goblin’s Hallowe’en – Colleen Fogarty
- A Sweaty Halloween. – Karen LaSalvia
- The Basement – Katia M. Jesson
- No Tricks, Just Treats – Patti Richards
- Party Manners – Lauri C. Meyers
- The Wallydraigle – Kristen Littlefield
- Halloween Sticks and Tricks – Becki J. Kidd
- S’More Hunting – Jennifer Della’Zanna
- The Tale of Ricky and Pete – Marye Elmlinger
- Bob The Goblin’s Lullaby – Tracie Renee
- Little Goblin’s Halloween – Kathleen Mazurowski
- Scary Costume Question – Leanne Pankuch
- Essence of Halloween – Rhonda T. Spear
- The Alley – Glenda Roberson
- Pumpkin Pickers – Glenda Roberson
- Out of the Shadows – Glenda Roberson
- Mummies vs. Vampires – Katie Lee Reinert
- Baba Yaga Stew – From “Forest Witches’ Favorite Halloween Recipes” – Sue Ko
- Witchyella – Brigid Finucane
- Baby Goblin At The Halloween Ball – Meg Winikates
- Goblin Brom Bones: Legend of the North Pole – Kathleen Jacobs
- A Chili-Filled Night (in Haiku) – Lyn Jekowsky
- Salesman For The Goblin Show – Shaunessy Sinnett
- How The Hobgoblin Got Its Hob – Anne Lipton
- In The Cave Of The Goblin King – Kendra Lusty
- Trick-or-Treat Nightmare – Cindy Sommer
- Goblena’s Halloween Soup – Sarah Tobias
- Gobleyn And Gnome – Vashti Verbowski
- Whimsey’s Halloween Surprise – Tara Seahorn
- Even Goblin Superman Needs His Underwear – Shuba Mohan
- The Haunted. . . – Ruthie Nicklaus
- What Will I Be? – Lucia Lemieux
- Halloween At The House Up On The Hill – Beth Gallagher
- Body Talk – Lorraine McCown
- Twink – Rose Cappelli
- Trick or Treat Pie – Pam Adams
- Matching Goblins – Margaret Lea
- Goblin Trouble – Jen Subra
- Wanted: Cat – Jessica Iwanski
- Goblin Twins – Marty Findley
- Halloween Sneak – Mimi Hersh
- Taking Inventory – Suzy Zemel
- The Goblin Ballet – Nicole Loy
- Halloween Chess – Betsy Bennett
- Tricky Treat – Reed Hilton-Eddy
- Friendship, The Sweetest Candy – Teresa Speranza Vargas
- Halloween Heist – Barb Edwards
- A Post-Halloween Party – Jessica Jenson
- Trick and Treat – Vita Luna
- Goblin Cake – Amanda Blaylock
- Paxton Maxton Mumpledread – Tracey Kiff-Judson
- It’s NOT St. Nick (A Halloween Story) – Dawn Hauptner
- This Way Comes Halloween – Jo Baldwin
- Advice For Mice – Sharon McCarthy
- The Goblin Problem – Jessie Raspbury
- Puny Pete – Seth Standley
- Just Desserts – Amanda Fletcher
- Halloween On The Farm, Cowgirl and the Inflatable Dinosaurs – Laura N. Clement
- A Spectrum of Costumes – Laura N. Clement
- Brave Little Witch – Cynthia Elomaa
- Bubble, Bubble, Good-bye Trouble! – Susan Jakubowski
- Spookyville’s Surprising Skills – Judy Caldwell Hughes
- Hallowscream – Ashley Sierra
- Grabby Gabby – Ashley Sierra
- The Real Halloween Heroes – Ashley Sierra
- Halloween 365 – Abigail Mumford
- Goons Beware! – Gary Stultz
- Untitled – Lori Stultz
- A Night On The Town – Marty Bellis
- Halloween Mischief – Rebecca W. Chester
- Counting On Halloween – Mary Rudzinski
- Beach Trick or Treat – Amy Duchene
- The Full-Size Candy Bar Challenge – Sara Kruger
- Without A Costume – Laura Oliphant
- It Is Time – Michelle Kenner
- Trick and Treat – Linda Balgley-Shore
- Zelda Zombie’s Tea – Amy LaRae Brewer
- Goblin Groove – Katie Brandyberry
- Goblin Sneaks A Treat – Lauren Racela
- Grumpy Goblin – T Milton
- Greedy Goblins – Adriana Gutierrez
- Cornelius, The Misfit Candy Corn – Deborah Kim
- Maybe A Snu – Greg Beatty
- Dad’s Nap – SHAWKLYN
- Three Witches and Their Beloved – Imelda Taylor
- A Scary Halloween – Janet Parkinson Bryce
- Goblin Trouble – Bonnie Kloster
- A Fright On Friday Night – Brett A. Starr
- Beware – Lynn Moore
- The Hairy, Scary Goblin – Lori Dubbin
- Frankenbones – Carol MacPherson
- Aurelia’s Cat Is A Bat – Eleanor A. Peterson
- Corky’s Halloween Scare – Carol MacPherson
- Johnny’s Brain – Diana Blau
- Halloween Parade – Dianne Wright
- Goblin and Cowboy – Vicky Pao
- My Second Halloween – Kim L. Young
- Thief In The Night – Marta Cutler
- Goblins Never Tiptoe – Laura Rice Martinez
- Skye’s Chilling Costume – Sarah Atherton
- Frightening Reflection – Jennifer Kaap
- Goblin’s Feet – Marie Tang
- Stopping By Stephen King’s on Hallowed Evening – Sherry Dubis
- All Hallow’s Eve – Darlene Pagán
- The Spooky Cave – Ghost Writer (R.I.P.M.)
