The 15th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest aahhhrrrooooOOO!!!

Adder’s fork and wool of bat! It’s time for. . .

The 15th 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 wings, spell, and fog.

  • 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!
  • Please include your title, byline, and word count at the top of your entry.
  • Title is not included in the word count.
  • You may use the words in any grammatical variation i.e. wing, winged, winging, spells, spelling, spelled, foggy, foggiest, fogginess 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 11:59 PM Eastern Friday October 31st (So you have 3 full days to post – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.)

A note about formatting: if WordPress is feeling kindly, bold and italic font will show up, but depending where you’re copying and pasting from, it may not. If you creatively write your entry in the shape of a jack-o-lantern or a witch on a broomstick, the chances of WordPress coming through for you on that are pretty much nil. So as a general rule, don’t attempt anything fancy with your formatting. We’re here for the story, so we won’t be giving or taking away points for elaborate formatting 😊

  • For those of you who would also like to post on your blogs (where maybe that fancy formatting will come through for you and so your fellow writers can come visit you at your place), 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 this, the Official Contest Post, between 12:01 AM Eastern Wednesday October 29th and Friday 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: following the close of the contest at midnight Friday, my devoted assistants and I will read and re-read and narrow down the entries to a finalist field of about 14 (because we have 14 prizes for this contest!) 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! Take a moment to ooh and aah over what you can win and admire our talented prize donors and their work! (And don’t miss the end of this post which is all the way down below the prizes 😊)

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ FABULOUS PRIZES FROM GENEROUS PEOPLE⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Please enjoy exploring all their amazing work!

⭐️ Mentorship with the one and only Vivian Kirkfield!

Vivian will take a quick look at 3 of your manuscripts and then you and she will work on 1 to polish to submission-ready, plus a query letter edit for that manuscript as well as a Zoom session to discuss the manuscript or anything related to the path to publication!

Vivian encourages new writers through her critique and editing services, shares her love for reading and writing with children through school visits, and offers advice and resources for aspiring authors through her blog, Picture Books Help Kids Soar. She is the author of One Girl’s Voice: How Lucy Stone Helped Change the Law of the Land, Pedal, Balance, Steer: Annie Londonderry, the First Woman to Cycle Around the World, From Here To There: Inventions That Changed The Way The World Moves, Making Their Voices Heard: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marily Monroe, Four Otters Toboggan: An Animal Counting Book, Pippa’s Passover Plate, and Sweet Dreams, Sarah.

Vivian Kirkfield

Webinars/Classes/Workshops!

⭐️ A Spot in Teresa Robeson’s inaugural 2-hour Webinar/Class: Write A Graphic Novel for the First Time! (to be held sometime in January 2026) Write A Graphic Novel for the First Time is a 2-hour step-by-step webinar that takes you from idea to pitch packet, learning everything you need in between. If you’re interested in knowing when the course is ready and when you can sign up, you can go here: https://teresarobeson.myflodesk.com/poatu0ji2z .

Teresa is the APALA Picture Book Award winning author of fiction and nonfiction on her own culture and science. Her titles include: Clouds In Space: Nebulae, Stardust, and Us, Who Is Tibet’s Exiled Leader? The 14th Dalai Lama, Clear And Bright: A Ching Ming Festival Story, Disgust-ology: The Science of Gross, and Who Smashed Hollywood Barriers With Gung Fu? Bruce Lee.

Teresa Robeson

⭐️ A Free Admission Ticket to Rosie Pova’s November or December Workshop + A Breakthrough Consultation With Rosie for unagented and unpublished PB writers! November and December Workshop Guests will be announced after October 28th. The Breakthrough Consultation with Rosie is a one-on-one session with her, designed to help the writer identify and overcome any challenges they’re facing—whether it’s related to story craft, manuscript submissions, finding an agent, building an authentic author brand, or strengthening their online presence. During your session, Rosie will help them pinpoint what’s holding them back and create an actionable plan to help them move forward!

Rosie J. Pova is an award-winning, multi-published children’s author, poet, and writing coach. Her books include Sunday Rain, featured in The New York Times, The School of Failure, a Readers’ Favorite silver medalist, and her latest title, Sally’s Musical Tale. She is also the founder of Picture Book Author Academy, where she mentors aspiring authors toward publishing success. In addition, Rosie hosts monthly workshops with agents and editors, offering exclusive learning and submission opportunities for the kidlit community.

Rosie J. Pova

⭐️ A Virtual All-Season Pass to Every SCBWI Eastern NY Webinar in 2026 donated by SCBWI Eastern NY (my local chapter)! Fabulous webinars to help you hone your craft and business of writing no matter where you live!

A Bundle of Three Books by Talented Authors Pamela Courtney, Robin Newman and Alayne Kay Christian!

⭐️ 1. From Pamela Courtney, a signed copy of A SEASON FOR FISHIN’: A Fish Fry Tradition

Pam’s Louisiana upbringing inspired her 2025 debut A Season for Fishin’, A Fish Fry Tradition and  nurtured her life’s passion for writing, teaching, music. Combining these loves, Pam brings the eyes of a classroom teacher to each narrative she crafts and created MyLMNOP, a literacy and music program for early learners  “My duty is great,” says Pam. “I am a writer who teaches. I am a teacher who writes.”

together with

⭐️ 2. a copy of TRIAL AND ERROR, the newest chapter book from Robin Newman!

Raised in New York and Paris, Robin Newman is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and City University of New York School of Law. She was a practicing attorney and legal editor, but now prefers to write about witches, mice, ants, and peacocks. Author of the award-winning Wilcox & Griswold Mystery Series and several picture books, she lives in New York with two spoiled spaniels. To learn more, please visit www.robinnewmanbooks.com.

Robin Newman

together with

⭐️ 3. a signed copy of THE WEED THAT WOKE CHRISTMAS from Alayne Kay Christian!

Alayne Kay Christian is the former acquisitions editor and art director for Blue Whale Press and an award-winning children’s book author. She is the creator and teacher of a picture book writing course, Art of Arc. She shares more of her knowledge and tips for writers through Writing for Children Webinars and Courses. Her books include The Weed That Woke Christmas: The Mostly True Take of the Toledo Christmas Weed, An Old Man and His Penguin: How Dindim Made João Pereira de Souza an Honorary Penguin, Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa, and two Sienna the Cowgirl Fairy books: Trying To Make It Rain and Cowboy Trouble.

Alayne Kay Christian

AMAs PLUS!

⭐️ A 30-Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything for an Individual or for the Individual and their Critique Group from Heather Pierce Stigall , PLUS a signed copy of the winner’s choice of one of her picture books: PAISLEY’S BIG BIRTHDAY or GILBERT AND THE GHOST!

Heather Stigall uses her experience with children and her degrees in Child Development, Psychology-based Human Relations, and Social Work to create stories that speak to kids. She is the author of the picture books Gilbert and the Ghost and Paisley’s Big Birthday. You can connect with Heather at www.HeatherPierceStigall.com.

Heather Pierce Stigall

⭐️ A 30-Minute Zoom Ask Me Anything from Tina Shepardson PLUS a signed copy of her picture book THE SORRY SEEDS!

Tina, an award-winning teacher of 33 years and an award-winning author, now inspires, educates, and engages kids writing children’s books. Author of Walkout, The Sorry Seeds—a Children’s Book Council Teacher Favorite, 2025, and Canines Unleashed: Hank’s New Pack, she created and hosts @thelilleaderspodcast.com, celebrating young leaders and literacy by interviewing kids about their life experiences in the hopes of impacting others.

Tina Shepardson

Pitch Critiques!

⭐️ A Package of 3 Pitch Critiques from Heather Preusser! Pick out three pitches you’d like help with, and Heather will help you polish them to perfection!

Heather has a BA in English and art history from Williams College, an MA in education from the University of Colorado, and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine. A National Writing Project fellow, Heather has seventeen years of experience teaching both middle and high school English. She is represented by Janine Le at JLLA. Her books include A Symphony of Cowbells, Hedgehog Whodunit, Hedgehog Whodunit: The Carousel Caper, and forthcoming in 2026, Hedgehog Whodunit: The Protective Order of Peanuts.

Heather Preusser

Picture Book Manuscript Critiques!

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction, non-rhyming) from author/illustrator Julie Rowan-Zoch!

Julie is a reformed graphic designer, concocting and sculpting story ideas and illustrations – every day.  She is the author and illustrator of I’m A Hare, So There!, and the illustrator of Stopping By Jungle on a Snowy Evening, Not All Sheep Are Boring, and Louis.

