Ok 😊 I’ll stop 😊 Because what iguana do really is let you know that it’s time to fire up those brain cells and write your entry for. . .
The6thAnnualValentinyWritingContest
~forchildren’swriters~
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 Valentines Day is all about emotion, write a Valentines story appropriate for children (children here defined as ages 12 and under) maximum 214 words in which someone feels brave! They can be brave about asking someone to be their Valentine, of course, but they can also do something brave to get a Valentine (the person or the gift), or do something brave to help a friend. They could be brave about giving something up, or brave about asking someone they’re not sure about for some reason to be nice. . . sky’s the limit! 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 brave (can be the main character but doesn’t have to be) and is 214 words (get it? 2/14 for Valentines 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 on your blog between 12:00 AM EDT Friday February 12th and Sunday February 14th by 11:59 PM EDT and add your post-specific link to the list that will accompany my February 12th post. There will be no regularly scheduled posts that week (Tuesday Debut, Would You Read It or PPBF), so the post and the list of links will stay up all week for everyone to enjoy. If you don’t have a blog and would like to enter, you can simply copy and paste your entry in the comments section of that post once it’s up. (Or, if you have difficulty with the comments, which unfortunately sometimes happens, you may email your entry to me and I’ll post it for you! Although I have a question I’d love addressed in the comments: would it be easier for everyone to post their entry in the comment section of my blog so everything is all together? I know it means no blog-hopping, but do you guys think it would be simpler?Or do you prefer the opportunity to visit new blogs?
The Judging: over the next several days, my lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 6-10 top choices depending on number and quality of entries (hee hee hee – you know how much trouble I have with the narrowing, so we’ll see) which will be posted here and voted on for a winner on Thursday February 19th (or possibly a day or two later if the judges need extra time.) The winner will be announced Monday February 22nd depending on judging and voting time needed. The dates of the judging/voting/winner announcements are subject to finagling depending on how much time the judges actually end up needing!
Judging criteria will include:
Kid-appeal/Kid-friendliness – remember, this is a story for kids!
Creativity in using bravery and success in making us feel the bravery!
Valentine’s Day appropriateness – this is a VALENTINE story!
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: I’m still working on prizes (aren’t I always 😊), but I wanted to get the contest guidelines up so you’d have time to write. If anyone has anything fabulous to offer, drop me an email 😊 But meanwhile, start writing and watch this space for prizes which I will add as I get them organized!
– Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non-rhyming, fiction) from Becky Scharnhorst, author of the forthcoming MY SCHOOL STINKS! (Philomel Books, July 6, 2021)
– Picture Book Manuscript Critique (non-rhyming, fiction, fewer than 800 words) from Rebecca Kraft Rector, author of SQUISH SQUASH SQUISHED (Nancy Paulsen Books, February 16, 2021) (which means it’s coming out in the middle of our contest!😊) and the forthcoming LITTLE RED (Aladdin, Simon & Schuster, Spring 2022) and TRIA AND THE GREAT STAR RESCUE (Delacorte/Random House)
A Picture Book Manuscript Critique by gifted author and former Holiday Contest prize winner, Jenna Waldman, author of the forthcoming Larry’s Latkes (October 2021) (originally written for the Holiday Contest!) and Shark-bot Shalom (August 2021) She is on twitter at @SarafinaDesign
Author Jenna Waldman
– Either a signed copy of WHEN A TREE GROWSOR a Picture Book Manuscript Critique – winner’s choice! – from Cathy Ballou Mealey, author of WHEN A TREE GROWS (Sterling April 2019) and the forthcoming SLOTH AND SQUIRREL IN A PICKLE (Kids Can Press, May 4, 2021)
So you’ve got nearly 3 weeks to write your entry! Butt in chair! Valentine Chocolate and coffee/tea on your desk! Brain in gear! Ready, set, WRITE! Be Brave! You can do it!!!
As I’ve been under the weather for more than a week, I’m totally cheating and sharing a book I’ve shared before because I don’t want to miss another PPBF. (My sincere apologies for missing last week!) Also, I think this book with its storyline of working together to save something precious is a good one as our new administration rolls up its sleeves and prepares to do the same thing. 😊
I hope you’ll like this book as much as I do 😊
Title: Ellie
Written & Illustrated By: Mike Wu
Disney-Hyperion, May 2015, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-5
Themes/Topics: art, helping others, finding your own talents, animals (elephants)
Opening: “On a bright winter day, when Ellie was just finishing her lunch, the zookeeper came by with an announcement.
“Gather ’round!” Walt called. “I have some news.
“It is a sad day,” he said. “The zoo is closing.”“
Brief Synopsis: The animals are heartbroken when they find out their zoo is closing. They wonder if there’s any way they can help prevent it. Perhaps they can spruce the place up? Lucy the giraffe prunes the trees. Gerard the gorilla tidies the path. But Ellie the baby elephant isn’t tall enough to prune trees or strong enough to move rocks. Is there anything she can do to save her beloved home?
text and illustration copyright Mike Wu 2015, Disney-Hyperion
Why I Like This Book: This is a sweet story about friendly animals pitching in to try to save their home. Ellie wants so much to help, but at first she doesn’t think she has any skills that will serve. Quite by accident, she discovers a talent that will not only help, but be the driving force behind saving the zoo, and the story comes to a satisfying ending. The art is gorgeous and so appealing, starting off in soft greens and grays and becoming brighter and bolder as Ellie’s talent develops and her self-confidence grows. And Ellie is such an endearing character she’s hard to resist 🙂 The story is loosely based on a relatively recent headline about elephants who paint, so has some grounding in fact 😊
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see your delightful picks for this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and stay well!!! 😊
No time like the present for getting around to a task that should have been done 8 months ago! 😊
Due to COVID and the general insanity of 2020 which included various situations I will not burden you with, it appears we’ve wandered into 2021 without doing all of last year’s pitch picks and Straight From The Editors! So this week and next week we will play catch up and you will get to Vote Vote Vote to your hearts’ content!