- One More House – Dana Dillaman
- Who’s There? – Marilyn Wolpin
- How The Greedy Goblins Gobbled Halloween – S.J. Barratt
- Black Cat’s Trick For Treat – Nicole Terry
- Sister’s Sacrifice – Amanda Blaylock
- The Skeleton March – Maria Piñero Pope
- Jane-O-Lantern – Melissa Rafson Friedman
- It’s Not Easy Being A Goblin – Lynn Burton
- A Halloween Tale of the Deep Dark Sea – Amy LaMae Brewer
- Candy Corn Goblin – Leslie Ross-Degnan
- When I Am Jack – Tarja Helena Nevala
- Hello, Dessie – Jessica Russo
- The Long Walk Home – Jenna Renqvist
- The Halloween Hobgoblin – Sherry Moon
- It’s Halloween! – Maritere Bellas
- Catching Candy – Susan Schade
- Skeleton’s Surprise – Laurie Smith Murphy
- The Quickest Way To A Gargoyle’s Heart – MORNAGERSHO
- Beware The Screams On Halloween! – Griffin Taylor
- Georgie’s Halloween Hijinks – Jessie Anna Bornemann
- The Apple Bob Goblin – Marcia Dalphin Williams
- Tiptoes First Halloween – Barbara DiMarco
- Halloweenie, The Goblin And The Tender Hearted Schoolboy – Elizabeth Etheridge
- Goblin’s Halloween Trick – Jennifer Tarr
- Danny’s Goblin Dare – Islancy Guada
- Danny’s Goblin Dare Poem – Islancy Guada
- A Chilling Treat – Islancy Guada
- Chocozilla – Jessica D. Phillips
- A Goblin’s Trick or Treat – Thelia Hutchinson
- Goblins and Goodies – Carol Porter-Peszko
- Goblin’s Wish – Teresa MI Schaefer
- Naughty Goblin – Bri Lawyer
- A Goblin’s Haunted House – Bri Lawyer
- Goblin Goo – Ryann Jones
- The Candywrapper – Chris Scribbles
- Goblin Games – Katherine Rea
- Teddy Saved The Goblin’s Mind – Kimberly Zhuo
- Goody Goblin – Michelle S. Kennedy
- Lavender Luna Latte – Blythe Williams
- The Halloween Scare Contest – Diana Louise Vancura
- The Halloween Beast – Kristen Littlefield
- Little Goblin – Liz Shine
- The Goblins’ Halloween Ball – Lisa Lowe Stauffer
- The Door In The Hall – Kate Chabarek
- The Goblin Princess – Patricia Brown
- Shriek! It’s A Freak! – Jean Martin
- A Hallow’s Eve Surprise – J. Edwin Trindade
- The Scariest Costume – Helen Ishmurzin
- A Halloween Scare – Emily Roberts
- Goblin On A Break – Susanne Connolly
- Troll’s Greatest of All Time Jack-o-Lantern – Nadia Ali
- Feast of the Goblin King – Leah Tilki
- Mischievous Tricksters – Jenna Daucunas
- Ryan’s Sleepy Hollow-een – Jen Keenan
- Becky The Kind, Clever Goblin – Robin Brett Wechsler
- The Goblin – Angela Martinelli
- Where The Wind Blows – Daniella Kaufman
- Halloween Magic – Cindy Greene
- Goblin’s Gripe – Jill Lambert
- Where Are You, Pete? – Webb Smith
- The Gobblin’ Goblin – Carla Gullett
- The Halloween Parade – Alyssa Londoño
- A Busy October 31st – Emily Roberts
- Artists Interests – Lorraine McCown
- The Costume Contest – Amanda Littlefield
- Goblin Juice – Claudine Pullen
- That’s Just Me – Amanda Littlefield
- The History of the Goblin King and the Jellied Bean – Elizabeth Etheridge
- Toe-tips – Lucas Field
- Jack-O’-Sorta Lantern – Julie Hauswirth
- Far Worse Creatures – Nicole Garnett
- The Old Graveyard – Sharon Goldstein Jackson
- A Goblin Steals My Socks – Elizabeth Bryer
- Fibonacci Goblin – TERRIMICHELS
- The Halloween Caper – Brianna Brown
- A Good Night – Maripat Metcalf
- Goblin Party – Kassie Lamro
- ‘Winning’ Treats – Sarah (Sezza) Hetu
- The Goblin Kitten Guard – Jill Littig
- Curly Toes – Susan Eyerman
- Halloween Rules – Elenore Byrne
- Rub-A-Dub-Dub – Pat Finnegan
- Abby’s Halloween Adventure – Dianne Borowski
- IYKYK – M. Metcalf
- Stepping In By Stepping Out – Colleen Owens Murphy
- The Eager Halloweeners – Elise Teichert
- Goblin’s Halloween Surprise – Diana Sussman
- Aunt Violet’s Halloween Treats – Una Belle Townsend
- The Family Who Tricks Together. . . – Sharon Korzelius
- Sumpin’ Scary – Lisa Y? Wilson
- Twix-Or-Treat – Shaunessy Sinnett
- Boo Who? – Cathy Bendix
- Boo – Briana McCormick
- The Tale of the Terrible Treat Snatchers – Derek Quick
- A Halloween Riddle – Jennifer Schmitz
- Flight of Fright – Samantha Cora
- Tiptoe, Goblin and Chill – Barb Seregi
- Goblin Trick or Treat – Susan Summers
- Home Alone – Marina Wright
Susanna Leonard Hill 
The Halloween Hobgoblin by Sherry Moon
word count – 99
On October 31st, no sleep for me.
I hike to houses where lights are out.
Children leave candy in jack o’ lanterns!
In return, I give GIFTS!
This is my job.
I’m the Halloween Hobgoblin.
Once, some dogs scared me. “Chill!”
Once a raccoon was headfirst in a jack o’ lantern, eating candy!
“Skrillabill!”
Once kids put their stash on the roof!
Fluffaruff!”
Tonight, off to the woods I tiptoe.
It’s dark but easy to see the waiting ghouls.
“Where have you been, goblin?”
The candy is passed around.
It’s my job.
Halloween Hobgoblen bestows gifts. How nice.
It’s Halloween!
By Maritere Bellas
(w/c 96)
In a chilly dark night
Costumes at the ready
Tippy toeing down the street
Off trick-or-treating we go.
KNOCK, KNOCK at our first stop
A WITCH opens the door
Filling our bags with candy
Her laugh sounds like a snore
KNOCK, KNOCK our second stop
A GOBLIN shall appear
Filling our bags with candy
His behavior quite unclear
Off to knock at more stops
A PIRATE
GHOST
DELORES
A SHRUNKEN HEAD BOB
Each opening the door of all the houses we go
Filling our bags with candy.
It’s Halloween after all!