Julie Rowan-Zoch

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Fiction or Nonfiction, Rhyme or Prose) from Nancy Derey Riley

Smart Stories for Curious Kids – Where Science, Imagination, and Kindness Meet. Nancy Derey Riley is an author, illustrator, and competitive adult figure skater. After completing a B.S. and M.S. in wildlife biology, she had a 32-year career as a wildlife biologist. She worked in New England, the Midwest, the desert Southwest, and at the national level in Arlington, Virginia. She loves bringing science and nature to life in her stories. Her website is: Nancy Riley Novelist – My writing website. Nancy is the author and illustrator of 3 self-published titles: Curiosity’s Discovery (Nov. 10, 2020), Butterfly Inn (May 25, 2022), Yeti In The Serengeti (May 30, 2023), and Who Ate My Cactus? (Shadelandhouse Modern Press, May 13, 2025)

Nancy Derey Riley

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming) from Deborah Holt Williams

Deborah is the author of five early readers for the educational publisher Continental Press. Susanna’s contests got her back to her first love—writing in rhyme. Her poems have appeared in Highlights mags and on poetry sites for children, and her rhyming picture book Nighty Night Dinos comes out in June of 2026 from Familius. (The image below is an art sample from Nighty Night Dinos, illustrated by Anna Doherty, ©Anna Doherty 2026.)

Deborah Holt Williams

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Fiction) from Melissa Stoller PLUS a signed copy of her newest picture book, HAZEL AND MABEL: Two Hearts Apart!

Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, released from Gnome Road Publishing in September, 2025. Melissa’s next picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, will release from Kar-Ben Publishing in Fall 2026. Melissa is also the author of the chapter book The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection – Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, and a Rate Your Story Judge.

Melissa Stoller

⭐️ A Manuscript Critique from Donna Martin– winner’s choice of a Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction, rhyme or prose), OR a First Chapter of a Chapter Book Critique, OR the First 10 Pages of a YA Novel Critique. Donna is especially good with PB fiction and rhyme, CB historical fiction and action, and YA fantasy!

Kidlit author, Donna L Martin, writes award winning stories for children, including picture books, chapter books, and young adult fantasy. Her books include A Barnyard Christmas, The Warriors Three, Lunadar: Homeward Bound, the History’s Mysteries series, and Hildie and the Beastie. She can be found on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn under DONASDAYS or readers can learn more about all her books at www.Amazon.com/author/donnalmartin.

Donna L. Martin

⭐️ A Rhyming Picture Book Manuscript Critique – fiction and nonfiction from Jill Richards Proctor. Her critiques include line-by-line review of rhythm and rhyme, suggestions for cutting or changing words, review of grammar, and feedback on the strengths/weaknesses of the manuscript itself.

Jill Proctor

Jill has been a writer and rhymer nearly all her life. She and her cat live on the top of a mountain, where she spends most days chasing my muse. Her poetry has been published in High Five Highlights Magazine, The School Magazine, and Children’s Writer.  She has won a long list of awards and mentions in many kidlit contests, including First Place in the Institute of Children’s Literature (ICL) Rhyming Animal Poetry Contest, and First Place in ICL’s Fall Poetry Contest. Examples of her list of publications can be found on her website, as well as a list of her awards and mentions – all in rhyme.

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 333 entries listed below are linked to where they appear in the comments so you can click on the titles and get right to them! Anyone who feels kind can start at the bottom of the list so those entries get some comments too! 🎃 😊