Let’s start with the April 2020 Pitch Pick, shall we? Please read the 3 pitches in the April group, choose the one you think best and most deserving of a read and comments by editor Erin Molta and vote for it in the April 2020 Pitch Pick Poll below by Sunday January 24 at 9 PM Eastern.
1 – Sandy – Capybara Triplets (PB 4-8)
The rambunctious capybara triplets, Sebastian, Arturo, and Esteban, play and have fun all day. But when bedtime approaches, they put on the brakes and push for a delay. The three capybaras use slow-motion, bathroom art, and a closet hideaway to slow the bedtime process. Although they end up under the covers, they may not stay there as they are determined to investigate what staying-up-fun they might be missing.
2 – Deborah – Sonny’s Smile (PB 3-8)
When Sonny Brightwell is invited to The Gleeful Gala to receive the “Biggest Smile on Earth Award”, he finds that the only place in town to stay is at The Prickly Inn; where smiles aren’t allowed. Being around all of the frowning guests causes Sonny’s smile to droop to the floor and now he must figure out how to get it back in time to receive his award.
– Elaine – withdrew from consideration
3 – Sierra – The Bug Battle Circus (PB 3-8)
When household pests go head to head in the Bug Battle Circus, which crawly critters will be victorious? You guess! A wild, interactive story comparable to Bob Shea’s Crash, Splash, or Moo! and the Who Would Win? series. Nonfiction backmatter included.
Next we have the Remaining April/Single May/September 2020 Combo Pitch Pick: please read the following 4 pitches, choose the one you think best and most deserving of a read and comments by editor Erin Molta and vote for it in the April/May/September 2020 Pitch Pick Poll below by Sunday January 24 at 9 PM Eastern.
1 – Jennifer – Priya Paints Backwards (PB 4-8)
Priya thinks blank pages are scary and art class is hard; harder for her than everyone else, at least. When you add in other opinions and constant comparisons, she’s sure she’ll never make a masterpiece. Then one day, she turns it all around, and finally finds her way.
2 – Deborah – Jack’s Crazy Confection (PB 4-8)
Jack wants to sell his sweet confections, but the dastardly Ice Cream Man has stolen all his customers. Using his great-great-grandmother’s magic ingredient, Jack must cook up something to out-sweet those frozen treats. But a little too much magic ingredient leads to outrageous results.
3 – Lindsey – The Wind Keeper (PB 4-8)
On Jenny’s eighth birthday, Papa tells her that she comes from a long line of Wind Keepers. Together they harness the power of the wind to change the seasons and send kites flying high. But when Papa suddenly passes away, her world becomes still. Jenny must find the strength to overcome her grief and bring the wind back to the valley.
Winx Muller dreams of visiting the Mesozoic Era. But he’s going nowhere fast thanks to an ailing sister, busybody great aunt, and missing parents. Then Winx finds a pair of disgusting old socks that sing promises of Time Travel and suddenly the future – and past – seem wide open! Before he can meet any Mesozoic megafauna, Winx must survive the Time-Space Continuum and the unsettling evolution of paleontology. Stumbling through fossil-hunting hot spots, Winx gets mucked up in Colonial America, chased by men with explosives in Victorian England, captured by an ancient tracker in the desert Southwest, and half-drowned in British Colonial India. Which is nothing compared to the thunderous dangers he faces in the Mesozoic Era.
Thank you all so much for taking the time to read and vote!
Phew! After all that voting we definitely need Something Chocolate! Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or milk and let’s get dunking with these delectable Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies!
Mmmmmm!!!!! Scrumptious!!!!! Perfect for breakfast, second breakfast, mid-morning snack, elevenses, lunch, etc… 😊😊😊
Now then, onto today’s pitch which is a special one! A WYRI first! – a team effort! The pitch comes to us from Debbie and Sophia.
Debbie: I’ve been writing since I was twelve years old and have always loved creating stories. My other passion is volunteering with my therapy dog, Zoey, who is a Tail Waggin’ Tutor. We have been working in libraries helping children practice their reading for 9 years.
Sophia is a sixth grader in Denver, Colorado and is eleven years old. She has been writing for 3 years and can’t wait to publish her very first book! She writes in the Creative Writing column in her school newspaper, the Sun Devil Scoop. So far, she has published four stories. To read them, you can click the link below.
The two of us have been friends since Sophia was born and we both share a love of reading and writing.
The Pitch: A little owl takes an unexpected trip in the most famous Christmas tree in the world. After getting stranded, she discovers that she is no longer in the peaceful countryside. Alone in New York City, this brave owl finds her way home with the love and help of kind strangers.
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Debbie and Sophia improve their pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above. There are openings in March, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Debbie and Sophia are looking forward to your thoughts on their pitch! I am looking forward to being able to taste those delicious-looking Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Chunk cookies and getting out of quarantine someday 😊
Doesn’t that look delicious?! And I know you can appreciate all the calcium, protein, and vegetable of the cocoa bean therein! 😊
Also, it’s a good day for cake because it’s Scouty’s birthday (not that she can have German Chocolate Cheesecake, but there will be a little plain yellow cupcake for her later – it’s not everyday you turn 14!)