Ah…Love the last line. Thanks
Catching Candy
By: Susan Schade
(99 words)
The neighborhood was crowded with costumed kids.
“Trick or Treat!”
But three friends still had empty bags.
Gobblin was smaller than the others.
Tiptoe had silent steps.
Chill was in no hurry.
“I’m too small!” Gobblin shrieked.
“I’m too quiet.” Tiptoe sobbed.
“I’m too slow.” Chill sighed.
Tired and disappointed, they started home and spotted a princess picking up spilled candy.
They stopped to help as others raced past.
“Where’s your candy?” she asked.
“We are too small, too quiet and too slow to be noticed tonight.”
“I noticed. You’re just right.” She smiled and shared her sweets.
So cute! 🙂
Thanks!
Nice idea. Good luck!
Skeleton’s Surprise
By Laurie Smith Murphy
(99 words)
The wooden door blew open, snuffing out the candles, sending chills down
my backbone. As I shoved the door closed, a goblin the size of a mouse
skittered in.
“Who are you?” the goblin demanded, tiptoeing close.
“Me?” My ribcage clattered. It was late and all my sweet treats were gone. “I
am Captain Skully’s daughter.”
The goblin’s marble eyes shone. “Just the skeleton I’m looking for.”
“Why?” My spine tingled.
The goblin scrambled up my femur and hopped onto my humerus bone.
“Time for the Halloween jig!” he cried.
We danced until the morning sky turned flaming red.
The Quickest Way to a Gargoyle’s Heart
“No, Mom-No! Please! Come on! I can’t take him tonight. Not with my friends.”
Ford knew that voice. His brother was begging.
“Just take him around the block, and then you can go with your friends.”
Ford also knew his mother’s voice.
“Alright, come on you little goblin.”
“I’m not a goblin. I’m a gargoyle.”
“ Whatever.”
Travis tiptoed over, pulled his black cape up like a curtain, and did his best Dracula voice.
“ Ve must go now. De best candy is early.”
The gargoyle was stone still.
“The Allen’s have ice cream sandwiches!”
The gargoyle came alive.
Beware the Screams on Halloween!
by Griffin Taylor
Heard a scream on Halloween that gave me quite a chill.
Sounded like a goblin outside my windowsill.
“Help! It’s getting closer!” shrieked a voice downstairs.
Then my tummy dropped from the weight of all my scares.
With both my eyes glued shut, I tiptoed down the hall.
That’s when a monster roared and I took a clumsy fall.
The beast growled above me as I trembled on the ground.
But then the creature’s voice squawked out a funny sound.
So, I peeked up at the creature—it was just my parrot. “Sandy!?”
Repeating scary movie lines, eating…“Hey! My candy!”
GEORGIE’S HALLOWEEN HIJINKS
By Jesse Anna Bornemann
(99 words)
“I’m going out!” Mom Goblin said,
Patting Georgie Goblin’s head.
“I need a roast that’s slightly green
To serve our guests for Halloween.”
Georgie knew his mother’s rules,
Like all smart little boys and ghouls—
But do’s and don’ts just aren’t much fun.
Georgie thought, “I’ll break each one.”
That slime pie chilling on the sill?
He ate until he’d had his fill.
Then, he piled eyeballs in the sink
And painted every pumpkin pink!
Suddenly, the door swung wide!
Georgie tiptoed off to hide.
Mom shrieked, “George! I KNEW you could!
…I was so worried you’d be GOOD.”
Love this ending, so cute!
Lol! This is delightful. I always love reading your creative poems!
ENTRY POSTED FOR MARCIA
By Marcia Dalphin Williams 10/30/24
THE APPLE BOB GOBLIN
Apples bounce and “pop” as kid heads bob near the cauldron’s chilly surface.
I rest elbows, wobbling on tippy toes in my witchy green heels.
Just as I bend to snare one stem, a splash sends waves into my open mouth and eyes.
Then I notice it…
On the kettle bottom, a Goblin body, green and reaching. A voice invades my ears, “What will you win by latching onto the magic apple?”
I sputter but hold tight to a stem. “Why, I will win a tasty treat much healthier than candy. And you will disappear when Halloween is over.”
“Crunch.”
Creepy fun!
ENTRY POSTED FOR BARBARA
TIPTOES FIRST HALLOWEEN
By Barbara DiMarco
Tiptoe the goblin felt the chill in the air.
His first Halloween!
“GG,'” he asked Grandma Goblin. “Can goblins make friends?”
GG smiled. “Are your teeth green?”
“Yes.”
“Your nails tidy?”
“No.”
GG nodded.
“Have you practiced the pestering bug-ga, bug-ga, bug-ga scare?”
“I like bugs.” Tiptoe replied.
“Me too.” laughed GG.
Halloween night Tiptoe showed his green teeth.
Vampire flashed bigger, bloody teeth!
Tiptoe waved unruly claws.
Werewolf pointed giant, tearing scratchers!
“Bug-ga, bug-ga!” Tiptoe shouted at a little pointy hat witch.
“I likebugs.” she said pulling worms, crickets, and grasshoppers from her pockets.
Tiptoe smiled. “Me too!”
Cute story! I like the friendship on Halloween angle.
ENTRY POSTED FOR ELIZABETH
HALLOWEENIE, THE GOBLIN AND THE TENDER HEARTED SCHOOLBOY
by
ere
(99 words)
Tethered tae a grindstone in chill o’ maukit air
a weary goblin tipped and toed and cried out in despair.
“Woe is me! Woe is me! Ur thur nane tae set me free?”
A tender hearted schoolboy gaun hame at school day’s close
heard the goblin’s weary cries and felt a … a twitching tae his nose.
The twitching pulled him deep intae the wooded glen
where he spied the tethered goblin and heard him cry again.
“Just touch my hand,” the goblin cried “and I’ll be forever free.”
Said the tender hearted school boy, “Naw, you’re no fooling me!”
I love this although it took me a minute to get my brain going with it but then it was so good. Love the ending!
Goblin’s Halloween Trick
by Jennifer Tarr
WC: 100
Goblin was sick of people dressing like him for Halloween.
“It’s rude,” he told Yeti. “My ears aren’t pointy or hairy!”
Goblin decided to trick the treaters. The first “goblin” he saw was going to get it.