2025 Halloweensie Contest Entries!

  1. THE SPOOKIEST GOBLIN IN GHOULVILLE – Vashti Verbowski
  2. SIBLING MAGIC – Lori Knutsen
  3. RASKELLY RUNS FOR HIS afterLIFE! – Katie Schwartz
  4. FROG FOG – Jocelyn Watkinson
  5. GRAM’S HALLOWEEN GARDEN– Susan Elizabeth Schipper
  6. FROG GOES TRICK-OR-TREATING – Mike Flowers
  7. SCARY HAIRY HALLOWEEN FAIRY – Jill Richards Proctor
  8. A MOST UNUSUAL SPELLBOOK – Danielle Anderson
  9. RETAIL SCARE-APY – Heather Kinser
  10. Aerial AcroBAT – Jill Lambert
  11. HALLOWEEN PARADE AT THE ART MUSEUM – Lauren N. Simmons
  12. HAPPY SPECKTAQULAR HALLOOVEEN! – Kiran Vazir Nair
  13. NORMALLY VERY NICE –  Bethany Brodsky
  14. THE SPELLING MISTAKE – Tamara Hecht
  15. HOW TO WOO A WiTCH – Maria Kim
  16. A WICKED GOOD COSTUME – Elizabeth Meyer zu Heringdorf
  17. HOMOGRAPH HALLOWEEN – Elizabeth Meyer zu Heringdorf
  18. MOONLIGHT MAGIC – Rebecca Woodall
  19. THE GREAT HALLOWEEN BAKE OFF – Polly Hunt
  20. BATSY AND HAZEL – Lisa Carmody Doiron
  21. THE DRAGON, THE WITCH AND THE CAULDRON – Sue Lancaster
  22. HALLOWEEN NIGHT FLIGHT – Daniella Kaufman
  23. CACKLE, CRACKLE, OOPS! – Sarah Atherton
  24. MUMMY MOMMY – Shawna Cain
  25. WHAT KIZZY KNOWS ABOUT MS. DEVEREAUX – Bronchelle Parker
  26. CALL YOU RUDOLPH – Betsy J. Bennett
  27. WINGS INSTEAD OF A BROOM – Tracy T Agnelli
  28. WITCH WILDA – Elizabeth Volkmann
  29. F-L-Y-B-E-R-T – April Berry
  30. ‘SPELLING’ COUNTS – Elyse Trevers
  31. THE BIGGEST FRIGHT ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Emily Roberts
  32. THE HOBLINGOBLIN HALLOWEEN HAUNTED HOUSE – Emily Roberts
  33. WHEN THE FOGHORN SOUNDED – Erica Chester
  34. THE RAVEN’S GHOST – Lyn Jekowsky
  35. HALLOWEEN IN FOG HOLLOW – Shelley Jones Clark
  36. A HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE – Janet Bryce
  37. MONSTER SPELLING COMPETITION – Susan Wollison
  38. A FROGLET’S HALLOWEEN – Anthony Baldasare
  39. THE SPELL – Mona Voelkel
  40. MORGAN’S HALLOWEEN BROOM VROOM! – Chelsey Bahe
  41. ITCHY TWITCHY HALLOWEEN WITCHY – Julie Lerczak
  42. KIND-HEARTED KRYSTAL – Deborah Williams
  43. HALLOWINGED – Kat Kindig
  44. BOO-TIFUL BY MISTAKE – Deborah Foster
  45. TINA’S SCARY WISH – Randi Lynn Mrvos
  46. TREATS? OR TRICKS? – Sandra Bohman
  47. HERBIE AND MARIBEL – Milanka Reardon
  48. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS ON HALLOWEEN! – Isabel Cruz Rodgriguez
  49. THE WITCH’S WAY – Kelly Kates
  50. LEARNING TO SPELL – Jenny Nelson
  51. THE DEVILLED EGGS: AN ORIGIN STORY – Sherry Moon
  52. BONE-LY HEARTS SNUB – Laura Proven Croyle
  53. THE LETTER THIEF – Kendra Lusty
  54. THE HALLOWEEN WINGDING – Debbie Land
  55. SCARECROW’S FIRST HALLOWEEN PARTY – Eleanor A. Peterson
  56. MARIPOSA MOON – Katie Combe
  57. OH, SWEET FOG! – Robin Birdie Jordan
  58. SECOND GRADE WITCH SPELLS – Quincy Trochue
  59. WHAT IF? – Kim Collazo
  60. SPELLS & SUCH: THE SERIOUS WITCH’S SHOP – Lauri C. Meyers
  61. A TEENSIE-WEENSIE HALLOWEENSIE TALE – Mary Louise Kiernan
  62. A BATTY HALLOWEEN – Amy Kolb Noyes
  63. COSTUMED CRITTERS – Jessica Jenson
  64. IT’S MINE! – Josh Donner
  65. NO TRICKS, JUST SWEET – Tiffanie Leung Abbott
  66. A KIND HALLOWEEN SPELL – Kelsey Mango
  67. WANDA THE WHICH – Russell Wolff
  68. SWEET DREAMS – Margaret Robison
  69. IN A WITCH’S KITCHEN – Laura Wippell
  70. DON’T MESS WITH THE FROG – Linda Staszak
  71. TILLY’S MOONLIT SPELL – Leigh Lachman
  72. BANNED PRACTICE – Sarah Hirsch
  73. THE FRIGHT NIGHT JAM-BOO-BEE – Jennifer Tarr
  74. GHOUL BUS – Jessica Iwanski
  75. PARTY SKELETONS – Eric Roscosky
  76. GHOST SQUIRREL – Paige Lohr
  77. A FAIRY BAD MISTAKE – Jany Campana
  78. IT’S BEWITCHING TIME! – Marty Bellis
  79. GRETA HATES HALLOWEEN – Cindy Sommer
  80. A RECIPE FOR HALLOWEEN – Catherine Rose
  81. FLIGHT OF THE TURNIP – Rochelle Smith
  82. THE SPELL OF THE HALLOWEEN FOG – Alli Straus
  83. DARK AND FOG’S SPOOKY HALLOWEEN – Rebecca Thill
  84. HETTIE WITCH’S PARADE PROBLEM – Meg Winikates
  85. TESSA’S TRUNK OR TREAT TRICK – Nancy Ferguson
  86. SHE COULDN’T WAIT TO GO! – Sara Kruger
  87. MENACE AT THE DENTIST – Jessica Russo
  88. TRICK OR TREAT – RJ Clarken
  89. WHERE’S THE CHOCOLATE? – Donna Van Oss
  90. EERIE MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS – Seth Standley
  91. HALLOWEEN MAGIC – Theresa Dabney
  92. THE HOUSE THAT WAITS – Alex Waldo
  93. HILDRUN’S HALLOWEEN HOEDOWN – Theresa Dabney
  94. MONSTER JAMBOREE – Lauren Kimberly
  95. TROUBLE AND TOIL – Kelly Clasen
  96. THE RAVENS – Ali Lithke
  97. MG – THE HOLLOW BETWEEN TWO HEARTS – Gayle Krause
  98. SIT FOR A SPELL – Amy Farris
  99. THE DANCING SPELL – Brianna Rose Lengel
  100. RUNAWAY PUMPKINS – Martha Holguin
  101. WICKED TREATS – Kristen Littlefield
  102. HALLOWEEN CIRCUS – Shaunessy Sinnett
  103. HALLOWEEN WONDER – Theresa Dabney
  104. BAZ CROW AND THE SCARECROW – Allison Wilhelm
  105. THE VAMPIRE – Leslie Johnson Piotrowski
  106. TRICK-OR-TREATING MISCHIEF MAKERS – Jenna Daucunas
  107. MINA’S FIRST HALLOWEEN FLIGHT – Imelda Taylor
  108. BEGGAR’S NIGHT – Jess Appel
  109. DRUSCILLA AND BATSON – Anna Marie Evans
  110. RUDOLPH’S HALLOWEEN ADVENTURE – Susan Corry
  111. THE OOPSIE SPELL – Aida Nash
  112. BAT’S FREAKY FRIDAY – Sandra G. Ramirez
  113. WHERE BUSS CAN WEAR WINGS – Sherry Dubis
  114. NOT THIS YEAR! – Heidi McFadzean
  115. THE WITCH’S SPELL – Joanna Szeto
  116. I’M NOT GOING TO HALLOWEEN – Trine Grillo
  117. PEGGY’S REVENGE – Brooke Baum
  118. TRICK-OR-TREAT – Tracey Kiff-Judson
  119. LITTLE WITCHY ~ MASTER SPELLER – Pam Adams
  120. SPELLS CAST – Candelaria Norma Silva
  121. MAMA’S SPELL FOR FINDING HOME – Laura N. Clement
  122. THE MOON WHO WISHED – McKenzie Lynn Tozan
  123. DRACULA’S HALLOWEEN BASH – Sara Hoy
  124. ELISA’S MAGIC – Kathleen Jacobs
  125. BEWARE THE GARGOYLE PUMPKIN – Dawn Mitchell
  126. TRICK-OR-TREAT – Pallavi Jesrani
  127. WINGED WONDERS – Debbie Vilardi
  128. WITCHY WISHES – Jenn Gautam
  129. MAYBE I CAN CAST A SPELL – Lily C. Fen
  130. WENDY THE WITCH – Colleen Fogarty
  131. MIRABELLE’S SPELLS – Jamie Donahoe
  132. BAT’S GIFT TO GARGOYLE – Sarah Hawklyn
  133. DON’T BE SCARED, IT’S HALLOWEEN – Sarah Lynne John
  134. SCARED OF NOTHING – Jan Peck
  135. THE SKELETON’S NEW CLOTHES – Lucretia Schafroth
  136. SCHOOL OF REVIEW – Mona Pease
  137. THE CANDY BAN – Anne Lipton
  138. LITTLE BEE’S HALLOWEEN – Blythe Williams
  139. FAIRY DUST HALLOWEEN – Rose Cappelli
  140. HALLOWEEN THESAURUS – Rebecca W. Chester
  141. A SURPRISE SPELL – Susan Summers
  142. HAIRY HOUDINI’S HALLOWEEN HIJINKS – Jeanette O’Toole
  143. LITTLE BAT’S BRIGHT NIGHT – Emma Applegarth
  144. BETTY BATS BLOODY GOOD IDEA – Sharon McCarthy
  145. HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE – Mary Rudzinski
  146. THE POULTRYGEIST – Melissa J. Miles
  147. BEHIND THE BROOMSTICK: A TELL-ALL – Anya-Kaye Francis
  148. HALLOWEEN BIRTHDAY – Andy Nuttall
  149. SPELLS, FOG AND FROGS! – Lucia Lemieux
  150. JUST TAKE ONE! – Amy Chini
  151. FREDDIE THE WINGED FROG – Karen Opp
  152. SIR BAT AND THE HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Jennifer Arnold
  153. THE MISSING INGREDIENT – Charlene Yutmeyer
  154. THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER – Katia M. Jesson
  155. RASPBERRY CREAM – Amanda Fletcher
  156. A WARNING TO BATS – Elizabeth Muster
  157. COUNTING ON HALLOWEEN – Rebecca Singer
  158. SUGAR RUSH – Celia Cataldo
  159. MISSPELL – Eric Sondergeld
  160. CANDY CURIOSITY – Celia Cataldo
  161. WING SONG – Lu Ann Schnable Kaldor
  162. MATHILDA AND THE LITTLE MONSTERS – Katrina Stern
  163. GHOST COWS? – Lu Ann Schnable Kaldor
  164. THE GREAT FROG CROSSING – Kathy Dobson
  165. THE HALLOWEEN WISH – Kathleen Jacobs