Please may I have some cake? 😊
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Sarah whom you will remember from last month with her pitch for My Antler Is Missing. Sarah grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan. She loves rocks and has collected many. She loves the Kindness Rocks project and leaves rock treasures for others to find on beaches, trails, and in neighbor’s trees.
Find her on the web at: sarahatobias.com Twitter: @peacefulheart63 Insta: @sarahpeaceandsmile
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Kindness Rocks
Age/Genre: Graphic Novel (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: Even Kindness Rocks have their struggles. After Crin wakes up on the wrong side of the bedrock, his day feels like it’s going from bad to worse until his best friend Iggy arrives with a little gift. With the day turned around, Crin and Iggy plunge into the water for a swim and rock and roll into the evening as summer vacation begins.
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Sarah improve her pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above. There are openings in February, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Sarah is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to Scouty’s birthday cake! 😊 (which I have to go bake 😊)
Welcome back to Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
Is there anything better than discovering a whole bunch of fantastic picture books in time to go to the library and stock up on great reading material for the weekend? 😊
Especially in winter, it’s lovely to have a big stack of books to curl up with in a nice warm spot somewhere and enjoy.
Given recent events, my choice for today is a book which celebrates letter writing, expressing gratitude, and the fact that someone who is eleven can have the perspective and talent to write a book like this!
Title: Sincerely, Emerson: A Girl, Her Letter, And The Helpers All Around Us
Written By: Emerson Weber (11 years old)
Illustrated By: Jaclyn Sinquett
Publisher: HarperCollins, December 2020
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: non-fiction, letter writing, expressing gratitude, spreading love, being appreciative of others
Opening: “Emerson loved writing letters. She loved writing “Dear.” She loved writing “Sincerely.” Most of all, she loved writing everything that came in between.”
Brief Synopsis: The true story of eleven-year-old Emerson Weber as she writes a letter of thanks to her postal carrier, Doug, and creates a nationwide outpouring of love, gratitude, hope, and recognition for all the essential helpers we see everyday, and all those who go unseen.
Links To Resources: 11 year old Emerson Weber reads her book aloud (video); write a letter to someone you love and/or appreciate to let them know you notice and care; read with other letter-writing books such as DEAR EARTH…FROM YOUR FRIENDS IN ROOM 5 by Erin Dealey, DEAR GRANDMA, or DEAR SANTA by Susanna Leonard Hill (apologies for listing my own books but they are examples of other ways and reasons for writing letters 😊)
Why I Like This Book: For starters, I love that this book was written by an eleven year old – how inspiring for other aspiring young writers! And I love that she can have the kind of perspective shown in this book – from the appreciation of letter-writing which is becoming a somewhat lost art, to the desire to share her life and experiences with others, to her belief that people should be appreciated and thanked for all they do. There are a lot of adults who could learn something from a book like this, never mind kids 😊 This is a wonderful book at any time, but especially in the grip of (and hopefully soon in the wake of!) COVID-19 and all the challenges it has brought to so many, I think this true story celebrates all that people do to make our world function as it does and care for each other. As the book says:
There are lots of ways to help the world go round: Some people collect the trash. Some stock grocery shelves. Some drive buses and trains. Some help people who are sick. Some deliver our mail. And some people write letters.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
I hope you’ll indulge me for one moment to share my new book with you since it had it’s birthday yesterday 😊
written by Susanna Leonard Hill, illustrated by John Joseph, published by Sourcebooks
I enjoyed writing this book to celebrate grandmas of every kind in every place – each one so special to her grandchildren in her own unique way. And John did such an amazing job with the illustrations! I hope you’ll like it if you get a chance to take a look at it.
Here’s a sneak peek at a couple of the pictures 😊
text copyright Susanna Leonard Hill 2021, illustration copyright John Joseph 2021, Sourcebooks Wonderlandtext copyright Susanna Leonard Hill 2021, illustration copyright John Joseph 2021, Sourcebooks Wonderland
Can’t everyone appreciate a grandma who helps her defeat dragons? 😊
Now then, onto today’s pitch which comes to us from Aundra whom you will remember from November with her pitch for Gregory The Garbage Truck. Aundra says, “I am a middle school special education teacher and mother to a 4 year old and 2.5 year old.”
Here is her pitch:
Working Title: Beach Sand Waves
Age/Genre: Picture Book (ages 4-8)
The Pitch: BEACH SAND WAVES is a 600 word picture book about a child who is willing to endure the thing they hate most to get to be with what they love.
Everyone loves the beach, but Morgan. Sand: It’s like glue. It’s everywhere. And there are bugs. Morgan’s day at the beach is nothing like a day at the beach, but to get to what Morgan loves more, first SAND. #wndb #nonfiction #pb
So what do you think? Would You Read It? YES, MAYBE or NO?
If your answer is YES, please feel free to tell us what you particularly liked and why the pitch piqued your interest. If your answer is MAYBE or NO, please feel free to tell us what you think could be better in the spirit of helping Aundra improve her pitch. Helpful examples of possible alternate wordings are welcome. (However I must ask that comments be constructive and respectful. I reserve the right not to publish comments that are mean because that is not what this is about.)
Please send YOUR pitches for the coming weeks! For rules and where to submit, click on this link Would You Read It or on Would You Read it in the dropdown under For Writers in the bar above. There are openings in January, so you could get your pitch up pretty soon for helpful feedback and a chance to have it read and commented on by editor Erin Molta!
Aundra is looking forward to your thoughts on her pitch! I am looking forward to actually getting a copy of DEAR GRANDMA to hold in my hot little hands! I think my copies might come today. . . fingers crossed!
You’re just in time for some high jinx and shenanigans!