Just after dark, Goblin spotted a pointy green costume.
He tiptoed outside.
Ding dong!
SPLASH!
“Heehee,” giggled Goblin.
But Goblin hadn’t gotten a goblin. He had pelted a pea pod.
A chilly, crying pea pod.
Goblin felt terrible.
He ran inside and grabbed a fuzzy white outfit.
“Take my costume.”
The pea pod tried it on.
“Hey!” cried Yeti. “I don’t have fangs!”
pelted a pea pod – I love this – and your ending!
LOL at the ending! This is delightful to read aloud.
ENTRY POSTED FOR ISLANCY
DANNY’S GOBLIN DARE
By Islancy Guada 99-words
Danny tiptoed to the spooky old house, daring himself to knock. As he raised his fist, the door creaked open, revealing a goblin with a twisted grin.
“Chills and thrills are what I crave,” the goblin rasped, stepping closer. “Can you handle a trick, dear boy?”
Danny nodded, swallowing hard.
The goblin snapped his fingers, and whiskers sprouted on Danny’s face.
Danny raised his hands. “Paws? What did you do?”
The goblin smirked. “Careful where you knock, little mouse. Next time, you might not return home.”
Danny didn’t wait and darted home—a tiny mouse with a whiskered face.
So clever! I’ll never look at a mouse the same way again!
Creepy and clever!
ENTRY POSTED FOR ISLANCY
DANNY’S GOBLIN DARE POEM
By Islancy Guada 66-words
Danny tiptoed to the grim house,
He dared to knock—his courage slim.
The door creaked wide, a goblin grinned,
“Tricks and chills? Let’s begin!”
Before he could speak, the goblin snapped,
Whiskers grew, and Danny gasped.
He raised his paws, “What did you do?”
The goblin sneered, “Next time, think it through.”
Danny darted home, his heart a-race,
A tiny mouse with a whiskered face.
ENTRY POSTED FOR ISLANCY
A CHILLING TREAT
By Islancy Guada 83-words
Mia tiptoed through the pumpkin patch,
A chilling breeze, a sudden scratch.
From behind a scarecrow’s twisted frame,
A goblin leapt and called her name.
“Trick or treat?” he grinned so wide,
Mia shivered, but candy she supplied.
He sniffed the bar, then flashed a sneer,
“Next time, I’ll want more than treats, my precious dear.”
With a cackle, he vanished from sight,
Mia ran, heart racing through the night.
She swore she’d never roam alone,
When Halloween chills chilled to the bone.
Creepy scene!
ENTRY POSTED FOR JESSICA
CHOCOZILLA
By Jessica D. Phillips
(100 words)
Stuart, the troll woke Martin, the ice goblin chilling in the freezer.
“I have a job for you,” said Stuart.
On Halloween night, Martin tiptoed behind unsuspecting trick-or-treaters to steal every Chocozilla, Stuart’s favorite candy.
But, Martin found none.
“I can’t return empty-handed! He might eat me instead.”
Then, a slimy surprise walked by.
“I’m back!” said Martin.
“Great! Unload the Chocozillas in the cellar.”
When Stuart went to grab one, he found…
A girl in a costume and a regular chocolate bar.
“Who are you?” he said.
“I’m Godzilla! Can I go now?”
But, Stuart had a different idea.
A GOBLINS TRICK OR TREAT
BY Thelia Hutchinson
(WC 97)
Goblins tiptoed in the night, searching for some sweets
Watching children run amok, as they trick or treat
Halloween had finally come, the goblins loudly cheered
But silently, they slightly feared the children would not share
They tiptoed through the neighborhood, that chilly gloomy night
Then finally, in full attack, they nabbed their sweetened bites
They ran off whoop and cheering, they had so many yummies
They left the children crying, the goblins stole their gummies
But have no fear, it was a trick, all the children laughed
They sent the goblins running, with empty candy sacks
Yay for the kids!!! 😛
The kids got the last laugh! Love it! Nice job, Theliah!
Clever, love it!
What a fun romp!
Ha! Great ending!
This was too cute and nailed the ending! Plus you did rhyme!
Fun! The ending made me smile. 🙂
GOBLINS AND GOODIES WC 100
By: Carol Porter-Peszko
“Shhhh. Be quiet.”
“Why are you whispering?”
“Because he will hear us.”
“No way.”
“If he wakes up we are goners. We will never get it and get out of here.”
“Sorry.”
“We have to tiptoe past. No noise. There it is. Can you reach it? Wait, do you feel that chill?”
“Don’t worry it’s just an open window.”
“We have to close it before it wakes up the Goblin.”
“Okay, got it. Almost safe at last.”
“We made it! Time to relax and enjoy. Do you have it?”
“Yup! A whole bucket of the kids’ Halloween candy. YUM!”
I love how this delightful tale is written all in dialogue.
Thank you Sarah!
Thank you Sarah Meade!
Goblin’s Wish
by Teresa MI Schaefer
(97 words)
Goblin was google-eyed, gnarly, but
unusually small.
He couldn’t carry a pumpkin.
“I can help,” said Ogre.
He couldn’t carve a pumpkin.
“You’re too little,” said Ogre.
He could hardly spit a pumpkin seed.
“Watch this,” said Ogre, as he spit 100 seeds.
Pumpkin seeds rained down.
As the last seed fell, Goblin made a wish.
Tippytoeing to the top of the pumpkin stem, Goblin opened his grizzly mouth
and uttered the most bone chilling scream ever heard on Halloween.
Ogre joined his friend. “HAPPY HALLOWEEN!” they hollered.
But no one heard Ogre.
Goblin was unusually LOUD.
Cute. He found his special talent
Clever! I love the ending, too.
Naughty Goblin
By: Bri Lawyer
92 Words
I know I’m on the naughty list,
and that’s okay with me.
‘Cause wrecking Halloween’s more fun
than gifts under my tree.
While you were chilling on your couch,
I tiptoed to your door.
I smashed your pumpkins, spooked your cat,
and stole your fall decor.
Your costume has been goblin gooed–
The lasso, chaps, and boots.
Your candy bucket has been filled
with boogers, thorns, and newts.
“I’ll find a way to still get treats,”
You muttered with a frown.
You silly kid, I gobbled up
all candy in your town!