  166. ATHTHAMMA WHAT IS HALOON – Diyamanthi Galpoththage
  167. WITCHY AND GHOSTY – Stacy Barnett Mozer
  168. SILLY WILLY’S CHICKEN CHILI – Tess Bass
  169. CHICK OR CHEAT: A HALLOWEEN WISH – Jennifer Concepcion McLennan
  170. LITTLE SNAGGLETOOTH – Susan Gleeson
  171. THE HALLOWEEN SPELL – Beth Gallagher
  172. REVERSE THE CURSE – Webb Smith
  173. BAT’S BIG NIGHT – Lisa Billa
  174. RULES ARE FOR THE LIVING – Ragan Fry
  175. A SPELL FOR DADDY – Deborah Kim
  176. HALLOWEEN NOSTALGIA – Michelle S. Kennedy
  177. SPOOKY SPELLING BEE – Kassandra Ayala
  178. CATIE’S COSTUME CONUNDRUM – Jan Schwaid
  179. THIS HALLOWEENSIE FRIGHTFUL NIGHT – Joni Klein-Higger
  180. BATTY NOT IN THE NIGHT – ?
  181. A HALLOWEEN GLOW – Sue Parker Mielinski
  182. CAST A SPELL – Deborah Hunt
  183. ELARA AND THE BROOM WING CHALLENGE – ?
  184. BEE-WITCHED – Cindy Chambers Johnson
  185. ASTRA’S SPELL – Marty Findley
  186. HUBERT THE ELF WANTS TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN – Margaret Lea
  187. HALLOWEEN BREAK – Keatley Eastman
  188. SCARLET’S HALLOWEEN HUNT – Lora Stead
  189. SCARY ROCK – Sonja McGiboney
  190. A HALLOWEEN FOLKLORE: WITCHCRAFT & FROGS – P.J. Purtee
  191. WITCHY AND THE TRICK-OR-TREAT SPELLING BEE – Sarah Meade
  192. WICKED WANDA – Alan Elliott
  193. TRIXIE AND PUMPKIN – Sarah Meade
  194. EEK! A WEEKNIGHT HALLOWEEN – Jenn Gaulding
  195. MURDER ON HALLOWEEN – Laura Kiehner
  196. STAY CALM AND SPARKLE ON – Melissa J. Miles
  197. BABY GHOST – Katherine Fox
  198. THE BRIGHT HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Christy Eiler
  199. THE SPOOKY SPELL – Catherine Ann Velasco
  200. BOXED IN – Diane McBee
  201. THE SPOOKIEST HOUSE – Lisa Davis
  202. THE HORRIBLE HALLOWEEN STENCH – Angela Steffen
  203. TRICK OR TREAT AND DOGGIE TREATS – Kathleen Jacobs
  204. OPAL OWL AND THE MAGIC FOG – Susan Kalver
  205. THE 1,374TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN SPELLING BEE – Cari Chamberlain
  206. THE GREEDY WITCH – Gregory Bray
  207. THE HALLOWEEN DARE – Carmen Castillo Gilbert, PhD
  208. HAPPY HALLOWEEN – Lori Bresnahan
  209. HALLOWEEN MORNING – Lori Bresnahan
  210. THE WITCH’S CROW – Leslie Ross-Degnan
  211. THE WILY WAND OF WINIFRED WITCH – Annette Martin
  212. FIRE IN THE SKY – Charlie Griffin
  213. THE HAUNTED HORSE HOTEL – Jen Stambolsky
  214. HALLOWEEN – Debra Fagans
  215. A SPECIAL SIBLING SPELL – Laura Bryte
  216. TIME TO FLY – Susan Burdorf
  217. A LaGHOSTY WITH THE MOSTY – Andria W. Rosenbaum
  218. THE TALE OF THE MISSING WINGS – Usri Chowdhury
  219. THE SCAREST PHRASE – Becki J. Kidd
  220. BAT WINGS – Sheila Renfro
  221. BOBBIT AND HIS MAGIC WINGS – Usri Chowdhury
  222. REFLECTION CONNECTION – Birdie Jordan
  223. CHOOSING YOUR BOOK – Debbie Graf
  224. FAIRY FIX – Annette Birdsall
  225. HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Milly Strawn
  226. A PEST IS BEST FOR HALLOWEEN – Debbie Graf
  227. THE CANDY THIEF – Debbie Graf
  228. TRICK OR STEW – Kate DiMaio
  229. TRICK OR TEETH – Ginger Burke
  230. A FRIGHTFUL NIGHT OF DELIGHTFUL BITES – N. Q. Haines
  231. WITCH’S MAGICAL HAT – Tisha Blackman
  232. MISS-SPELLED – Veronica Bartles
  233. BERNARD’S BAD BITE – Mary Beth Woodside
  234. PAT THE PUMPKIN FACES HALLOWEEN – Garland Godinho
  235. A LONELY GHOST ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Garland Godinho
  236. HALLOWEEN IS COMING! – Garland Godinho
  237. PUMPKIN JACK – Sally Mills
  238. PEN’S HALLOWEEN DREAM – Angela Martinelli
  239. JACK OF THE LANTERNS – Meeta Vishnu
  240. THREE SISTERS – Judy Hughes
  241. OOKY, SPOOKY – Camille Lancaster
  242. HALLOWEEN SPELL (ING) – Janet Scratchley
  243. WHEN THE FOG TURNS TO GOLD – Melissa Smith
  244. MY FEET ARE NOT YOUR TREAT! – Stephanie Mena
  245. BARNABY BAT – Amanda Spino
  246. OWL IN THE STEW – Catherine Youngsquist
  247. HALLOWEEN MAGIC – Claudia Sloan
  248. TREATS FOR SPELLS – Maya Mackowiak Elson
  249. THE BOG WITCH’S GARDEN – Jennifer Weingardt
  250. THE WITCH’S BEHIND – Jonathan Sellars
  251. BROOKE’S BLUNDER – Rochelle Smith
  252. A SCARY TOMORROW – Elisa Teichert
  253. THE WITCH’S MASK – Carolyn Sauer
  254. TRANSYLVANIA TOAST – Jacinta Patterson
  255. AN EYE FOR A SPELL – Sarah (Sezza) Hetu
  256. DON’T GO TO THE GRAVEYARD ON HALLOWEEN! – Karyn Devlin
  257. ZORABELLE CAN’T SPELL – Margaret Zotkiewicz
  258. SPELLA’S FOG VANISHING SPELL – Darlene Kesot
  259. FIRST HALLOWEEN PARTY – Tiffany Hanson
  260. THE FLOATLESS GHOSTESS – J. Buchet
  261. FRANKENFEATHER – Maria Pinero Pope
  262. CAULDRON CHAOS – Maria Pinero Pope
  263. FIRST HALLOWEEN (AS A WITCH) – Carolyn Sauer
  264. RECIPE FOR DISASTER – Janet Cannon
  265. EVIE’S JOKE-O’-LANTERN – Lynn Burton
  266. THE BAD BEHAVIOR GRAVEYARD – Sarah Hirsch
  267. CHANGING ON HALLOWEEN – Cindy Greene
  268. SPELLADONNA TRIES AGAIN – Laura Polasek
  269. ALL HALLOW’S EVE – Jill Tatara
  270. DRAGON FLY – Jen Subra
  271. THE SWAMP ON HALLOWEEN – Amanda Blaylock
  272. LULU’S WISH – Amanda Blaylock
  273. VAMPIRE PROBLEM – Denise Seidman
  274. BLACK CAT’S BAD LUCK – Marla Yablon
  275. A BODY FOR GHOST – Kendra Lusty
  276. LAUNDRY GOBLIN – Katrenia Wilcutt
  277. FRED SAVES HALLOWEEN – Marcia D. Williams
  278. JACK TAKES FLIGHT – Naz Alibhai
  279. TERRI-FLYING TIMES – Joy Dickinson
  280. HALLOWEEN 101 – Cathy Bendix
  281. WHO? – Debra Collins
  282. ANTICIPATING THE SPELL – Kate Chabarek
  283. MYSTI THE ARTIST WITCH – Nazrin Farook
  284. WITCHLING’S WINGDING – Griffin Taylor
  285. SET-A-SPELL – ERE
  286. THE TRICK IS ON YOU – Pat Haapaniemi
  287. THE FULL-SIZED CANDY HOUSE – Vanessa Ireson
  288. THE MYSTERIOUS CRUNCH! – Angela Steffen
  289. MAKE ME A HALLOWEEN BALLERINA, PLEASE – Robin Donovan
  290. CLASSROOM CUPBOARD TRICK OR TREAT – Jodie Houghton
  291. A WITCHES MISTAKE – Kate Woodard
  292. SLOW COOKING – Peter Rogers
  293. WARTS, WINGS AND WITCHY THINGS – Carol Porter-Peszko
  294. MUMFORD’S FRIENDS – Carolyn Pfister
  295. FREE FOG – Teresa Speranza Vargas
  296. THE COSTUME BIN – Amy Duchene
  297. PENELOPE SPELLACY HAS HER OWN PLAN – Sharon Korzelius
  298. SPOOKY’S SPELL – Tonya Dalhaus
  299. THE BUTTERFLY BEAUTICIAN – Colleen Murphy
  300. GHOST’S FLYING LESSON – Roxanne Dooley
  301. SCAREDY BAT –
  302. BOOOO ARE THEY SCREAMING AT? – Ali DeMoro
  303. ZOMBIE ZACH’S HALLOWEEN QUEST – Judy Sobanski
  304. MONSTER BALL – Marc Vestey
  305. HALLOWEEN REVENGE – Penelope McNally
  306. BRENDA BAT’S BODACIOUS BUNGLE – Missy Pray
  307. HALLOWEEN ECHOES – Amy Duchene
  308. MISCHIEVOUS PIXIE – Annette G. Teepe
  309. HALLOWEEN HATTIE – Diane Roberts
  310. PUMPKIN ESCAPE! – C. L. White
  311. FOR EVERY TREAT, A TRICK REMAINS – Corine Timmer
  312. TRIM-OR-TREAT – Elaine Thuener
  313. THE HALLOWEEN SURPRISE – Nina Haines
  314. IT’S NOT EASY BEING FOG – Jan Milusich
  315. SHERMAN’S HALLOWEEN PARADE – Maria Marshall
  316. WITCHY HALLOWEEN NIGHT – Nancy Wade
  317. WENDALEE’S TRANSPORTATION TROUBLES – Linda Hofke
  318. HALLOWEEN LEFTOVERS – Catherine Zampier
  319. SING, WINGS – Margaret Zotkiewicz
  320. WILLOW’S WINGED WONDERS – Stephanie Santana
  321. THE OWL’S SURPRISE – Erin Zampaglione
  322. HILDA THE WITCH WANTS A MASK – Helene Debelak
  323. THE BAT WITH GLOWING WINGS – CS (student-youth)
  324. ESTELLA’S SPELL AT WITCH SCHOOL – Claire Schlinkert
  325. CLAIRE AND THE COSTUME CONTEST – Reed Hilton-Eddy
  326. THE (MIS) SPELL – Scott Wolf
  327. CANDY? OKAY. – Greg Beatty
  328. THE HALLOWEEN BALL – Nora G. Ho
  329. WOLFIE’S SPELL – Una Belle Townsend
  330. TRAPPAST FLEES – Zi Hui Yang
  331. WITCHY WAND – Rosemary Basham
  332. JUST A JOKE – Maverick May
  333. MOTHMAN – Trista Herring Baughman