I’m always on the lookout for those fun holiday quizzes, but let’s face it: we’ve done Elf Names, and Reindeer Names, and that pretty much covers the available options. Last year I made up a What Kind of Christmas Cookie are you quiz. . . which was entertaining. . . but now we’ve done that too.
So this year I’ve decided to combine holiday quiz tomfoolery with writing prompt/idea generation! Try out this one!
I will not even try to deny that some of these combinations work better than others 😊 But I don’t mind if you cheat a little and use the first letter of your middle or last name or the month your pet iguana was born to get a better result 😊
My Holiday Picture Book Title is The Littlest Cookie (or, because there’s an alternative on that one, The Biggest Cookie, which is probably more appropriate!) But I think I could write either of those stories and have fun doing it! I might add in a type of cookie. . . The Littlest Sugar Cookie or The Biggest Peppermint Supreme Cookie. Or I might expand one way or the other: The Teeniest Tiniest Itty Bittiest Cookie or The Most Gigantic Christmas Cookie of All Time! But have a go and see what you get and share your title in the comments if you want to!
Wasn’t that fun?
Don’t you feel like you just got a little surprise holiday gift?
I bet those writerly brain cells are already humming!
So you’re welcome, and I won’t keep you from getting words on the page!
Go forth! Write! Create!
And enjoy your holidays!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah!
Wondrous Solstice!
Happy New Year!
Etc. etc.!
See you in 2021!
Uh. . .
Were you expecting something else?
I already gave you your next picture book idea AND JOY!
What more could you want?
Oh, silly me.
There I go again, just completely forgetting the only reason you came to see me today!
I guess, now that you mention it, it IS time to find out who won
THE10THANNUALHOLIDAYCONTEST!!!
~forchildren’swriters~
As always, I was thrilled to see so many wonderful stories! Really! It is amazing and inspiring, not to mention VERY entertaining! There is just so much talent out there amongst you all!
But as you well know by now, with large entry numbers, all of high quality, come hard choices. My assistant judges and I worked hard to winnow the total down to a manageable number of finalists that we felt were truly all-around deserving of that distinction, and those were the ones we presented to you on Monday (ahem, okay, technically it was Tuesday 😊) for your vote.
There were, however, a few entries that barely missed being finalists, and many other entries that were outstanding in certain areas even though they might not have qualified all-around for one reason or another, or that the judges couldn’t reach a consensus on.
So my assistant judges and I would like to award recognition, a lovely badge, and a small prize to the following authors for the following merits:
1. For Honorable Mention In The Competition As A Whole: (entries we truly wrestled with not including in the finalists!)
Kaitlyn Sikes for ‘Twas A Cold Winter Solstice (beautifully written!)
Jessica Hinrichs for The Merry Melody Farm (also great for younger readers!)
Randi Lynn Mrvos for Four Things (also wonderful kid voice!)
Jilanne Hoffman for Promises Are For. . . (a poignant exploration of promises dishonored and promises kept)
Deborah Clayton for The Song of the Stable Mouse (a sweet, kid-friendly retelling of the Christmas story from the POV of a little mouse, nicely written!)
Elyse Trevers for Baia’s Bags of Blessings (a timely story of generosity and spreading the joy of Chanukah even in difficult times)
Laurie Carmody for The Holiday Henchman (a glimpse of Christmas from the naughty side that kids will enjoy)
Linda Schueler for Planting Smiles (a believable story of reluctance turning to understanding)
Patricia Nozell for Star (a miniature horse with a big heart who finds her own way to shine)
Cathrene Valente Youngquist for The Toymaker and the Christmas Tomte (told like a folk or fairy tale)
Mary Vander Plas for Oy to the World: An Ode to 2020 (so fitting!)
Shannon Howarth Nelsen for Christmas Bread (so evocatively written we could almost smell the bread)
2. For Make This A Picture Book! 😊
Ashlee Hashman for Gingerbread Construction Crew
3. For Great Depiction of Sibling Relationships
Pamela Love for Angel’s A
Melissa Trempe for Operation Christmas Distraction
Cynthia Stacey for The Christmas Tree
4. For Great For Younger Readers
Kirsten Leestma – December 21st
Larissa Elliott – Christmas Good
5. For Great Kid Appeal
Ellen Turcio for A Super Scooper
Stacey Miller for A Cranky Christmas
6. For Inventive Re-Telling
Lauri C. Meyers for Gingerbread Girl To The Rescue (a new version of The Gingerbread Man)
7. For Great Ending
Gabrielle Cardwell for Decorating The Tree
Ashley Bray for Noella
8. For Wonderful Stories Celebrating Other Lands/Holidays/Cultures/Customs
Shariffa Keshavje for Holiday Helpers
Rachel Hobbs for The Day of the Three Kings – Argentina
Linda Hofke – Not Counting On Sweet Treats This Year
Kathryn Rammell – A Swedish Pageant And The Mystery of the Missing Meatballs
9. For Unique Point of View
Megan and Rob Hunnicut for Sugar’s Spin (POV of the chosen cookie!)
10. For Humor 🤣
Bill Canterbury for Princess Oblivious
Congratulations to all of you for fantastic elements of your stories! You may all email me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com subject line Prize Winner to collect your award badge and prize, which is ten dollars for category 1 – Honorable Mention in the Competition as a Whole – and five dollars for all the other categories, in a format that can be emailed for you to put toward something you’d like at a large online store (and I’m being cryptic because when I did this for Halloweensie I got a ton of problematic spam mail because of the way I worded the post, but hopefully you can figure it out. The store starts with the letter A 😊 )
And now…
…the moment you’ve all been waiting for…
The announcement of the WINNERS OF THE 2020 HOLIDAY CONTESTas voted on by you, our esteemed readers!!!
rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat-rat-a-tat
DDDRRRUUUMMM RRROOOLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!
