Cross Your Heart! – The 11th Annual Valentiny Contest Is HERE!!!
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Valentinies rock
And so do YOU!
Woo hoo! The time has come for. . .
The 11th Annual Valentiny Writing Contest!!!
~ for children’s writers ~
Since our posting days for the Valentiny Contest this year are February 13th and 14th, and February 13th falls on a Friday. . .
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 feelsSUPERSTITIOUS! 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 Valentine’s 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 below between right now this very second 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 this post and all of your entries will stay up for everyone to enjoy.
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:
Kid-appeal/Kid-friendliness – remember, this is a story for kids!
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.
Valentine’s Day appropriateness – this is a VALENTINE story and Valentine’s Day must be central to it!
Quality of story – we will look for basic story elements and a true story arc
Quality of writing – use and flow of language, correctness of mechanics, excellence of rhyme and meter if you use it, PROOFREADING!
Originality – surprise us with something new and different! 😊
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!
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.
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)
⭐️ AFree Admission Ticket to Rosie Pova’sMarch or April Workshop + A Breakthrough Consultation With Rosie for unagented and unpublished PB writers! 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!
⭐️ Winner’s Choice of a signed Picture Book 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 authorKris 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, FacebookLinkedIn
⭐️ Winner’s Choice of a Picture Book Manuscript Critique (rhyme or prose) OR A Query Letter Critique from author Kelly Conroy!
⭐️ 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!
⭐️ 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)
⭐️ 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.”
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! Cross you heart (and maybe your fingers, toes, etc!) and post your entries!
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 Valentiny Contest begin!
Happy Writing and Happy Valentines Day! 🩷💕🩷💕🩷
I can’t wait to read your entries!!!
THE 51 ENTRIES! (Anyone who feels nice can start at the bottom of the list so that the later entries get read too! 😊)
Nola was bursting to give Mom the Valentine’s card she made with her new watercolors. She’d poured hours and love into her card and Mom might even get tears in her eyes.
The class was packing up for home and cleaning up from their Valentine’s festivities. Surely, they would not have homework on Valentine’s Day.
“Is there homework?” she asked. The question, however, came out in perfect synchronized stereo. Taylor asked the same words at the same time.
“Jinx!” her classmate yelled. Nola and Taylor could no longer talk until someone said their names.
The bus driver said “Hi Kids.” The sitter called her Kiddo and felt her forehead. She wished her dog could talk.
Nola hid her card behind her back when mom walked in from work.
“What’s this, Honey?” She read the front and yes, her eyes got watery.
“Your painting is lovely, Sweetie.” She read the inside and held it to her heart.
“I will treasure this, Darling.” Nola pointed at her name on the inside.
“Ooh, cursive, my Big Third Grader!” Nola pointed harder.
“What is going on, Love?” Nola rolled her eyes.
“Well, whatever it is, you will always be my number one Valentine, Nola.”
“I hope you like your Valentine’s Day treats,” Elsie grinned as she hung heart-shaped seed cakes on the snowy branches in her backyard.
The songbirds pecked away happily. Then she noticed the solitary crow perched on the back fence, watching her attentively.
One crow visiting alone was a bad omen. “Go away, Crow,” she hollered, “You’ll bring bad luck!”
Crow ignored her, fluffing his shiny black feathers against the cold. She stepped forward to shoo him, and tripped face-first into the snow. “Bad luck already!” Still, he sat, his dark eyes trained on her. Was he asking for something? “Don’t you like seed cakes?” She asked.
Crow blinked once, definitely not.
“What else could you want?” She thought aloud. “Wait… I remember. You like sparkly things.” She slowly revealed her prized Valentine’s Day glittery pencil from her pocket. CAW! She startled at his excited cry, dropping it into the snow. In a flash, Crow snapped it into his beak and took flight.
“Hey,” she cried as he flew away, “I didn’t say you could have it! Double bad luck.”
The next morning, Elsie noticed something glinting on the fence. It was a shiny penny! He’d brought her good luck after all. CAW! Crow shouted from the treetop. She called back, ”Happy Valentine’s Day, Crow!”