2,045 thoughts on “The 15th Annual Halloweensie Writing Contest aahhhrrrooooOOO!!!”

  1. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR MARY

    Halloween Nightmare
    By Mary Rudzinski, 100 words

    The howl of a wolf
    Echoed through the night fog.
    Leaves crunched loudly
    as I tripped over a log.
    I jumped to my feet
    I thought I heard singing.
    The moon showed black bats
    Flying low, nighttime winging.
    Ahead in the dark
    In the middle of a clearing
    Stood a witch with a broom
    Cackling and sneering
    “If its treats that you want
    You’re in the wrong place.
    I only cast spells
    And then I give chase.”
    I ran for my life
    Filled with fear and great dread-
    Just in time I woke up
    Safely tucked in my bed.

  2. melissajmiles1 says:
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    The Poultrygeist

    By Melissa J. Miles

    99 words

    Tensions rise at the Halloween spelling bee.

    Sweat trickles down my back.

    Five students left.

    I’m up.

    C-A-U-L-D-R-O-N.

    Whew!

    Out goes Sophie.

    Liam’s out.

    I’m up again.

    S-U-P-E-R-N-A-T-U-R-A-L.

    Whew!

    Ella’s gone.

    It’s just me and Grace.

    She spells P-O-U-L-T-R-Y-G-E-I-S-T.

    Oops!

    A cackling ghost swoops overhead,

    clucking and flapping its arms like chicken wings.

    What’s that?!

    I blink hard, and shake my head.

    I can’t be distracted now.

    If I get this right, I win.

    I open my mouth, but…

    fog fills my brain!

    No! I studied this one.

    P-O-L-T-E-R-G-E-I-S-T.

    POOF! The real poltergeist vanishes.

    Applause erupts.

    I win!

  3. Anya-Kaye Francis says:
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    BEHIND THE BROOMSTICK: A TELL-ALL

    By Anya-Kaye Francis (WC: 99)

    Dear Reader,

    Why do witches get so much attention during Halloween? They’re so overrated! Everyone thinks they’re scary, but can I tell you a secret? They’re not! 

    Those warts? Fake.

    That hair? A wig.

    Truthfully, they’re just a bunch of old ladies who don’t like combing their hair or brushing their teeth. And you know what else? They’re afraid of the dark. 

    Who do you think catches all the bats for their spells? Me! Without me, she’d have no wings for her potions-just bubbling cauldron and a lot of foggy smoke filling the air. 

    Signed,

     An Angry Black Cat

  4. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR ANDY

    Halloween Birthday
    by Andy Nuttall 100 words

    Velvet was hanging in the graveyard with his little sister Pips.
    “Listen up Pips,” he said. “Something’s coming our way.”
    Beneath them through the thickening fog came a group of children who sat down together on a large, flat slab of stone.
    “Isn’t that Noctara, the gravedigger’s daughter?”
    “Yes, Tara with her friends. It’s her birthday today. She’s turning ten at Halloween!”
    Suddenly the girls broke into song: a chill, haunting chorus that rose into the cold night air. Startled, Velvet shook his leathery wings and stared at the unexpected sight unfolding before him. The spell had begun to work.

  5. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR LUCIA

    Spells, Fog and Frogs!  By Lucia Lemieux (WC 95)

    “I can’t cast a spell until I learn to spell?” asked Willow Witch. “No fair!”
    “Witches who can’t spell can’t read, and they make mistakes,” said Mom. “Learn these.”

    Willow practiced with Ollie Owl.
    “Not wig.  W-I-N-G,” he flapped.
    Willow chanted. ”W-I-N-G.”
    “Good!” said Mom. “Two more.”

    “F-R-O-G,” spelled Ollie.
    “F-R-O-G,” repeated Willow.
    “Perfect,” Mom said. “One more.”

    “F-O-G,” said Willow.  “Can I cast it now?”
    “Learning to spell is very keen,
    Let’s have fog this Halloween!

    F…R…O…G!”

    A million frogs hopped house to house, eating everyone’s candy.

    “I guess spelling IS important,” Willow said.

    (95 words)

  6. Amy Chini says:
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    Amy Chini/ Word Count: 100

    Just Take One!

    “Just take one,” a kind suggestion
    Tucked beneath the candy bowls,
    I tempted fate and snapped up eight,
    Some taffy, suckers, Tootsie Rolls.

    I thought for certain no one spied me,
    Winging mistward through the crowd,
    When something slimy there behind me,
    Called my name and called it loud.

    It froze me trembling to the spot,
    This wretched thing the fog expelled,
    A dripping claw, a gnawing jaw,
    A ghastly form with wand outheld.

    It staggered forward, spoke a spell,
    And never was a fate so grim,
    With just one flick, oh evil trick!
    My precious candy flew to him!

    If you’d like to check out this entry (plus a bonus poem) on my website the link is below! There’s some art to go with. 😁

    https://www.amychini.com/kidlit-fun/2025-halloweensie-writing-contest

  7. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR KAREN

    Title: Freddie the Winged Frog
    By Karen Opp
    WC 96

    Freddie the frog wasn’t ordinary, he had wings! Each flap sent a tiny spell popping out with a poof, turning pumpkins into pie and brooms into dancing sticks.

     On Halloween night, he hopped through a thick fog, a swirling mystic mist. “So spooky!” croaked his friend Lily. 

    Freddie twirling and flapping, candy leapt from bowls. Jack-o’-lanterns howled the Monster Mash, and sparkling footprints glowed behind him with every leap. 

    Near the witches brew, an accidental tickle  (whoops) sent bats bursting into a joyful dance in the moonlight. 

    Halloween dazzled like never before. Happy Halloween!

  8. Jennifer Arnold says:
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    Jennifer Arnold

    Word Count 99

    Sir Bat and the Halloween Night

    Bat’s wings twitched. The fog was thick, the moon was bright—tonight felt extra spooky. He watched goblins and ghosts parade by on Halloween.

    A witch’s flashlight found him. She raised her wand, and cast a spell:

    Bat in a tree,

    Out in the night,

    Wings turn to armor—

    Now he’s a knight!

    Sparks flashed! Zap! Zing! Bat stood on two legs, a shining knight! He joined the crowd, swapping chocolate bars for fruit snacks.

    The spell faded. Bat’s armor turned back to wings. Halloween was his favorite night—winged or not.

    “See you next Halloween, Sir Bat!” said the witch.

  9. charlineburga says:
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    The Missing Ingredient

    by Charline Yutmeyer

    100 words

    The witch stirred her bubbling brew.

    “Drat! There’s one missing ingredient!”

    KNOCK!

    “Who’s that?”

    She opened her door and squinted into the fog.

    Something squeaked.

    A small bat lay on the ground. Its wings shivered.

    “Just what I needed! Do come in for a spell.”

    She scooped the bat up and held him over her steaming pot.

    The bat squirmed and squeaked.

    “That should warm you up.”

    She set him down and handed him a small bowl.

    “My missing ingredient was someone to share my stew with.”

    The little bat smiled. Together, they slurped until the great pot was empty.

  10. katiajesson says:
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    Katia M Jesson

    The Substitute Teacher

    100 words

    “Class, in your seats!” Ms. Wingwitchski shouted sternly.

    “NOW!”

    “Or NO Halloween costume parade!”

    “HAHAHA!” the class roared defiantly.

    “Settle down, or your spell-ing lesson will be quite different!”

    “HAHAHA!”

    “KALA-VARA-MONKE-MAKA!”

    The classroom door burst open…

    From a thick green fog

    emerged a rush of monkeys,

    dressed as pirates, princesses and superheroes.

    Screeching, cackling and cavorting

    “HAHAHA!”

    as their parents gasped in horror.

    Gone was Ms. Wanda Wingwitchski,

    the new substitute teacher,

    who had appeared that Halloween morning,

    donning a cape and a broom.

    Her pointy hat left behind,

    with a note:

    Always be kind to your substitute teacher.

    • Pam Adams says:
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      Oooops-sorry Katia. My phone threaded to the wrong story. However, I’m glad it did cuz I loved your story. As a retired teacher, I especially appreciated this one!

  12. Amanda Fletcher says:
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    Raspberry Cream (99 words)

    By Amanda Fletcher

    On a breath of billowy fog, Mildred takes flight as the Florida swamp awakens this humid Halloween. Flittering wings propel her past frolicking frogs and chirping crickets, beyond the moss-laden trees and into a quaint neighborhood. She hungers for fresh blood.

    Beneath a ghoulish mask, her first victim.

    A child.

    Most delicious.

    Stealthily, Mildred pierces the skin and sips the sweet redness. 

    Mmmm. Notes of raspberry cream.

    She must have more! As if under a spell, she gorges on child after child until—

    Dive!

    Bzzzz!

    SPLAT!

    Grimacing, a tiny princess bedazzled in sequins inspects her red-streaked palm. “Ewwww, mosquito!”

  13. Elizabeth LaGrange Muster says:
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    A Warning to Bats

    By Elizabeth Muster  

    WC 100

    “Don’t be such a gala guano,” teased Beatrice’s bat friends at the Halloween Rooftop Soiree. “You’ve only had one glass of blood punch.”

    As the midnight moon hid behind a thick blanket of fog, Beatrice shrugged. “Maybe I’ll stay for a spell.” 

    An hour later, Beatrice bade the others adieu. “My wings are feeling heavy. I must get back to the belfry.” 

    But as Beatrice attempted to lift from the ledge, she stiffened. Her face contorted with the effort. 

    The fog weighed down the wings of the other bats, too. 

    And that, bat pups, is how gargoyles came to be. 

