If you guessed Valentiny Time, you are RIGHT!

(Please excuse me for skipping PPBF today – I wanted to get this up so you can get to work on your entries!)

Rev up your writing implement, put on your thinking cap, get in touch with your emotions, and think like a kid, because it’s time to write your entry for. . .

The 11th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest!!!

~ for children’s writers ~

Now, it just so happens that our posting days for the Valentiny Contest this year are February 13th and 14th, and February 13th falls on a Friday. And who am I to pass up the opportunity to capitalize on that?!

So. . .

The Contest:  Since writing for children is all about “big emotion for little people” (I forget who said that, but someone did so I put it in quotes!) and Valentine’s Day is all about emotion, write a Valentine story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone feels SUPERSTITIOUS!  Think of all the things kids are superstitious about – Friday the 13th, sidewalk cracks, black cats, broken mirrors, ladders, four-leaf clovers, lucky pennies, lucky charms, a rabbit’s foot, ladybugs, the number 7, crossing your fingers, knocking on wood etc., or even something that your individual, original character is superstitious about for their own reasons (as long as you let us know what and why), and choose one (or more!) that could affect your character – negatively or positively! – as they navigate their Valentines Day experience . . . anything you like! Sky’s the limit!  Just make sure it is clearly Valentine-centered and that superstition is central to your story! Think beyond the obvious!  Your story can be poetry or prose, sweet, funny, surprising or anything in between, but it will only count for the contest if it includes someone who is superstitious (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentine’s Day 😊 ) You can go under the word count but not over! (Title is not included in the word count.)  If you are so inclined, you are welcome to enter more than one entry – just remember you’ll be competing against yourself 😊  No illustration notes please!

Post your story in the comment section of my Friday February 13th Post, (NOT THIS POST!), between 12:01 AM Eastern Friday February 13th and Saturday February 14th by 11:59 PM Eastern.  There will be no regularly scheduled posts for the duration of the contest (Tuesday Debut or PPBF), so the post and all of your entries will stay up for everyone to enjoy.   Please do not email your entry before the start of the contest – my inbox is generally overflowing and things may get lost!

The Judging: over the following days, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to around 12-14 top choices, depending on number and quality of entries, which will be posted here and voted on for a winner as soon as we can get them up.   The winners and Honorable Mentions will be announced a few days after the vote. (I’m not even going to try to hazard a guess on exact dates!)

Judging criteria will include:

1. Kid-appeal/Kid-friendliness – remember, this is a story for kids!
2. Creativity in using superstition, and success in making us feel the superstition! Superstition must be central to the story line, not just mentioned briefly in passing in a story about something else entirely.
3. Valentine’s Day appropriateness – this is a VALENTINE story and Valentine’s Day must be central to it!
4. Quality of story – we will look for basic story elements and a true story arc
5. Quality of writing – use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics, excellence of rhyme and meter if you use it, PROOFREADING!
6. Originality – surprise us with something new and different! 😊
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.

The Prizes:  So many amazing prizes from such generous kidlit folks! Have a good look – it will motivate you to write your entry!

Get Your Manuscript on the Editor’s Desk!

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Read and Critique from Michele McAvoy,  Founder/Publisher, author and all-around #kidlit champion at The Little Press!

Michele McAvoy is a multi-award-winning children’s book author, publisher, attorney, and educator from New Jersey. While Michele wears many hats, they all point towards a single goal, bring entertaining and meaningful stories to kids. Michele’s published titles include Willa the Werewolf (The Little Press, Sept. 15, 2023), Buckingham Gets A New Shell (The Little Press, June 9, 2026), Cookie & Milk (Cardinal Rule Press, October 1, 2019), and Toby Undone.

Workshop/Consults!

⭐️ Kathy Halsey – Ask Infowoman – Library Consult for School Visit Presentation Kathy will offer advice for school visits and how to create “value-added” content that teachers will appreciate!

Kathy Halsey, children’s author, is a former English teacher and K-12 school librarian with an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Supervision who coordinated 15 successful school visits. She is the founder of Ask Infowoman: A Library Consult, a service for children’s authors and illustrators designed to make school visits more fun, instructive, and engaging. She is the author of Be A Rainbow (KiwiCo Press, 2023)

⭐️ A Free Admission Ticket to Rosie Pova’s March or April 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

Zoom AMAs + !

⭐️ A 30-min Zoom AMA PLUS A Signed Copy of The Littlest Solstice Tree from talented author Lisa Varchol Perron! Do you have questions? Chat with Lisa!

Lisa Varchol Perron is a children’s author and poet based near Boston, Massachusetts. She especially enjoys writing about our natural world, including in her most recent picture books, The Littlest Solstice Tree (which began as a Holiday Contest Entry! 😊) (Beaming Books, Sept, 23, 2025), Wonder Why (HarperCollins, April 15, 2025), and All the Rocks We Love (Rise x Penguin Workshop, July 16, 2024), and Kite Day (forthcoming from Penguin Random House, April 21, 2026)!

⭐️ A 30-minute AMA Zoom chat with accomplished author Jolene Gutiérrez! Do you have questions? Chat with Jolene!

Jolene Gutiérrez is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners since 1995. Jolene writes for young readers and hopes her books will help some readers feel seen and will help others learn and grow in compassion.  Her books include Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp (Abrams BFYR, April 7, 2026), Mamiachi & Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band (Harry N. Abrams, Jan. 7, 2025), The Ofrenda That We Built (Chronicle Books, Aug. 6, 2024), Too Much! An Overwhelming Day (Abrams Appleseed, Aug. 1, 2023), and Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks (Millbrook Press, Oct. 6, 2020)

Winner’s Choice!

⭐️ Winner’s Choice of signed PB w/ Swag, Query Letter Critique or 3 Pitch Critique from gifted author Jilanne Hoffman!