In First Place…
Winner of the whole shebang…
who gets first choice of all the prizes…
Dana Marie Miroballi for Christmasaurus Hex!!!
Congratulations, Dana, on a fun, kid-friendly, delightfully humorous story that was clearly very popular with a LOT of readers!!!
In Second Place
Rebecca Gardyn Levington for A Spark of Friendship
Congratulations, Rebecca, on bringing the Shamash to life in spot-on rhyme! You get to pick your prize after Dana.
In Third Place
Molly Ippolito for Firling’s Friend
Congratulations, Molly, on a sweet entry that made us hope that Firling wouldn’t be left out! You get to pick your prize after Dana and Rebecca.
In Fourth Place
Julie Abery for Waddle Santa Do This Christmas?
Congratulations, Julie, on a delightful, original story about penguins pitching in!!! You get to pick your prize after Dana, Rebecca, and Molly!
In Fifth Place
Allison Strick for Let It Grow! Let It Grow! Let It Grow!
Congratulations, Allison, on a very well written, creative, original take on green gifts! So clever! You get to pick your prize after Dana, Rebecca, Molly, and Julie!
In Sixth Place…
Kelsey Gross for The Solstice Tree
What a lovely story, Kelsey, where all the forest truly helped out! Nicely done! You get to pick your prize after Dana, Rebecca, Molly, Julie, and Allison!
In Seventh Place…
Kristy Roser Nuttall for The Twelve Sleighs of Christmas
Congratulations, Kristy! We loved how the elves helped Santa out of his fix by turning one sleigh into twelve! I’m sure you get the idea of how the prize picking goes by now 😊
In Eighth Place…
Natasha Zimmers for The Christmas Owl
Such beautiful writing, Natasha! You evoked the peace of the snowy woods, made us feel the tension of the situation, and taught us something about owls as a bonus! You get to pick after Kristy 😊
In Ninth Place
Laura Bower for The Sleigh–Awake Band
Congratulations, Laura, on your entertaining entry written in excellent rhyme! Who would have thought Santa had a band along with him to keep him from falling asleep? You get to pick after Natasha 😊
In Tenth Place
Chelsea Tornetto for The Christmas Corgi
Congratulations, Chelsea, on an adorable entry that made us all want a Christmas corgi! You get to pick your prize after Laura!
In Eleventh Place
Kelly Swemba for Christmas Impossible: An Unquiet Night
Congratulations, Kelly, on a delightfully fun and kid-friendly entry that saw the elves helping out in true squirrel control fashion! You get to pick after Chelsea!
In Twelfth Place
Marty Findley for Not Too Little
Congratulations. Marty, on a wonderfully relatable story that celebrates every child who has ever wanted to help and been made to feel that he or she isn’t ready for that yet! You get to pick after Kelly!
All the winners should email me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com with the subject heading Prize Winner so we can work out details for you to receive your prizes! (The sooner the better!) And for your convenience, the whole prize list is included at the bottom of this post.
Congratulations again to all our winners – it was a stiff competition!! – and congratulations to EVERYONE who wrote and entered a story in the contest. You all deserve a huge round of applause and a shower of holiday confetti!
Thank you to everyone who helped make this contest SO MUCH FUN, whether by writing an entry, reading people’s stories, leaving comments for the authors, and/or voting in the finals, or by donating a prize. It’s because of all of you that this contest was such a success, so many, many thanks from the bottom of my heart!
As I… hmm… maybe didn’t mention…? but seem to do every year so you’re probably not surprised, I’m taking a little blogging break so I can spend time with my family. Although it will be a bit different than in other years, it’s still holiday time 😊 So I will see you all in a couple weeks – most probably the first week of January 😊
Before we part company, I want to wish you all a happy and healthy holiday filled with love, laughter, joy, and family, and a happy, healthy and successful new year! It is a pleasure and a privilege to get to spend time with you all, and I’m happy and grateful to know each and every one of you!
Looking forward to all the things we’ll do in 2021!
Happy Holidays, and all best wishes for a wonderful New Year!!!
The Prizes!: OMG! So much awesomeness!!!
A Picture Book Manuscript Read and Critique by Agent Kaitlyn Sanchez of Olswanger Literary! Although she is currently closed to submissions (making this prize EXTRA special!) a look at her wish list will give you an idea of what she likes.
Agent Kaitlyn Sanchez
A 12×12 Silver Membership (valued at $177 but worth so much more!) generously donated by author and 12×12 founder and queen, Julie Hedlund! 12×12 is a fantastic, educational, supportive community with TONS to offer its members, including interesting and informational webinars of all kinds, access to forums and critiques, and the chance to submit to agents. If you’re not familiar with it, you can learn all about it HERE. Julie is the author of A Troop Is A Group of Monkeys (Little Bahalia Publishing, 2013), My Love For You Is The Sun (Little Bahalia Publishing, 2014), and the forthcoming Over, Bear! Under, Where? (Philomel Books, Fall 2021)
Julie Hedlund Photo credit Kim Huggins
A Picture Book Manuscript Read and On The Spot Critique by prolific author Laura Purdie Salas! Laura offers a 50-minute on on-the-spot critique via Zoom for one picture book manuscript of up to 600 words (fiction or nonfiction, rhyming or prose or poetry). She will read it out loud to the writer and then do a critique right then and answer questions. Laura is a writer of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, her own submissions and work for hire – she’s done it all! She is also the author of a number of fantastic books for writers which are often given as prizes here. Some of her books include A Leaf Can Be (Millbrook Press 2012), Clover Kitty Goes To Kittygarten (Two Lions 2020), Snowman – Cold = Puddle (Charlesbridge 2019), If You Were The Moon (Millbrook Press 2017), Making A Living Writing Books For Kids (CreateSpace 2017), and Picture Books The Write Way (CreateSpace 2014)
Rate Your Story owner, Picture Book Mechanic, and author Lynne Marie is offering 4 amazing prizes!