This is so much fun! Love the rhyme. Well done!!!
Thank you so much! 🥰
This one made me laugh. “Goblin-gooed” — love it!
Yay! I’m glad you loved it! Thank you for telling me! 🙂
Awesome. So fun!
Thank you Thelia! 🥰
Fantastic rhyming, Bri!
Thank you so much Laura! 🥰
The rhythm and pace of this one left me breathless (the good kind)!
You are so sweet, Abby! Thank you!
Haha! I love this so much! So funny and the rhyme is just perfect. 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words!
FUN! This is delightful to read aloud.
Thanks so much Sarah!
Love the rhyme in this so much Bri! Great and silly read aloud!
A Goblin’s Haunted House
By: Bri Lawyer
96 words
Instead of trick-or-treating this Halloween, goblin siblings Gloom and Grim were determined to brave their town’s haunted house. Chills ran down their spines as they approached the entrance.
“I changed my mind. Let’s leave!”
“Gloom, be brave. We must get through. We said we would this year!”
The two held hands, tiptoed inside, and SCREAMED–
“RAINBOWS! RUN!”
They rushed to the next room.
“GLITTER! AHHH!”
They turned the corner to find a room of sunshine, flowers, and butterflies.
“NOOOOO!”
They had enough and found the emergency exit.
“Next Halloween we’ll make it to the end.”
“Definitely!”
Haha! What a great Halloween twist!
Thank you!!!
Ha! This made me smile. I wonder what the end is at the Haunted House? Fairies and unicorns?!
I don’t know if we’ll ever get to find out haha.
You’re too clever. This twist is so fun! I truly can’t pick a favorite between yours.
This is such a sweet compliment! Thank you! I can’t decide which one I like more either!
I love this one, too! Great work, Bri.
Thank you so much!!!
Ooookay, another adorable entry! I love a good twist. 🙂 Good luck in the contest with both your entries, Bri!
You are too sweet! Good luck to you as well!
Yes good luck! This is a well written story and very fun to read.
Thank you so so much!!!
LOL! Loved this one. Great twist!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it! 😊
So funny! I love that they dip out through the emergency exit.
Goblin Goo
By Ryann Jones
(100 words)
Each Halloween we throw a party—
everyone’s invited.
Mama makes her ‘Goblin Goo’
Whoopee! I’m so excited!
This year I have a secret plan:
discover what’s inside
my mama’s secret gooey treat,
for this I need to hide.
I tiptoe to a sneaky spot
(below my kitchen seat),
to see how Mama Goblin
makes my favorite party sweet.
She pushes up the windows
and operates the fan.
The chilly freezer’s open wide.
Oh, what is Mama’s plan?
Now both our teeth are chattering,
I hope I don’t get caught.
My mama sneezes, and I learn
that ‘Goblin Goo’ is snot!
Hilariously gross! 🤣
Perfectly disgusting! That’s what I call “adding mommy’s love.”
Oh wow… just the right amount of suspense with a perfect, unexpected ending. I love this!
Yikes. Gotta love mom! Love this!
I legit groaned out loud. Hahahaha. BRAVO!!!
Ha ha ha. Did not see that coming! Hilarious twist!
You write humor and twist endings so well! Great job, Ryann!
LOL! Funny, gross, so kid-friendly, and delightful to read aloud!
So gross! Lol, great twist Ryann!
The Candywrapper
by Chris Scribbles
(100 words)
Assembly line of ghosts, mud dip cobwebs with a zombie tooth crunch at The Ewwie and Gooey Confection-scary Factory on Halloween night.
As Marty DéCeased, Senior Candywrapper, seals each treat with care. One wrapper left, no candy to spare.
Marty rubs his eye sockets and exhausts a hollow-wheeze, fog chills his glasses. Wipes them clean.
Muddy footprints on the equipment…
Down cobblestones…
Through Spookwood Orchard…
Tiptoes creak on floorboards.
Marty knocks…A sticky-fingered goblin answers the door. Candy bar drops to the floor.
Marty picks it up, wraps it nice and neat. Gives it back and says…
“Trick or Treat?”
Cute! love the dedication to a job well done.
Fun and unusual!
Goblin Games
by Katherine Rea
97 words
The night I met that goblin,
I didn’t think she’d rob me.
She seemed quite nice and helpful, actually.
She bought me toilet paper
For a classic little caper
In which we draped my neighbors’ house and trees.
She taught me how to tip-toe
‘Round the jack-o’-lanterns’ glow
Up to doorbells where we ding-dong ditched with ease.
But as chilly dawn drew near,
She whispered in my ear,
And what she said was all too clear and candid:
“Your candy’s mine, my dear,
It’s been fun, see you next year.”
Then she disappeared and left me empty-handed.
You can never trust a goblin! Love this!
Fun!
Teddy Saved the Goblin’s Mind
100 words
Kimberly Zhuo (It’s uo, not ou.)
Teddy skipped toward the treehouse. He shivered. “It’s not chilly, that’s weird.”
A goblin appeared.
“Trick or treat.”
“You’re my reincarnated kitty!” She grabbed his arm. “I’ll turn you into a kitty again!”
“整緊佢.” he said.
He was zapped back in time.
The goblin tripped while tiptoeing and balancing books on her head. Her cat’s below! It screeched. Teddy caught her. The cat fled.
Teddy was zapped to the present and the goblin gave him candy. “Thanks for saving my cat and my mind,” she said. The cat rubbed himself against his Teddy’s leg.
“It’s my pleasure!”
GOODY GOBLIN (WC 93)
By Michelle S. Kennedy
Susanna Leonard Hill’s 14th Annual Halloweensie Poetry Contest 2024!
In twilight’s moon on Halloween,
a goblin crept to stalk, unseen.
He’d blend with children dressed this night,
for frisky fun and his delight!
He’d sneak up slowly… Steal a sweet—
their candy was his treasured treat.
Tiptoe, GRAB!
His heart beat—fast.
This thrill of mischief was a blast!
Demonstrating expertise,
in Goblin’s wake, a chilly breeze.
And then at midnight, he would flee…
to the forest pixie tree…
His magic faded with the dawn,
A wink, a blink, a little yawn…
A goblin gone. He’d disappear…
‘Til Halloween—again next year.