Sticky fingers picked through the pile of pink and purple pompoms, red and silver glitter, tinsel and tassels, baubles and beads. Maureen was searching for one last decoration for her fancy box. Tomorrow it would be filled with cards and candy and love. She couldn’t wait.
“Aha!” She reached for a red felt heart, ready to dab it with the glob of glue on her popsicle stick.
But it moved! The fuzzy heart had eight fuzzy black – legs?!
She peered closer. Eight shiny eyes peeked out.
“Eek!” she cried, ready to swat.
“No! Don’t squish me!” squeaked the creature, trembling beneath the heart.
“Why?” She shuddered.
“It’s bad luck!”
“How?”
“Uh, because… you’ll make it rain?”
“It’s already snowing,” she pointed out. Flurries coated the playground outside.
“You’ll lose all your money!”
“I’m a kid. I don’t have any money.”
“Please! Be kind!”
“You’re a creepy, hairy, scary talking spider. And you’re freaking me out!”
Eight eyes darted about in desperation, landing on the box, bedazzled with swirls and twirls and glitter and lace. And scrawled in crooked cursive: “Happy Valentine’s Day”.
“I’m not a spider!”
“Then what are you?”
“I’m a love bug!”
“Oh. Why didn’t you say so?”
Maureen scooped him up and placed him in the box. The perfect finishing touch.
Grandma used to go all out for every holiday. Halloween, meant homemade, whimsical costumes. Thanksgiving, a feast fit for a king. Christmas brought matching pajamas and tons of gifts under the tree. This is my first one without her. She used to say I was her favorite Valentine. Mommy said we are going to make today special, just like Grandma would. We are going to take Grandma some yellow roses, her special flowers, and then go to her favorite park. When we get to the park, Mommy points to something. “Do you see that?” Mommy asks. My eyes follow her finger, and I see it, a penny. Mommy asks, “Do you remember what Grandma told you about pennies?” I tell her, “Yes, not only are they lucky but they’re angel kisses too”. Mommy and I walk around collecting pennies. We find 14 pennies, 14 kisses from Grandma. I can feel Grandma all around me. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Grandma”, I whisper as I put the pennies in my pocket. “Let’s go home and bake Grandma’s infamous red velvet cake.” “I love you, Mommy.” “I love you too, baby.”
Four-leaf clovers peeked out from every window. Tracy Dragon needed good luck in her new mountaintop home.
Villagers below were already making salt circles, nailing up horseshoes and wearing garlic necklaces for protection.
“I’m not a monster. I’m your new neighbor.”
One clover leaflet floated on a warm breeze and settled in Tracy’s hand.
“It looks like a heart. That’s it! I’ll invite everyone to a Valentine’s Day party. To know me is to love me.”
Writing with fire is tricky.
Tracy tried paper.
POOF!
She tried cardboard.
SLOW BURN!
“I know, I’ll write on ceramic tile like in my fireplace!”
Sparks and rings of smoke hid the sun.
“The dragon will destroy us all,” people yelled.
Tracy struggled to move the heavy invitation. It slipped away and tumbled down, splintering into chunks as it banged and bumped into trees and rocks. Odd shaped pieces fell like rain.
“We’re doomed!” villagers cried.
Mayor Copperbottom took a closer look at one piece. Then another and another.
“WAIT,” he shouted, “It’s a puzzle.”
Villagers teamed up.
When the final jigsaw piece snapped together, the tile read.
Be My Valentine!
Come to my home at noon for food, fun and dancing.
Love, Tracy Dragon
Now sounds of laughter, music and dancing fill the mountaintop every Valentine’s Day.
This year, our Valentine’s Day party is on Friday the thirteenth. Such an unlucky day—I’ll need a super lucky Valentine box! What bits of luck can I add?
I cut-cut-cut four-leaf clovers from green paper.
I dig-dig-dig all the lucky pennies from the penny jar.
I plink-plink-plink all the dice from our Yahtzee game.
STAPLE-STAPLE,
GLUE-GLUE,
TAAAAAPE!
Is that enough?
I draw-draw-draw tiny ladybugs and lucky number sevens between all the pennies, clovers, and dice.