[From the Rate Your Story site] “A SPEED PASS allows a Non-Member to submit to Rate Your Story, as well as a Member to submit additional items to best serve the rating and feedback needs of our writing community.
We have a variety of Speedpass options, including pitches, query letters, art or a single manuscript at any time for a rating + guaranteed comments*, and it will be returned in less than 7 days’ time. Should you require a faster turnaround, fast pass options may be purchased to facilitate that.”
A Picture Book Manuscript Critique by gifted author and former Holiday Contest prize winner, Jenna Waldman, author of the forthcoming Larry’s Latkes (October 2021) (originally written for the Holiday Contest!) and Shark-bot Shalom (August 2021) She is on twitter at @SarafinaDesign
Personalized, signed copies of The Night Baafore Christmas (WorthyKids 2019) by Dawn Young and Louis (HMH Books For Young Readers 2020) by Tom Lichtenheld, illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch. The Night Baafore Christmas will be signed by Dawn, the author. Louis will be signed by Julie, the illustrator.
Two Picture Books (TBD) donated by Darshana Khiani, whose own picture book How To Wear A Sari is forthcoming from Versify in June 2021.
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 holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, or anywhere else if you like them, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊
You’re probably wondering if you’re in the right place since, if you’re like the rest of the civilized world, you woke up thinking it was Tuesday.
But Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.
We (imaginative bunch that we are) are going to join in collectively choosing to believe that it is still Monday because that’s when I said I would post the Holiday Contest finalists. And by gum. . . I almost managed it!
So close!
About three more hours and I would have pulled it off.
You’re probably also wondering what happened to my hair!
Turns out that gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair is a real thing when you have to read and judge 223 AMAZING Holiday Contest Entries and cut 211 of them to get down to 12 finalists! Ouch!
So here I am, one day before the first real snowstorm in ages is predicted to occur, which is not a good time to be suddenly bald, looking like I could be Humpty Dumpty’s sister (in more ways than one 😊) but there you have it.
I think I will set a new trend.
(You know how fashion forward I am!)
I will be wearing my Santa hat at all times for the foreseeable future 😊
Feel free to join me!
You lose 7 to 10 % of your body heat through your head, you know, and it’s probably more when you have no hairsulation. Santa hats are our friends. 🤶
Have a great day, everyone!
Remember to wear your hats!
See you soon 😊
What?
Oh!
Darn!
See?
I KNEW I’d forget something!
You came for a reason!
It’s time to announce the finalists for. . .
THE10THANNUALHOLIDAYCONTEST!!!
~forchildren’swriters~
So, I just want to say three little things before I post the actual finalists (shocking, I know, because normally I’m so quiet you can hardly get a word out of me 😊😊)
First, I want to thank EVERYONE who took the time and care to write an entry for this contest. You all did a fabulous job and provided great enjoyment for many!
Second, I’d also like to thank EVERYONE – writer, reader, or both – who took the time to go around and read as many entries as you could and leave supportive comments. This means so much to the writers who worked hard on their stories. It helps them see what they did well, as well as giving them the joy of knowing that their stories were read and enjoyed. I hope you all got as much delight and entertainment out of the reading as I did! Plus, we got to meet quite a few new people which was a wonderful added bonus! 😊
Third, I want to reiterate how difficult it was too choose! There were so many amazing entries. Really. I could find at least something terrific about every single one. The sheer volume of entries meant that many good ones had to be cut. So if yours didn’t make the final cut please don’t feel bad. There was a huge amount of competition. Judging, no matter how hard we try to be objective, is always subjective at a certain point – we all have our own preferences for what makes a great story. And the fact that you didn’t make the final cut DOES NOT mean you didn’t write a great story. Everyone who plonked their butt in a chair and worked hard to write a story for this contest is a winner! You showed up. You did your best work. You practiced your craft. You wrote to specifications and a deadline. You bravely shared your writing with the world. And you have a brand new story that is now yours to revise, expand, and polish if you like and maybe submit at some point to a magazine or as a PB manuscript. A lot of people have successfully done that at this point – we have quite a few books in the world that were born in Halloweensie, Holiday, or Valentiny Contests, plus a chapter book series that came out of the Fractured Fairy Tale Contest one spring! So bravo to everyone who entered!
You will recall the judging criteria:
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. Holiday Helpers! – the rules state a Holiday Helper story, so it must be crystal clear that the story is about someone helping someone else in some way during Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, New Year’s, or whatever seasonal winter holiday you choose. The story must center on helping – the help must not be just an offhand mention/reference in a story about something else.
3. 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.
4. Quality of Writing: check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best 😊 Overall writing quality and use of language are also important.
5. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.
As I said above, you all did a stellar job – there were no bad stories. But we had to pick the 12 we thought were the all-around best on all 5 counts listed. (12 because we have 12 prizes)
So, without further ado, I present to you the 2020 Holiday Contest Finalists. A mix of poetry and prose, stories for younger readers and slightly older (but still kid) readers, funny, poignant, sweet, and cute. Please read through them carefully, take your time, think it over, and vote for your favorite. To help with objectivity, finalists are listed by title only, not by author.