Jilanne Hoffmann is the author of the award-winning picture book A River of Dust: The Life-Giving Link Between North Africa and the Amazon, illustrated by Eugenia Mello (Chronicle Books, July 25, 2023); two board books The Honey Bear Hive and Happy Camper (Amazon Editor’s Choice); and the nonfiction picture book The Ocean’s Heart, illustrated by Khoa Le, forthcoming from Millbrook Press (March, 2026). HeartLand, her historical middle grade novel in prose/verse, is forthcoming from Little Brown (July, 2026).

Picture Book Manuscript Critiques!

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Historical NF) from author Sharon Wilson! (apologies – no images available or provided!)

Sharon teaches picture book and basic novel writing at her local tech schools and colleges as well as at local libraries. She has an adult historical novel and juvenile historical novel on submission. She won first prize  in the Oklahoma Federation of writers annual contest for both middle grade historical novel and adult historical novel and has won either second or first prize every year for each picture book that I have entered since 2014. She takes great care with her in-depth critiques.

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique from author Gabi Snyder!

Gabi Snyder is a fan of the unexpected and the celebrated author of several picture books including Two Dogs On A Trike (Harry N. Abrams, May 19, 2020), Listen (S&S/Paula Wiseman Books, July 13, 2021), Count On Us: Climate Activists From One To A Billion (Barefoot Books, Sept. 20, 2022), Today (S&S/Paula Wiseman Books, Jan. 30, 2024), and Look (S&S/Paula Wiseman Books, April 16, 2024). Gabi studied psychology at the University of Washington and creative writing at The University of Texas. When she’s not writing, she loves taking nature walks, visiting Little Free Libraries, and baking sweet treats. She lives in Oregon with her family.

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction, no rhyme) PLUS A Copy of Each of her Picture Books from author Kris Tarantino!

Kris Tarantino is a children’s book author whose writing is filled with humor and heart. BedSlime Blues is her second book (WaterBrook/PRH, 2/3/2026). Her debut picture book, Be My ValenSlime (WaterBrook/PRH 2023), illustrated by New York Times bestselling illustrator Cori Doerrfeld, received a Starred Review from School Library Journal. A third book in the Slime series is planned for 2026. Kris is a member of SCBWI, and speaks frequently at conferences and schools. Most recently, she was selected to participate in the 2025 Storyfest literacy day in San Antonio, Texas. And in 2024, she was picked as a faculty presenter for the All Texas Y’all SCBWI Conference. Kris holds a B.A. in Business, Marketing, and Art. Prior to writing children’s books, she worked in marketing, licensing popular entertainment characters for companies that make fun products like toys, books, and balloons. You can find her online at https://kristarantino.com, as well as Twitter/X, Facebook LinkedIn

⭐️ Winner’s Choice of a Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyme or prose) OR A Query Letter Critique from author Kelly Conroy!

Kelly Conroy is the author of You Are My Everything (Tiger Tales, Nov. 5, 2024), I See You In The Stars: A Zodiac Book For Babies (Familius, Jan. 6, 2026), and the forthcoming Here A Creak, There A Shriek! (Tiger Tales, July 7, 2026). She loves all things magical, whimsical, and numerical, and her goal in life is to make people smile. For more information, please visit www.kellyconroy.com or follow her on Instagram @KellyConroyBooks.

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique from author Stacy Jensen!

Stacy S. Jensen is a children’s book author with a passion for history, research, and exploring new topics like she did as a newspaper journalist. Her debut book BEFORE I LIVED HERE, illustrated by Victo Ngai (Neal Porter Books, Aug. 26, 2025), was written while she lived in Colorado—inspired by her neighborhood. 

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (Rhyming, 300 words or less) from author founder of Rhyme Revolution, Angie Karcher!

Angie Karcher is a Kindergarten teacher, developmental therapist and a children’s author since 2012. She is the former Indiana SCBWI Regional Advisor and host of Rhymerevolution.  Her books include Where the River Grins: The History of Evansville, Indiana (M.T. Publishing, 2012), The Legendary R.A. Cowboy Jones (M.T. Publishing, 2014), Santa’s Gift (M.T. Publishing, 2017), A Clean Sweep (M.T. Publishing, 2020), and The Lady of the Library (Sleeping Bear Press, March 15, 2021).

⭐️ A Picture Book Manuscript Critique (fiction) AND a signed copy of IF A BUMBLEBEE LANDS ON YOUR TOE from author Cynthia Mackey!

Cynthia Mackey is a children’s author and poet living in Victoria, British Columbia. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s Zumba dancing to latin rhythms, chasing after butterflies to get photos, or listening for bird songs on her morning walks. Her books include IF A BUMBLEBEE LANDS ON YOUR TOE, illustrated by Vikki Zhang (Yeehoo Press, May 2025), and the forthcoming BUTTERFLY SEA, illustrated by Marie-Laure Couët (pub date: Tielmour Press, Jan 30, 2026)

Purchase Links for Canadians: If A Bumblebee Lands On Your Toe & Butterfly Sea

⭐️ A Bundle of Two Books by talented authors Pamela Courtney and Ann Magee!

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. From Ann Magee a signed copy of BRANCHES OF HOPE: The 9/11 Survivor Tree!

Ann Magee is an elementary school educator, children’s writer, and lifelong learner. She lives in NJ and is an active member of SCBWI. Stories that especially interest her are ones of unknown, yet significant people and historical events. She also is drawn to stories that reveal the positive ways people (and children) impact the environment.

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! 😊

Now!  Lay in a good supply of chocolate hearts, plant your Butt In a Chair (or a beanbag or a hammock or a throne), and get to writing those prize-winning stories!!!

I can’t wait to read them!!! 😊