I wraaaaaap more tape around for good measure.
Hmmm.
It may look un-pretty, but no one can call it un-lucky.
At school the next day, I set out my good luck charm masterpiece. Some kids stare. Some giggle. But I’m not taking any chances with bad luck.
The party starts, and we deliver our valentines. We play games. We eat treats. And finally, at the end of the day, we collect our boxes.
I shake-shake-shake mine.
This can’t be!
My box is…EMPTY!!
What about my four-leaf clovers and pennies and Yahtzee dice? My ladybugs and number sevens? How could something so unlucky happen?!
I feel a tap-tap-tap on my shoulder.
Ms. Chapman has twenty-six valentines in her hand, all addressed to me.
Oops.
It turns out my lucky Valentine box is missing one important thing:
Susanna Leonard Hill 
The First Valentine
Dedicated to Saint Valentine, the patron saint of beekeepers
(213 words)
“Look! The beekeeper!”
We three stopped and stood.
He bumbles by each week,
Swarmed in bees on his hood.
Hum-buzz-hummm,
A terrible moving hive.
A sight that makes you wonder:
Is he dead or alive?
“Do ye hear me bees?”
Were those words or a sneeze?
“They’re talkin’ today
Of ancient gardens and parted seas.”
My brash friend ventured
A comment to that quack,
“Bees don’t talk, Mister,
Everyone knows that’s whack!”
“BABBLE!”
His voice vibrated the skies.
The walking swarm froze,
“Who’sssss been tellin’ ye liesssss?”
“There’s more than this world,
And the February you see.
Bee goes There,
she has the key.”
On he ascended uphill.
A buzz remained in my ear.
Moms called out, “Dinner!”
But I did not hear.
He climbed to the top
And took out a can.
Billows of smoke
Smothered the land.
From the cloud
A hand shot through
Holding a jar
Of a magnificent hue.
Flamed and radiant,
A halo ring.
Once merely pollen,
Now gold for a king.
It’s only folklore,
Surely not truth.
The bee may fly high,
But is she an other-world sleuth?
Early next morning
Before the sun woke,
I saw on my doorstep
The jar from the smoke.
On it, a simple line:
The One Great Lore
From your
Valentine.
“Jinx!”
by Debbie Graf
208 words
Nola was bursting to give Mom the Valentine’s card she made with her new watercolors. She’d poured hours and love into her card and Mom might even get tears in her eyes.
The class was packing up for home and cleaning up from their Valentine’s festivities. Surely, they would not have homework on Valentine’s Day.
“Is there homework?” she asked. The question, however, came out in perfect synchronized stereo. Taylor asked the same words at the same time.
“Jinx!” her classmate yelled. Nola and Taylor could no longer talk until someone said their names.
The bus driver said “Hi Kids.” The sitter called her Kiddo and felt her forehead. She wished her dog could talk.
Nola hid her card behind her back when mom walked in from work.
“What’s this, Honey?” She read the front and yes, her eyes got watery.
“Your painting is lovely, Sweetie.” She read the inside and held it to her heart.
“I will treasure this, Darling.” Nola pointed at her name on the inside.
“Ooh, cursive, my Big Third Grader!” Nola pointed harder.
“What is going on, Love?” Nola rolled her eyes.
“Well, whatever it is, you will always be my number one Valentine, Nola.”
“Finally!” Nola screamed with relief and joy.
Superstitions About an Itchy Nose
By Kelly Kates
Dedicated to my students
WC: 206
“I’ll always pick you,” whispered finger to nose,
as, shyly, he offered a perfect red rose.
“I love the way you burn brightly and blush,
and even the way you can sniffle and gush.
I know that nothing can tear us apart.
No tissue or face mask will make me depart.
But, darling, I notice you’re starting to twitch–
now wrinkling and running, beginning to itch.
I’m not superstitious, my daintiest dear,
but that is a sign someone soon will be here.
Does company mean we can no longer meet,
that I’ll be held off as we must be discreet?
Some say it means you’ll be kissed by a fool,
or so I’ve heard, as a general rule.