And I’d like to be very clear about the voting process. You are MOST welcome to share a link to this post on FB, twitter, or wherever you like to hang out, and encourage people to come read ALL the finalists and vote for the one they think is best. Please do that. The more people who read and enjoy these stories the better, and the more objective votes we get the better. HOWEVER (and I want to be very clear on this) please do notidentify yourself or ask others to identify you as a finalist on social media, please do not ask people to vote for a specific number or title, and please do not ask people to vote for the story about the unicorn-riding gingerbread princess or whatever. Trolling for votes or trying to influence the outcome is counter to the spirit of this competition which is supposed to be based on merit. I thank you in advance for respecting this.
So here we go! Read! Enjoy! VOTE! 😊
1. A SPARK OF FRIENDSHIP
[Note: “Shamash” is pronounced “shah-MAHSH”]
The menorah’s “helper candle,” the Shamash, as she is known, has never ever asked for help. She likes to work alone. For all eight nights of Hannukah, Shamash ignites each candle. “A gust of wind? A sneeze? A fan? There’s nothing I can’t handle!” Shamash can’t wait to start night one! She’s luminous and strong! She dazzles on the second night and hums The Dreidel Song. Night three arrives. Shamash continues beaming, all aglow. But on night four she flickers, fades. Her pacing starts to slow. Her blaze begins to dim night five. She fights with all her might. But on night six, she’s feeling faint. “I…mustn’t…lose…my….light!” The seventh night, Shamash is snuffed. She’s lost all spunk and spark. “I blew it! I’m extinguished!” she says, sobbing in the dark. “Need a light?” A voice calls out from up upon the shelf. “You mustn’t feel you need to do this job all by yourself!” A little lighter flicks a flame, announcing: “Hi, I’m Bic!” “And I’m Shamash!” She brightens, as he lights her wilted wick. Shamash, at last, alight again, illuminates the rest. She beams as all eight candles gleam. “I love night eight the best! “Oh, Bic! You are a miracle! You saved our holiday!” “I’m happy I could help,” he says, then tucks his torch away. Shamash prefers to work alone. “But this year, I’ll admit, that thanks to you, my new friend Bic, this Hannukah is LIT!”
2. The Christmas Owl
In the darkness of the forest, the young owl swooped, plunging his talons through powdery snow.
In the warmth of a fire Dara gazed at Christmas lights dancing a rainbow on the wintery world. A shadow of wings flickered by.
An owl?
* * *
Dara’s footsteps were silent as she walked between the trees.
She stopped, staring in awe. An impression in the snow, a perfect pair of wings.
An owl?
* * *
Freezing rain fell, coating every surface in crystal. Dara explored, marveling at the frozen world. A shadow caught her eye. A stooped shape! An owl!
She tiptoed closer. She watched, still and silent. Her toes went numb. The owl didn’t move.
Was it hurt? Did it need help?
“I’ll be right back!” Dara whispered.
* * *
When Kaylee, the wildlife expert, arrived, they watched the owl together. “When the snow forms a crust,” she murmured, “young owls can’t punch through to catch their prey. They get too hungry to hunt, too hungry to move.”
Dara’s heart felt as icy as the world around her. Would the owl be OK? Was she too late?
Kaylee crept towards the owl. She enveloped him in a blanket, gently placed him in a box. Dara’s sigh of relief made a puff in the wintery air.
* * *
On Christmas eve, the ice melted. Kaylee called.
At dusk, they walked into the dripping woods.
Kaylee held the owl high, gently relaxed her grip.
The owl flew!
“Merry Christmas!” whispered Dara to the empty forest.
3. CHRISTMAS IMPOSSIBLE: AN UNQUIET NIGHT
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirri –
“Wait – what’s that noise?” Santa whispered and paused placing presents. Chitter, chatter. Squeak!
“There it is again!” Santa froze and cupped his hand to his ear. Chitter, chatter. Squeak!
“Oh no,” the jolly man groaned. “That sounds like a- SQUIRREL!”
Santa dialed the Christmas Tree Hotline. The switchboard lit up like Rudolph’s red nose on a dark night. “We’ve got a code 57,” stated Santa. “Dispatching Elf Squirrel Division now, Sir.”
Gears, Ginger, Twinkle and Bob set their Santa Map coordinates and dashed out through the frosty flakes.
They reached the house and whooshed down the chimney. “So – ho happy you’re here,” said Santa. “Glad to help,” said Gears. They got to work while Santa snacked by the fire.
The elves climbed the tree but the squirrel scurried higher. The elves swooped down from the star but the squirrel hid deeper. Even Bob’s “never fail” tinsel lasso trick failed!
“We’re doomed!” cried Twinkle. “Is it snack time?” said Bob. “Sweet sugar plums that’s it!” cheered Ginger.
She set a trail of cookie crumbs down the tree.
The squirrel sniffed. It crept closer. Then… MUNCH!
Crumb by crumb it climbed down and into the open carrier. “Thanks team,” said Santa and up the chimney he rose.
The elves flew to the forest where the squirrel found the perfect pine.
Meanwhile at another house- “Finally,” sighed Santa. “Peace and –“
Chitter, chatter. Squeak!
4. FIRLING’S FRIEND
Firling breathed in the cold, crisp breeze. Though he stood only as tall as the park bench beside him, he could still sense the yuletide in the air. Firling’s thin branches stood still. He could hear the warm laughter in the snow covered park. His scarce pine needles vibrated with joy as the sweet notes of Christmas carols echoed off the frozen pond. ‘Tis the season! Firling thought. Soon I’ll be dressed in my Christmas best!