So lyrical and poetic! “A wink, a blink, a little yawn…” stellar line! And I love that he appears only at Halloween and his magic fades with the dawn.
Tiptoe, GRAB! I think young readers would really relate to why his heart was beating fast – just the right amount of tension.
Wonderful. Great job Michelle!
Such a fun and frisky entry, Michelle! I especially love the sleepy ending.
Such a fun story! Well done!
Very sweet Michelle. Not too scary and just enough cheek. Well done.
Lovely rhythm and rhyme, Michelle, with just the right amount of spooky suspense. Good luck!
Lavender Lunar Latte
By Blythe Williams
(100 words)
This Halloween I promise to be a good witch.
But how?
I’ll rescue that boy in the belltower!
My lavender lunar latte should do the trick.
It’s decaf, gluten-free, and organic.
First, I boil purple carrots in my cauldron.
Next I toss violet webcap mushrooms, lavender buds, moon milk, eggplant
skin, and a drop of snail slime.
Last is my secret ingredient: purple unicorn blood.
It chills over ice.
I tiptoe to the tower and leave two teacups.
Ding Dong!
The goblin answers.
I hide.
Screams erupt from inside!
A purple butterfly soars out the window.
He’s free at last.
Free at last! I like the Lavendar Lunar latte!
What a clever tea tale with warm cozy intentions. Lunar lavender latte is wonderful!
The Halloween Scare Contest
By Diana Louise Vancura
99 words
As the leaves fall and the air chills, ghosts, ghouls, and goblins gather around the town square.
Every Halloween, the creature with the biggest scare wins a pumpkin overflowing with candies galore.
Poor goblin is so tiny and unscary. Nobody even notices her.
Ready, set, scare!
A ghoul growls.
A ghost boos.
Everybody yawns.
Nobody sees the tiny goblin tiptoe behind the crowd and snatch the candy stash.
“The prize is gone!” the crowd cries out. “The game is ruined!”
Goblin stands tall and reveals the stolen treats to the crowd.
The Mayor declares, “Goblin wins the biggest scare!”
Perfect twist!
ENTRY POSTED FOR KRISTEN
The Halloween Beast
By Kristen Littlefield
75 Words
Oh, they call me “Little Monster”
But in truth, I am a beast.
With a howl that’s just as piercing
As a chill wind from the east.
Unsuspecting trick or treaters
Quickly learn I’m more than fur
When I tiptoe up behind them,
Bare my teeth, and holler,“GRRRR!”
I will nip the ghoul or goblin
If they call me “cute” or “sweet”.
But I’ll bite my tongue for anyone
Who has a doggie treat!
Cute. I enjoyed the surprise ending.
This is such fun! Great rhyme! Nice job. 🙂
Little Goblin by Liz Shine
100 wc
Little Goblin stepped out the door
Into the chilly night.
Wind swooped up orange leaves,
chased them down the block
after the laughing trick-or-treaters.
Little Goblin followed.
Sunset painted the sky cranberry,
and the moon stood waiting
for its moment to shine.
He walked to the first house:
dying flower garden, ghosts on the lawn,
four glowing jack-o-lanterns.
Papa gave Little Goblin a gentle push.
He tip-toed to the door,
rang the bell.
The door opened with a creak.
“Trick-or-treat”, he squeaked.
Plop-plop—candy in his orange bucket.
“Happy Halloween!” he called,
as he skipped down the walk to Papa.
Liz!!! I love your sweet Goblin story!! Great job!
The Goblins’ Halloween Ball
By Lisa Lowe Stauffer
(99 words)
The annual ball is a staid old tradition,
Minuets, waltzes—selective admission.
For too many years ghosties spied from afar.
But this year they sneak in and bring a guitar!
Tiptoeing Tangos turn into The Bump.
The dancers all jump, then they clump and they thump.
The old goblins gasp, but the young ones join in . . .
With Robot and Hip Hop—they shimmy and spin.
Chicken dance, cha-cha, and even ballet,
When chill turns to daylight, they Conga away—
Then breakfast together on scones and root beer
These ghosties and goblins plan pranks for next year!
http://www.lisalowestauffer.com/blog/the-goblins-halloween-ball
Nice work, Lisa! I love what you came up with for the ending, with plans to get up to mischief together next year. Now I want scones and root beer for breakfast…
Oh my gosh – bonus points for including the Bump! You took me down a memory lane.
Nice job. Goblins and dance. I love reading where just 3 prompts can take you.
Great job, Lisa! You managed rhyme, all kinds of fun dances and breakfast scones! (What could be better than that?!)
Loved reading your story! The image of the ghosts joining in by bringing a guitar is totaally fun.
Thank you so much Michelle!
The Door in the Hall by Kate Chabarek
100 wc
The door on our block
Is closed with a lock
I asked mom
Where’s the key
All I got was a
Shrug emoji
Where could it go
What could it be
Maybe a haunted tree
Pipes or wires, nothing more
You’re a pest, do your chores
On Halloween they went out
Left me home to sit and pout
I tiptoed to the door
With a bobby pin and nothing more
The moon was new the chill was up
Even so I tripped the lock
It opened without a knock
There inside a tiny toad
All dressed up, goblin mode.
Ribbit!
Love this mysterious tale. And I was hoping someone would use ‘goblin mode’! Awesome, Kate!
The Goblin Princess
by Patricia Brown
100 words
The moon rose on Halloween night,
and chills ran down Gabi’s spine.
She was going trick-or-treating!
Her green ears pointed up from under her crown
as she gazed into the mirror.
She was a boo-tiful princess!
The other goblins would be green with envy.
Gabi loved playing pranks,
but turning humans’ knees to jelly wasn’t her jam.
While the other goblins
tiptoed around,
played tricks on children,
and threatened to GOBBLE THEM UP,
Gabi had a ball in her princess costume,
and gathered gobs of goodies.
She returned to her lair, and devoured the sweets
as she planned tomorrow’s mischief.
ENTRY POSTED FOR JEAN
Title: Shriek! It’s a Freak! – 91 words
By Jean Martin
Shriek! It’s a Freak!
Halloween at last is here with
Candy, spice and pumpkins nice, so
Without a care, I tiptoe there.
Out the window, see a ghost, but
Safe inside my house, almost…then
I hear a shriek; it is a freak!