  14. Rebecca S says:
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    Counting on Halloween
    By Rebecca Singer
    (word count: 85)

    1 lonely bat flies on its own.
    2 friendly mice squeak, “You’re not alone!”
    3 black cats purr, “We want to play!”
    4 spooky skeletons rattle and sway.
    5 little witches cast a charming spell.
    6 naughty goblins stomp, roar, and yell.
    7 glowing ghosts rise from a bog.
    8 furry werewolves howl through the fog.
    9 inky ravens spread their wings to fly.
    10 grumpy ghouls moan, groan, and sigh.
    11 silent owls swoop down to join the scene.
    12 trick-or-treaters cheer, “Happy Halloween!”

  15. Celia Cataldo says:
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    Sugar Rush

    By Celia Cataldo

    (100 words)

    This is a bad plan, but I’ve never refused a dare. 

    Steal one piece of candy treasure. Simple. Trouble is—it’s under an enormous, sleeping dragon!

    I know better than to cross a Sugar Dragon tonight. Their power peaks on their high holidays: Easter, Valentine’s, Christmas, and ESPECIALLY Halloween.

    Uh-oh! Pop Rocks crackle underfoot, spelling my doom. The dragon rises on bubblegum wings, scales hard like Neccos. Jaws open! 

    No fire. Instead, I’m wrapped in sticky, candyfloss fog. 

    “A trade?” I ask, desperate. “My mom’s famous fudge for one piece of your treasure.”

    She can’t resist! 

    No one ever has. 

  16. Eric Sondergeld says:
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    MISSPELL
    By Eric Sondergeld
    84 words

    Can’t go tricker treetin,
    As a trezur chest
    Unless I get an A,
    On my speling test.

    Got to skool reel erly,
    Studdy like a dawg.
    Werds I can’t remembr,
    Brane is in a fog!

    “Vampire is our first word,”
    Teechr starts the kwiz.
    Gess I’ll haf to wing it,
    Not a speling wiz.

    Grewsum, kreepee, goblin,
    Kandy, costoom, gost.
    Spookee aparishion,
    Werds I luv the most.

    Last werd of the test’s my
    Favrit holladay.
    I rite down “hAlloween”
    With a big fat A.

  17. Celia Cataldo says:
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    Candy Curiosity

    By Celia Cataldo

    (100 words)

    The last house on the street looms overhead.

    “Trick or treat!” we shout.

    “You’ll have to come inside,” a small voice replies.

    I reach for the handle.

    “Don’t go!” Carly begs.

    But I do. 

    It’s dark inside. An old woman hunches over foggy glass vials. 

    “Sit for a spell. Take your pick.”

    Scarlet swirls in a slender bottle mesmerize me. Nagging feelings disappear. I drink.

    Cherry? 

    I cough. 

    No, blood.

    She laughs.

    My back hurts! Flesh rips and I scream as wings sprout, flapping open. 

    Then, I shrink. 

    The woman stuffs me into the bottle.

    “Trick ’r treat.” She grins.

      • Celia Cataldo says:
        Celia Cataldo's avatar

        Thank you! It’s my mini ode to Goosebumps. And also based on a true story of when I was lured into a house on Halloween in spite of my sister begging me not to go. Thankfully, I walked out unharmed and with a KitKat or two.

    • elise304 says:
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      So far, on this list of halloween stories this is truly the scariest! Nice to see one that’s scary like this one, as some kids love it.

      • Celia Cataldo says:
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        Thank you! That’s such meaningful feedback as I was definitely that kid who loved the scariest of stories.

  18. Lu Ann Schnable Kaldor says:
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    Wing Song 

    Lu Ann Schnable Kaldor

    98 words

    Fog rolled in, thick as wool, swallowing the full moon whole. Wing song drew villagers to the square as a cloud of bats filled the sky.

    Upturned faces watched, by candlelight, as the synchronized swarm swam above forming strange deliberate shapes. It wasn’t flight; it was choreography. It wasn’t beauty; it was a spell. 

    The bats swooped then dipped low, eyes gleaming like inked stars. One by one, candles flickered out. When the fog cleared, the sky was empty—and so was the village below.  

  19. Katrina Stern says:
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    Mathilda and the Little Monsters

    By Katrina Stern 

    (100 words)

    Mathilda’s hut was hugged by trees and blanketed by fog.

    Cozy, to her . . . 

    Creepy, to everyone else.

    So Mathilda wasn’t expecting little monsters!

    They knocked and shrieked, “Trick or treat!” 

    Mathilda admired the gruesome gang. “Great costumes! Be right back!”

    Mathilda searched. 

    No candy here . . . none over there.

    She’d have to wing it!

    Mathilda grabbed eel eyes, 

    pickled crickets,

    and boiled bats’ brains.

    “This is all I’ve got,” she apologized. “Perhaps a spell to make them sweeter?”

    “No way!” the monsters cried. They scooped up pawfuls of slimy snacks. 

    “BEST HOUSE EVER!” they howled.

    Mathilda grinned. “Come back next year!”

  20. Lu Ann Schnable Kaldor says:
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    Ghost Cows?

    Lu Ann Schnable Kaldor

    65 words

    High above Pumpkin Hollow, a team of skywriting bats flapped their glittery wings waiting for the big Halloween show to start. 

    Captain Echo squeaked, “Formation, everyone! And they swooped and swirled, tracing glowing letters through the silver fog. 

    But halfway through, Pip sneezed—ACHOO!—and suddenly the word BOO!  turned into MOO! She sneezed again and it turned to POO! So they all decided to fly home. 

  21. Kathy Dobson says:
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    The Great Frog Crossing

    by Kathy Dobson

    98 words

    On Rokeby Road

    Near Fog-Bottom Creek

    Frogs often cross

    A hundred per week

    Except for one problem

    Indeed, you see that

    When cars cross the road

    All the frogs turn to splat

    On Halloween Night

    The crossing gets busy

    As witches fly over

    On brooms in a tizzy

    Wanda, a good witch

    Saw roads splattered green

    The horror! The guts!

    A frightening scene!

    So she cast a spell

    Gifting them flight

    The frogs sprouted wings

    And flew off in the night

    Now each Halloween

    Kids dress in costumes

    Frogs fly over cars

    And get smashed by the brooms

  22. kathleenannajacobs says:
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    The Halloween Wish

    By Kathleen Jacobs

    Word count: 100

    Stone Dragon yearned to be flesh and blood. And hoped the village children would use their Halloween wish on him.

    But they chose “Untold Riches” instead.

    Sadness swelled in Dragon’s heart, and a pebble rolled down his cheek.

    “Poor statue,” a small girl said. “He needs our wish more than we do.”

    Her friends gazed into his eyes and nodded.

    “Alive,” they whispered.

    Ghostly fog swirled.

    The spell was cast.  

    Dragon fluttered his wings, no longer stone, but bone and feather.

    He soared overhead and with a flick of his tail, showered the children with golden scales.

    Hooray!

    Halloween confetti!

  23. dayadiyamanthi says:
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    Diyamanthi Galpoththage

    (99 words)

    Aththamma What is Haloon

    “Aththamma what is Haloon?”

    My little granddaughter, Mithu asked. Her mum was busy, nursing baby, and Mithu was not getting as many hugs as usual.

    “Halloween,” I guessed. Mithu went pink.

    “Halloween is monsters, spooky events, trick or treats, family fun, witches, creepy costumes, winged vampires,”

    “Aththamma, who are witches?”.

    “Witches have brooms and wands. Cast spells.”

    Mithu looked puzzled. “spells?”

    “Swish the wand, say ‘Zap!’ Change someone to a frog. Or make fog to hide.”

    “Just a minute, Aththamma.” Mithu dashed out.

    A commotion in the nursery! Mithu cried, waving a spoon, “Zap, Zap” at her baby brother.

  24. Stacy Mozer says:
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    Witchy and Ghosty

    By Stacy Barnett Mozer

    100 words

    The day before the baby came,
    Lizzie moved to a new room.
    The one across from the attic.

    That night, as she trembled in the dark,
    she whispered, “I wish I wasn’t alone.”

    Usually, wishes fly away on wings.
    But it was Halloween,
    and on Halloween, a wish can turn into a spell.

    A silver fog drifted through the house.
    When it lifted,
    a witch and a ghost were there.

    “Are you real?” she asked.
    “As real as you,” they said.
    “We’ll protect you.”

    From that night on,
    Witchy and Ghosty
    lived across the hall,
    And Lizzie was never alone.

  25. Tess Bass says:
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    Silly Willy’s Chicken Chili

    by Tess Bass

    76 words

    On Halloween night

    Crept a fox named Willy

    Hunting for the meat

    For his Chick-or-Treat Chili

    He foraged through the fog

    Sniffed the breeze and wondered

    How many chicken wings

    Need to be plundered?

    From the swamp he slunk

    ‘Til he heard a cluck and coo

    Then pounced through a bush

    Into a witch’s home brew!