Now you look angry and all out of joint.
I think it’s important we stick to the point.
Many prefer not to see us together.
They say it’s not proper, and I can do better.
Despite all the warnings, to you I am drawn.
My longing is endless; it goes on and on.
Our love may be forced to continue to hide,
as decorum commands, we must keep it inside.
Teachers and parents work to keep us apart,
but, my sweet little schnoz, you’ll remain in my heart.”
A Valentine for Crow
“I hope you like your Valentine’s Day treats,” Elsie grinned as she hung heart-shaped seed cakes on the snowy branches in her backyard.
The songbirds pecked away happily. Then she noticed the solitary crow perched on the back fence, watching her attentively.
One crow visiting alone was a bad omen. “Go away, Crow,” she hollered, “You’ll bring bad luck!”
Crow ignored her, fluffing his shiny black feathers against the cold. She stepped forward to shoo him, and tripped face-first into the snow. “Bad luck already!” Still, he sat, his dark eyes trained on her. Was he asking for something? “Don’t you like seed cakes?” She asked.
Crow blinked once, definitely not.
“What else could you want?” She thought aloud. “Wait… I remember. You like sparkly things.” She slowly revealed her prized Valentine’s Day glittery pencil from her pocket. CAW! She startled at his excited cry, dropping it into the snow. In a flash, Crow snapped it into his beak and took flight.
“Hey,” she cried as he flew away, “I didn’t say you could have it! Double bad luck.”
The next morning, Elsie noticed something glinting on the fence. It was a shiny penny! He’d brought her good luck after all. CAW! Crow shouted from the treetop. She called back, ”Happy Valentine’s Day, Crow!”
A Box Full of Love
By Vanessa Ireson
WC: 214
Sticky fingers picked through the pile of pink and purple pompoms, red and silver glitter, tinsel and tassels, baubles and beads. Maureen was searching for one last decoration for her fancy box. Tomorrow it would be filled with cards and candy and love. She couldn’t wait.
“Aha!” She reached for a red felt heart, ready to dab it with the glob of glue on her popsicle stick.
But it moved! The fuzzy heart had eight fuzzy black – legs?!
She peered closer. Eight shiny eyes peeked out.
“Eek!” she cried, ready to swat.
“No! Don’t squish me!” squeaked the creature, trembling beneath the heart.
“Why?” She shuddered.
“It’s bad luck!”
“How?”
“Uh, because… you’ll make it rain?”
“It’s already snowing,” she pointed out. Flurries coated the playground outside.
“You’ll lose all your money!”
“I’m a kid. I don’t have any money.”
“Please! Be kind!”
“You’re a creepy, hairy, scary talking spider. And you’re freaking me out!”
Eight eyes darted about in desperation, landing on the box, bedazzled with swirls and twirls and glitter and lace. And scrawled in crooked cursive: “Happy Valentine’s Day”.
“I’m not a spider!”
“Then what are you?”
“I’m a love bug!”
“Oh. Why didn’t you say so?”
Maureen scooped him up and placed him in the box. The perfect finishing touch.
Heavenly Kisses
By Anya-Kaye Francis
WC: 187
Grandma used to go all out for every holiday. Halloween, meant homemade, whimsical costumes. Thanksgiving, a feast fit for a king. Christmas brought matching pajamas and tons of gifts under the tree. This is my first one without her. She used to say I was her favorite Valentine. Mommy said we are going to make today special, just like Grandma would. We are going to take Grandma some yellow roses, her special flowers, and then go to her favorite park. When we get to the park, Mommy points to something. “Do you see that?” Mommy asks. My eyes follow her finger, and I see it, a penny. Mommy asks, “Do you remember what Grandma told you about pennies?” I tell her, “Yes, not only are they lucky but they’re angel kisses too”. Mommy and I walk around collecting pennies. We find 14 pennies, 14 kisses from Grandma. I can feel Grandma all around me. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Grandma”, I whisper as I put the pennies in my pocket. “Let’s go home and bake Grandma’s infamous red velvet cake.” “I love you, Mommy.” “I love you too, baby.”
Valentine’s Day—Bleh!