Goblin fears, I run in tears to
Lock the door and shake to core.
I sneak a peek, can barely speak.
Trick or treaters ring the bell, is
It the freak, I cannot tell…so
I wait and pray, it goes away!
Halloween outside is thrilling,
Home alone is way more chilling!
ENTRY POSTED FOR J. EDWIN
A Hallow’s Eve Surpise – 100 words
By J. Edwin Trindade
Nearing then October’s end,
Three goblins tiptoed round the bend.
A yellow moon was in the sky;
An eerie wind came rustling by.
Said One “We’ll give them such a fright,
oh it will be just dandy!”
Said Two “I just can’t wait to get
their sweet, delicious candy!”
Said Three “They’re coming! Listen up!
Get ready, One and Two!”
We’ll thrill and chill them to their bones
with a scary, awful BOOOOO!!!
But the goblins were the ones
Who ran away, and left their sweets.
For three nasty trolls with teeth and claws
Had come to take their treats!
Ooooh! Goblins vs. Trolls! That would make a good series.
The Scariest Costume
by Helen Ishmurzin (89 words)
When the goblins come knocking on Halloween Night
they wear all kinds of costumes to give folks a fright.
There are zombies and demons and banshees and bats,
there are werewolves and witches in tall, pointy hats.
Now mummies, now monsters with great hairy feet
join the tiptoeing spiders who hiss, “Trick or treat?”
All of their costumes are creepy, that’s true,
from the frightening phantoms to ghosts who shout “BOO!”
But the scariest goblin, so ghastly and wild
is the one who’s dressed up as a spine-chilling…
…CHILD!
Love the cute ending – some of the children on our streets tonight were looking pretty wild.
Thanks Elenore! Haha I know what you mean 😀
Great twist at the end!
Thanks Angela!
A Halloween Scare!
By Emily Roberts
Word Count: 98
It was Halloween day, and all through our school,
we were all excited, from goblins to ghouls.
But our teacher announced a terrible fright.
“Today is a test. Get everything right.”
Some of us let out a bone-chilling scream.
The rest of us hoped it was just a bad dream.
One goblin even tried to tiptoe away.
She said, “No one is leaving! Everyone stays!”
The teacher passed out a green, printed sheet.
It read, You’ve been tricked! Let’s have a treat!
Some howled with laughter, and some cried “boo”.
And we snacked on treats for the afternoon.
Oh my gosh – I actually did this to my physics students on April Fools one year – no treats though… just a free period while I talked to them each individually about how they were doing. Love this.
That is a great April Fools trick! I bet your students still remember it!
Tricky teacher! Love it!
Goblin On A Break
by Susanne Connolly
82 words
I spotted a beast
in the woods.
Wrinkled and green.
Short with a tail.
The ugliest creature I’ve seen.
A goblin!
I turned to tiptoe away,
but he saw.
“Chill,” said the goblin.
“It’s safe.”
He held out a paw.
“I’m taking a break till tonight
since today’s Halloween.
I’m a nice guy . . .
for now.
Not sneaky,
or wicked,
or mean.”
We played,
and we danced,
and we laughed.
What fabulous fun!
The second the sun started setting,
I fled.
“Gotta run!”
Excellent Susanne! Love your use of the word “chill” 😀
Thanks! 🙂
Soooooooooooo good. I love the dancing scene!
Thanks, Jill! 🙂
Oh my gosh – I actually did this to my physics students on April Fools one year – no treats though… just a free period while I talked to them each individually about how they were doing. Love this.
meant for previous post but yours is fun too – Good Luck!
LOL!
Troll’s Greatest of All Time Jack-o-Lantern
By Nadia Ali (96 words)
The goblin tiptoed through the chill of the night to meet the grumpy troll who lived under the bridge. It was dark, so dark.
“Troll?” called goblin.
“I’m here! It’s so dark the billy goat gruff can’t see how scary I am.”
“Make a jack-o-lantern!” said goblin.
Troll and goblin got a pumpkin.
“I’ll carve it,” said troll. “It will be the Greatest of All Time!”
They placed the pumpkin aglow by the bridge.
Trip-trap, trip-trap.
Troll jumped out onto the bridge and sent the billy goat gruff running under the glow of his G.O.A.T. jack-o-lantern.
Ha! Great use of the GOAT acronym!
Poor goat, he was afraid of the GOAT! Good job!
Nice mashup with the goblin and troll from the Three Billy Goats Gruff and use of G.O.A.T. Terrific, Nadia!
ENTRY POSTED FOR LEAH
Feast of the Goblin King
by Leah Tilki (100 words)
On top of Mount Dread, buried deep in a cave,
Lives the king of the goblins, Diabolical Dave.
In October as Halloween evening draws near,
Dave readies himself for his one meal this year.
He stretches his spine with a bone-chilling crackle,
“Beware, world, my hunger is growing,” he cackles.
He draws his cloak over his monstrous head,
Stealthily tiptoeing down from Mount Dread.
When he reaches the village, Dave howls, “I must eat!”
“There’s no need for shouting,” replies his friend Pete.
Pete passes a plate towards the king’s growling belly.
Dave smiles. “My favorite! Peanut butter and jelly!”
Phew! Love ‘Diabolical Dave’ 🙂
I agree-love the name Diabolical Dave! He reminds me of the Grinch descending Mount Dread. A fresh, but classic take–fabulous!
Mischievous Tricksters
Word count 95
Sarah stepped into the chill as dried leaves whooshed around her ankles. Jamie and Gavin raced by, capes blowing behind them and buckets nearly full.
She’d been nervous to trick or treat after the goblin stories she’d heard. Nasty tricksters who’d follow you and steal your candy.
Just then, across the street, she saw Jamie push Gavin out of the way to be first. Behind a bush two yellow eyes were fixed on him. Tiptoeing over, the tiny scaly creature reached into Jamie’s bucket.
So the stories were true. But maybe only for naughty kids?
Love it. Nice to see Jamie getting what he deserved!
My favorite visual: Behind a bush two yellow eyes were fixed on him. Well done.
ENTRY POSTED FOR JEN
Ryan’s Sleepy Hollow-een
by Jen Keenan
WC 100
Oh, Sleepy Hollow,
My home, where I fear
I’ll meet The Headless Horseman
Whose resting place is near.