    The witch clucked a spell

    “Order’s up,” she squawked,

    “Silly Willy Chicken’s Chili”

    BAWK BAWK BAWK!

  26. Jennifer CM says:
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    Chick or Cheat: A Halloween Wish

    By: Jennifer Concepcion McLennan

    100 words

    Betty stared up at the swirling autumn clouds, longing to soar among them.

    “Why do chickens have wings if we can’t USE them?”

    “Psssst,” hissed the black barn cat. “On Halloween night, I can do magic. My ssspell is yoursss if you bring me five eggsss, a bucket of water, and a candle.”

    With shaking feathers Betty laid the requirements at Black Cat’s paws.

    “Flippityzamo dippitydye, let this chickeny flapper fly!”

    She climbed a fence post.

    “Higher!” said the cat.

    “Here?”

    “Even higher!”

    Betty took a deep breath and leapt into the foggy night.

    SPLASH!

    Right

    into 

    the bubbling cauldron.

  28. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR SUSAN

    LITTLE SNAGGLETOOTH
    By Susan Gleeson
    WC 100

    Little Snaggletooth, that’s what the other vampires called him.
    Just because he was the youngest,
    and had only one jagged tooth jutting from his jaw.

    What could a vampire do without fangs?
    How could he fulfil his destiny?
    As if a witch without a broomstick,
    could flap her arms like wings and fly
    across a foggy sky.

    But all that had changed when…
    Little Snaggletooth spelled out his dilemma to Dr. Ghoul,
    an emergency all-night dentist.

    Now it was Halloween.
    Little Snaggletooth roamed the streets.
    Searching.
    Finding.
    Pouncing.
    Until finally…
    he sank his fangs into…
    a full-sized candy bar.
    Spookylicious!

  29. egallagherauthor says:
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    The Halloween Spell

    (100 haunted words)

    By Beth Gallagher –

    Shadows stretch as daylight fades,

    O’er grassy hills and forest glades.

    Dark creeps in with dimming light,

    whispers weaving through the night.

    In clouds of batwings, witches rise,

    flying brooms ‘cross gloomy skies.

    Pumpkins glow through curling fog,

    drifting near a misty bog.

    They broadly grin with crooked teeth,

    candles flicker bright beneath.

    Magic crackles, monsters groan,

    ghostly gliders shriek and moan.

    Owls blink with amber eyes

    and bats whirl through the inky skies.

    The night was bound within a spell,

    then – smooth as silver, moonbeams fell.

    A hush of wonder, dark and deep,

    til dawn awoke from haunted sleep.

  30. webbsmith71gmailcom says:
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    REVERSE the CURSE

    by Webb Smith

    (100 words)

    A witch declared, “This Halloween

    will be like none you’ve ever seen.

    My latest spell has so much gore

    you’ll beg for mercy, “PLEASE, NO MORE!”

    KA-ZAM!..

    A fog of dark, impending doom

    transformed into a light perfume.

    Gargoyles grew wings like butterflies.

    The Count enjoyed a warm sunrise.

    The Horseman’s head looked debonaire

    with dimpled cheeks and perfect hair.

    The Blob and Wolf Man made a deal

    to go “plant-based” for every meal.

    The monsters begged the witch, “NO MORE!”

    With pointed wand she cried, “RESTORE!”

    “KA-ZAM!” The gang was good as new

    (and thrilled to trick-or-treat with you)

  31. Lisa Billa says:
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    BATS’ BIG NIGHT (100 words) 

    by Lisa Billa

    For weeks before their special night,
    young bats prepare a thrilling fright.
    They gather in the evening sky
    to swoop and dive, precisely fly
    in tight formations, glide and climb,
    strive to learn their moves in time.

    Now, at last, on Halloween,
    the bats are ready to be seen.
    They scan the sky for anxious hours–
    cool and cloudy, chance of showers.
    As costumed children head their way,
    they launch into a grand display.

    The trick-or-treaters point and shout–
    in moonlit fog, black bats stand out.
    The noiseless pups, a gleeful crew,
    soar wing to wing and spell out, “BOO!”

    -Thanks to Susanna (and the judges and prize donors) for another fun and inspiring contest, and to my amazing critique partners for their input!

  32. Ragan Besendorfer says:
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    Rules Are For the Living 

    By Ragan Fry

    WC: 100

    I step from shadow to shadow, careful not to disturb the curved collar of my cape. Light is my poison. My Ring Pop has dyed my lips and tongue a delicious shade of red. I readjust my pointed teeth. I will sit a spell behind this great oak and wait for my prey to come to me.

    As the fog of night begins to spread its wings, I see the boy and pounce.

    “You’re it!” I shout, then run so he can’t tag me back.

    Most days I’m a well-behaved girl in bows and braids. But tonight, I’m a horror.

  33. D. Kim says:
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    A Spell For Daddy

    By: Deborah Kim

    Word count: 48

    Twinkle, twinkle, little spell,

    How I’d love to make him well.

    High above, a wing in sight,

    Drifting softly—foggy night.

    Twinkle, twinkle, little spell,

    How I wonder if he’s well.

    Witches cackle through the night,

    Cauldrons bubble—cure’s on flight.

    Twinkle, twinkle, little spell,

    Make my daddy very well.

  34. Michelle S Kennedy says:
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    HALLOWEEN NOSTALIGIA (100 WC)

    By Michelle S. Kennedy

    Nostalgia peaks each Halloween.    

    I celebrate—and set the scene.

    When “trick-or-treat” is almost done,

    I’ll cast my “magic” spell for fun….               

    The other things I like to do:

    Make mischief with some ballyhoo,

    then conjure up a ghostly BOO!

    And turn your candy into—

    GOO!!!

    It all begins when fog or moon                                    

    gives way to werewolves as they croon.

    My bitty bats flap-flap their wings…

    I haunt a house and scare all things!

    So, please enjoy my “spooky” night.

    I’ll make you scream—to your delight.

    On Halloween, there’s NO escape!

    But where’s my broom?! I’ve lost my cape…

  36. ayalakassandra says:
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    Spooky Spelling Bee 

    (Word Count: 100)

    By: Kassandra Ayala

    Graveside School hosts a Spooky Spelling Bee every Halloween. I long for victory, but Franky holds a three-year streak. 

    Franky’s up first. 

    “Spell Goblin!”

    “G-O-B-L-I-N!”

    My turn. 

    “Spell Cauldron!”

    “C-A-U-L-D-R-O-N!”

    “Tiebreaker! Spell Superstitious!”

    “S-U….,” mumbles Franky. 

    Meanwhile, I imagine my cold nesting grounds.

    I’m next. 

    “Spell Superstitious!”

    “S-U-P-E-R…”

    I pause. 

    “S-T…”

    Brain fog. 

    “I…”

    Will I finally win a Spooky Spelling Bee?

    I take a deep breath and picture my cold nesting grounds once more.

    “This year’s winner of the Spooky Spelling Bee…”

    “Dracula!”

    “Ghoul job!” says Franky. “How did you know how to spell Superstitious?”

    “I just winged it!”

  37. Jan Schwaid says:
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    Catie’s Costume Conundrum (WC: 100)

    By Jan Schwaid

    Catie loved Halloween as much as she loved puns.

    She snapped on a pig nose and grabbed a quilt.

    “Pig in a blanket. Too obvious,” she groaned.

    She slid on cat ears and a striped top.

    “A cat burglar. Too easy.”

    She slipped on a gown and a dog mask.

    “Party animal. Too silly.”

    Catie tore through her costume bin. Until…

    “Wait. Perfect.”

    On Halloween night, Catie emerged from the fog in yellow and black, wings flapping, wielding a wand. She rang the neighbor’s doorbell. 

    “What are you supposed to be?”

    Catie wiggled her wand, grinning. “I’m a Spelling Bee!”

  38. Joni Klein-Higger says:
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    THIS HALLOWEENSIE FRIGHTFUL NIGHT  

    By Joni Klein-Higger

    (92 Words)

    This Halloweensie frightful night…

    No scary witches’ brooms took flight.

    No spells were cast. No tricks were played.

    No foggy cauldron brews were made.

    No ghostly goblins whooshed through town.

    No vampire bats winged upside-down.

    No werewolves howled. No monsters stomped.

    No black cats creeped. No zombies chomped.

    No trick-or-treaters shrieked in fear.

    Yikes, this was the most dreadful year!

    The ghostly goblins, monsters, bats…

     Trick-or-treaters and black cats…

    Witches, werewolves, zombies, too.

    What did all these creatures do?

    They made cards. Got all sunshiny…

    And celebrated Valentiny!

  39. gracefully13ba9376b0 says:
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    Batty Not in the Night

    Word Count: 99

    Batty slept all day.

    But, one Halloween, Batty woke and a bright light shone, a warm air blew, cheerful birds chirped.

     “Mom,” he screamed!
    “It’s a bad dream, go back to sleep,” Mom said.

    But strange noises echoed; Laughter. Chirping. Children playing.

    As if under a spell, Batty trembled. Daytime was wing-spreading spooky.