By Katherine Fox
Word Count: 203
Mushy
Gushy
Gag
Gross
Valentine’s day was about love, ewwww!
Enzo loved monsters, mud, and hockey.
He did NOT want to make Valentine’s mailboxes and get mushy notes.
Enzo needed a plan to survive Valentine’s day.
First, he made the scariest monster mailbox ever.
Then, he made cards with dinosaurs on them that said, “Rawr!”
Getting dressed on Valentine’s morning Enzo wasn’t taking any chances.
He put on his lucky undies.
Every time he wore them his hockey team won.
Enzo put on his black sweat pants and his favorite T-rex shirt.
He spiked his hair, turned his lip down, and scowled.
“Perfect!”
At school everyone avoided Enzo.
No one wanted to put a valentine into the scary monster-box.
Sharp teeth and Enzo glowering—yikes!
As Enzo carried his monster-box home he pumped his fist, “Yes!”
The lucky undies worked, no icky love had gotten to him.
He dumped the monster-box on the floor at home and it spit out a card.
“What?”
One brave kid had slipped a card through the menacing jaws.
Enzo slowly picked it up and a creepy anglerfish stared back.
The card read, “You’re so great it’s scary! From Journi.”
Enzo’s jaw dropped.
“Wow!
Someone who finally gets me!”
DANCE WITH A DRAGON
By Stephanie Mena 214 words
Four-leaf clovers peeked out from every window. Tracy Dragon needed good luck in her new mountaintop home.
Villagers below were already making salt circles, nailing up horseshoes and wearing garlic necklaces for protection.
“I’m not a monster. I’m your new neighbor.”
One clover leaflet floated on a warm breeze and settled in Tracy’s hand.
“It looks like a heart. That’s it! I’ll invite everyone to a Valentine’s Day party. To know me is to love me.”
Writing with fire is tricky.
Tracy tried paper.
POOF!
She tried cardboard.
SLOW BURN!
“I know, I’ll write on ceramic tile like in my fireplace!”
Sparks and rings of smoke hid the sun.
“The dragon will destroy us all,” people yelled.
Tracy struggled to move the heavy invitation. It slipped away and tumbled down, splintering into chunks as it banged and bumped into trees and rocks. Odd shaped pieces fell like rain.
“We’re doomed!” villagers cried.
Mayor Copperbottom took a closer look at one piece. Then another and another.
“WAIT,” he shouted, “It’s a puzzle.”
Villagers teamed up.
When the final jigsaw piece snapped together, the tile read.
Be My Valentine!
Come to my home at noon for food, fun and dancing.
Love, Tracy Dragon
Now sounds of laughter, music and dancing fill the mountaintop every Valentine’s Day.
Violet’s Lucky Valentine Box (214 words)
By Amanda Fletcher
This year, our Valentine’s Day party is on Friday the thirteenth. Such an unlucky day—I’ll need a super lucky Valentine box! What bits of luck can I add?
I cut-cut-cut four-leaf clovers from green paper.
I dig-dig-dig all the lucky pennies from the penny jar.
I plink-plink-plink all the dice from our Yahtzee game.
STAPLE-STAPLE,
GLUE-GLUE,
TAAAAAPE!
Is that enough?
I draw-draw-draw tiny ladybugs and lucky number sevens between all the pennies, clovers, and dice.
I wraaaaaap more tape around for good measure.
Hmmm.
It may look un-pretty, but no one can call it un-lucky.
At school the next day, I set out my good luck charm masterpiece. Some kids stare. Some giggle. But I’m not taking any chances with bad luck.
The party starts, and we deliver our valentines. We play games. We eat treats. And finally, at the end of the day, we collect our boxes.
I shake-shake-shake mine.
This can’t be!
My box is…EMPTY!!
What about my four-leaf clovers and pennies and Yahtzee dice? My ladybugs and number sevens? How could something so unlucky happen?!
I feel a tap-tap-tap on my shoulder.
Ms. Chapman has twenty-six valentines in her hand, all addressed to me.
Oops.
It turns out my lucky Valentine box is missing one important thing:
A mail slot.