Upon a colt, his ghost each night
Searches for his head.
One night he might see me
And take my head instead!
Enough of quakes and quivers!
I must tempt my fate.
After trick-or-treating
I’m at the churchyard gate.
Chilly in my costume,
Shaking foot to cheek,
Foggy graveyard looms,
Tiny goblins speak:
“Tiptoe through the tombstones,
Don’t wake the dead.
Haunted spirits linger,
Beware the thoroughbred.”
Leaning on his headstone,
Surprisingly, I sleep.
Gallops wake me; candy’s gone.
Happily, I weep.
ENTRY POSTED FOR ROBIN
Becky the Kind, Clever Goblin
by Robin Brett Wechsler
(word count: 100)
Becky poked through leaves. “I found a heart rock!”
“Goblins steal and collect actual treasure,” said her sister, Mickie. “And we have an opportunity.”
Becky stared blankly.
“We’re characters. There’s a real world. Celebrating Halloween—with candy!”
Mickie ventured to an oak tree with a hole in it. Becky followed, feeling chills as she tip-toed through.
Human kids marched from house to house. “Trick-or-treat!”
“Those are costumes,” Mickie explained, grabbing a bag from a witch, who cried.
Becky’s heart raced. “Give it back, Mickie. I have an idea.”
Back home, Becky made candy with her rock. Because stories are magic.
The Goblin
By Angela Martinelli
WC 100
Once upon a chill October, winds were howling, gusting over
sounding like incessant banging, clanging at our kitchen door.
“’Tis a chipmunk,” shouted Brother.
“Nay, a raven,” countered Mother.
I said, “Couldn’t be another, other than our Grammy’s snores.”
One and two and three and four …
“Time for bed,” my mom demanded.
Brother ranted, “I can’t stand it!”
So I ventured to the window and I tiptoed ‘cross the floor.
“’Tis a goblin dressed in jammies that were stolen from our Grammy
with a bag of gobbled candies knocking at our kitchen door!”
“Trick or treat!” the goblin roared.
eeeeee! I love this so much! There will be another this good….nevermore.
Aww, thanks Amanda!
Love the voice and especially the jammies-Grammy-candies line! Terrific, Angela!
Thank you Jill!
Where The Wind Blows
By Daniella Kaufman
Word Count: 99
On Halloween, when darkness falls
and clouds eclipse the moon’s faint light,
the wind sweeps in, a ghostly whisper,
guiding creatures through the night.
It stirs a chilly breath of air,
so branches bend to point the way
and fall leaves tiptoe down the street—
“Come follow us!” they seem to say.
A gust swoops down a winding path
to flicker pumpkins’ eerie glow.
The fairies gasp! The goblins shriek!
But follow where the breezes blow.
It shakes a door, which opens wide
to welcome trick-or-treating cheers!
The wind then whistles with delight,
wanes to a wisp, and disappears.
Very atmospheric!
Thanks for reading! 😊
I absolutely love this one! Hope you place 🎃
Thank you so much, Jenna! Best of luck to you too!
Your use of personification in this poem made me smile. Nice work, Daniella!
Thank you, Jill! 😊
Love the imagery, especially, “fall leaves tiptoe down the street.”
Thanks for reading, Angela! 😊
Love the spooky mood from a personified wind!
Thanks so much, Lauri! 😊
Halloween Magic
By Cindy Greene
Word Count: 98
Whooshing wind blows leaves around,
and from the bushes comes a sound.
I get a chill and tiptoe ‘round –
Are there such things as goblins?
Stoplights flicker, something yells,
a shadow lurks amid sharp smells.
A goblin’s present – I can tell;
There ARE such things as goblins!
Long, thin fingers. putrid green,
extend from bramble leaves unseen,
and wrap my ankles ‘til I scream,
“Let go of me, mean goblins!”
BUT
My costume has a magic wand;
so I’ve no need to flee, abscond.
POOF – the goblin’s now a frond…
I swear it was a goblin!
This IS magical! Well done, Cindy!
Thanks Jill!
so well written, good job!
Thank you Jenna!
I love the how you use short but descrptive language! It is so effective. Munch munch! Now I am hungry! Well done!
GOBLINS GRIPE
By Jill Lambert
(80 words)
On Halloween, the goblins gripe
about the Halloweenie hype:
“A day for treats? Who cares––not us!
Though TRICKS are something marvelous!”
Goblins sneak through shadowed streets.
They hide and screech––retreat, repeat.
But children’s laughter brings despair.
The chilling sound spikes goblin hair.
Jack-o-lanterns cause more griping.
The solution? Candle-swiping!
Drat! Another trick undone.
Glowsticks beam inside each one.
How about a hairy spider,
dangling? But kids grin wider.
Goblins grumble, “It’s no use.”
Time for treats. Halloween truce!
Great job, Jill! I always admire someone who can create a rhyming story given very little time. And I can picture the children’s laughter spiking the goblins’ hair! 😂
Thank you, Carla!
I can picture Goblin’s dejected face as he tries so hard to be a menace, but instead the kids love it! Reminds me of the comedian Rodney Dangerfield, “No Respect!” bit. lol
Thank you, Michelle! No respect is right!
So well written I had to read it again! Exactly what one wants to hear a child say: “Read it again.”
Thank you for reading an rereading, Jill!
If tricks don’t work it’s time for treats! I can picture these kids. A clever story. I enjoyed it.
Thank you, Corine!
WHERE ARE YOU, PETE?
by Webb Smith
(94 Words)
This year, I took my brother Pete
Around the block to trick-or-treat
We tiptoed through a group of gremlins,
Goblins, ghosts, and scary minions
I froze and stood with shaking knees –
A zombie loomed with Graves’ Disease!!
He moaned at me then headed on
When I turned back, PETE WAS GONE!
I quickly grabbed up stacks and stacks
Of all his favorite candy snacks
I made a trail for Pete to see
And eat his way back home to me
And through the moonless chill of night
Pete travelled home… bite by bite
OMG, I love this, Webb! You have such a way with poetry. My daughter and I enjoyed your book of children’s poems immensely 🙂
Thank you very, very much. And Happy Halloween!
Love the last line and the Hansel and Gretel-like concept. Glad to hear Pete made it home. Great job!