    I’m okay, it’s all a bad dream, he repeated to himself.
    As the air grew cool, a fog settled low and night darkened a familiar black, Batty relaxed and fell back asleep. And he slept all through the night…missing Halloween, his favorite night of the year.

  40. Sue Parker Mielinski says:
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    A Halloween Glow

    By Sue Parker Mielinski

    95 words

    In the spookiest house, on the foggiest hill,

    There lived a young wizard named Thomas McGill.

    The townspeople feared him.

    “Beware of his spell!”

    “His potions of bat wings and jellyfish gel!”

    But Thomas knew better, at work in his lab.

    He used neither jelly, nor bat wing, nor scab.

    Instead, he poured sugar, then pinched in a spark –

    His Halloween candy would glow in the dark!

    He shared his concoction. The villagers cheered,

    Devouring the treat ‘til each piece disappeared.

    They went trick-or-treating, with Thomas in tow.

    Now newly-formed friendship providing the glow.

  41. montaukdeb says:
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    Cast a Spell
    By Deborah Hunt
    (100 words)

    The spell must be cast before the fog gets thicker.
    Wanda fears Bonesy is getting sicker.
    She must find the spotted wings.
    And add the other things.
    The cauldron starts to glow and bubble.
    A sure sign upcoming trouble.
    Wanda adds the eye of newt and snail’s tail.
    She stirs the special potion but is afraid she will fail.
    Bonesy starts to cry.
    Wanda continues to try.
    She jumps on her broom and looks around.
    She spots a spider web on the ground.
    She grabs the wings and casts her spell.
    The fog lifts but will Bonesy get well.

  42. barbtargonski says:
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    ELARA AND THE BROOM WING CHALLENGE

    Word count: 100

    Outside, the Halloween moon peeked through the thick fog as Elara crouched in the attic—The Book of Spells open under candlelight.  

    She mixed one spider thread, a splash of midnight rain, mint leaves, a pinch of starlight, and dragon dust in a pot.

    “Wind and speed, sky and flight, lift my broom into the night.”

    The potion flashed blue. Her heart raced as she dipped her broom’s bristles. It trembled, then rose, glowing at the edges.

    A grin spread across her face. This year, instead of watching from the sidelines, she would try out for the Broom Wing Challenge.

  43. cindyjohnson2013 says:
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    Bee-Witched

    By

    Cindy Chambers Johnson

    (81 words)

    A witch.

    A brew.

    A Halloween debut.

    A wing

    Of bee

    The  potion’s key

    A buzz

    A hum

    An autumn mum

    A slip –

    Skinned knee.

    A bee flying free.

    A Pumpkin blossom

    Easy prey

    Squelch. Stuck. Bee gets away.

    A tree

    A nest

    Grab that pest.

    A crack!

    A tumble!

    A spell on that bumble!

    Her head.

    In a fog

    The bumble: A dog?

    No Time

    To Stew

    It’s time to debut.

    No potion.

    Something sillier

    Her bee-witched new familiar.

  44. Susanna Leonard Hill says:
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    ENTRY POSTED FOR MARTY

    ASTRA’S SPELL
    By Marty Findley
    (92 words)

    Three witty witches gathered at night
    To create a spell for broomstick flight.
    Magical Luna and Sola – so wise
    Tossed in some chicken beaks, black catty eyes,
    Hair of rodent, wings of flies,
    Hoot of owl, burned cheesy fries.
    Young witch, Astra, longed to zoom
    Like other witches on a broom
    But had no license yet for flight
    So would stay earthbound Halloween night.
    As clock struck midnight, she plied her plot –
    Tossed wing of bat into the pot
    Her wings sprung forth as she took flight
    Into the jet-black foggy night.

  45. margaretbeardlea says:
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    Hubert the Elf Wants to Celebrate Halloween 

    By Margaret Lea

    100 words

         Hubert the elf loved North Pole life, especially the snow sports and hot chocolate. But he got tired of only Christmas all the time. 

         “Let’s celebrate Halloween tonight,” Hubert told his elf friend, Karl. 

         “We’re elves, not goblins,” said Karl. 

         “We can wing it. Make a scary face. Now look in this mirror.”

         “Aaaaa!” said Karl. “Okay, but we’ll need the sleigh. There aren’t any houses nearby.” He looked outside. “Oh no! It’s foggy— we’re stuck here. The sleigh doesn’t have headlights.”

         “We’re not stuck,” said Hubert. 

         Karl frowned. 

         “Let me spell it out for you,” said Hubert, smiling… “R-U-D-O-L-P-H!”

  46. Keatley Eastman says:
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    HALLOWEEN BREAK

    Keatley Eastman

    100 words

    Salty surf

    Surges towards

    Six gorillas waxing boards.

    Sandy pups

    Dressed as pigs

    Splash with clowns in wacky wigs.

    Waterlogged

    Dinosaur

    Calls to mummies on the shore.

    Werewolf pack

    Looking brave

    Tries to catch a party wave.

    “Here it comes!”

    “Gnarly set!”

    Angel’s wings get soaking wet.

    Paddle out

    Past a gnome

    Duck dive underneath the foam.

    “It’s your turn,”

    Shrieks a spook,

    “Come on grom, don’t be a kook!”

    Dropping in

    Popping up

    Whiz past Wolfman on a SUP.

    Golden light

    Casts a spell

    Turn to watch the killer swell.

    Rolling fog

    Flash of green

    Sunset surf on Halloween.

  47. Lora Ann Stead says:
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    Scarlet’s Halloween Hunt

    by Lora Stead

    100 words

    Gliding through quilts of moonlit fog,

    Scarlet searches the trick-or-treaters below.

    Small, she reminds herself. And exposed.

    As if under a spell,

    Scarlet passes a semi-sweet no,

    pauses for a minty maybe,

    then finds the perfect yes!

    Her mouth waters.

    Spreading her wings,

    Scarlet lands…on a child’s hand?!

    Nooooo!!!

    She whimpers as the child devours the chocolate prize.

    Scarlet tastes only bitter defeat.

    “Oooh, a ladybug!” the boy squeals, seeing her.

    His friends rush on, but he stops,

    petting Scarlet with careful fingers

    and sweet giggles.

    Scarlet relaxes, nestling into the warmth of his hand.

    It still smells like chocolate.

  48. Sonja E McGiboney says:
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    Scary Rock

    By Sonja McGiboney

    98 words

    Gregory Goblin, hated Halloween. Crow always made him cry.

    “Lift it!”

    She flapped her wings and danced, spelling out the word. “C-H-I-C-K-E-N!”

    Trembling fingers lifted the corner of the rock.

    Fog oozed into the air.

    Something screeched.

    Crow’s eyes grew big. “Look out!” 

    Crow flew into the forest leaving Gregory all alone.

    With a laugh, Gregory turned the rock over. “Lower the volume, you’re killing my ears.”

    Samson slid his slimy body around the radio dial and the wailing stopped. His antennae wiggled. “Did it work?”

    Gregory turned off the fog machine. “Perfectly! Thanks for being my friend.”

  49. Jill Purtee (P. J.) says:
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    A Halloween Folklore: Witchcraft & Frogs

    by P. J. Purtee (Jill)

    91 words

    ’Twas a Halloween party

    The invite specific.

    To: Frog, guest of honor,

    your toes are terrific.

    He heard the witch singing

    from deep in the fog,

    “An eye of a newt

    and the toe of a frog.”

    It’s Shakespeare’s Macbeth!

    The frog had a notion

    she wanted his digit

    to add to her potion.

    “A handful of feathers,

    a wing, and a stone.”

    The witch cast a spell,

    but Frog cast his own.

    Spellbound, Witch kissed him.

    A win (and a wince).

    The brew remained toeless.

    The frog . . . now a prince.

  50. Sarah Meade says:
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    Witchy and the Trick-or-Treat Spelling Bee

    By Sarah Meade

    100 Words

    Batty flapped her wings happily. “Welcome to the Trick-or-Treat Spelling Bee!” 

    The contestants stepped onstage. Witchy couldn’t wait!

    Batty began. “The first word is foggy.”

    Mummy muttered, “F-O-G-Y”

    “Incorrect.”

    Mummy moaned.

    (Witchy remembered the second G!)

    “Spell ghastly.”

    Ghost whispered, “G-A-S-T-L-Y.”

    “Incorrect.” 

    Ghost groaned.

    (Witchy remembered the H!)

    “Round 3: Spell pumpkin.”

    Frankenstein recited, “P-U-M-K-I-N.”

    “Incorrect.”

    Frankenstein frowned. 

    (Witchy remembered the second P!)

    “Round 4: Spell Halloween.”

    No one could . . .

    Except Witchy!

    Batty awarded Witchy her prize, a pumpkin overflowing with treats. 

    Witchy smiled. 

    Then . . . 

    She shared sweets with everyone.

    “Thanks, Witchy!”

    She grinned. “You can’t spell Halloween without WE!”

    Halloweensie 2025 & More