Firling watched as rows of nearby trees were adorned with colorful ornaments. Yards of beautiful garland twisted and twirled around his tree neighbors. Bright stars twinkled and angels perched atop trees as far as Firling could see. Who will decorate me? Firling worried.
Suddenly a small girl approached. “Aw! Poor, little tree! You’re the only bare one in the park.” Firling felt his bare branches sag. “Oh Christmas Tree, I can help! You stay right here! I’ll be back!”
Time passed and Firling began to worry that the girl wouldn’t come back. As the sun was just starting to set, the girl returned. Carefully, she hung hand cut paper hearts from Firling’s branches. She wrapped long strands of braided yarn from trunk to tree top. Finally, she placed a brightly painted cardboard star on Firling’s highest branch. The girl beamed at her work.
“Oh, little tree! How lovely are your branches!” The little girl flashed Firling one last smile, before heading down the sidewalk. Here I am, Firling thought. Dressed in my Christmas best!
5. Waddle Santa Do This Christmas?
The elves are tired out and in elf-isolation, They’ve worked all year long with no chance of vacation. Poor Santa is worried, but what can he do? He opens a letter that’s come from the Zoo!
Dear Santa, We’re bored as the zoo is in lockdown. Apart from the keepers the place is a ghost town! The Penguins at London Zoo love Christmas cheer! So, please can we help with your presents this year? With very best wishes and warm fishy kisses, Your best friends the Gentoo penguins
On reading the note Santa conjured a scheme, To rest up his elves and bring on the new team.
My dear Gentoo Penguins, I think that sounds swell! The elves will adore this, and I will as well! I’ll send down my reindeer, who have herd immunity, They’ll pick you up — what a great opportunity!
And everyone had such a wonderful day, The penguins wrapped presents, and packed up the sleigh. The elves made hot chocolate and played in the snow, Then baked penguin shapes out of gingerbread dough. The penguins all hope to go back there one day, And the elves will come visit the zoo, so they say. In the end for this Christmas it turned out alright, Merry Christmas to all and make sure you sleep tight!
6.The Solstice Tree
Owl watches as sunlight dims to a simmer, and starlight scatters across snowdust. Tonight is the longest night. Solstice is here.
He swoops down and calls from his perch in the frosted pine, Whooo can help me shine the light, Share gifts of hope on this long night?
I can help to shine the light! Squirrel places nuts on branches, gifts of hope for a plentiful harvest.
I can help to shine the light! Duck tucks feathers amongst the boughs, gifts of hope for cozy warmth.
I can help to shine the light! Fox props icicles alongside pinecones, gifts of hope for flowing energy.
I can help to shine the light! Rabbit sprinkles bits of bark, gifts of hope for strength and safety.
I can help to shine the light! Chickadee wraps grasses round and round, gifts of hope for rest and ease.
Bounding, waddling, soaring, hopping They frolic and feast around the tree. Until…
Footsteps thump. Twigs snap. Everyone freezes. A girl squeals, “Animals! And a beautiful tree!” Rabbit trembles. “Should we run?”
Owl shakes his head and winks an eye. Her wonder is a gift of light, and hope for all
on this dark night.
7. The Twelve Sleighs of Christmas
Santa’s arm hurt, and his sleigh was kaput— One runner bent sideways—all covered in soot.
A rooftop collision had totaled his rig. One tiny mistake that turned out to be big.
He had only been trying to test some new gear— To practice his landing for Christmas this year.
This awful dilemma stirred up the north pole. Poor jolly old Santa —an unlucky roll!
But the elves didn’t fret, and they shouted with glee, “Oh, don’t worry Santa, we’ve got a plan B!”
“Your sled may be broken, and so is your arm, But wood from your sleigh wreck has true Christmas charm.”
“We’ve already hammered and chiseled for days. Our elf crew has fashioned these twelve brand new sleighs.”
Sleighs one through three glowed with holly green paint— Dressed up with berries, all simple and quaint.
Sleighs four through six sported stripey red flames— A curvy design stamped with all the elf names.
Sleighs seven through nine all sparkled like snow— Cup holders for cocoa and revving to go.
Sleighs ten through twelve were bedecked to look bright— Festive with light bulbs—they sparkled with light.
The elves gathered gifts—from small to quite large. They hooked up the reindeer—now they were in charge!
These holiday helpers would rescue the day— Subbing for Santa with twelve jolly sleighs.
Zipping up in the sky, they sang out from their flight, “Merry Christmas to all and to all an elf night!”
8. CHRISTMASAURUS HEX
Wanda looked out the window. It was Halloween, but there wasn’t a skeleton in sight, just Santas and strings of colorful lights. “Christmas season starts earlier every year,” Wanda grumbled. “But this time they’ve gone too far.”
For the next 55 days, Wanda planned and plotted and prepared a spell to ruin Christmas.
On Christmas morning, Wanda took a candy cane and waved her wand. “Halloween was skipped, and so I’m vexed. Give me a monster that runs, roars, and wrecks.”
POOF!
Wanda clapped as a Christmasurus appeared. “Come with me and help,” she cackled.
But when the Christmasaurus ran through town, everyone smiled.
“You’re fast,” a child said. “Please pull our sled.” The Christmasaurus was happy to help.
Wanda grumbled and waved her wand. Needs to be louder.
POOF!
But when the Christmasaurus roared, everyone cheered. “Your voice is the perfect pitch,” a caroler said. “Please sing with us.” The Christmasaurus was happy to help.
Wanda grumbled and waved her wand again. Needs to be bigger.
POOF!
But when the Christmasaurus went to wreck the tree, everyone looked relieved. “You’re just the right height,” the mayor said. “Please put the star on top.” The Christmasaurus was happy to help.
Wanda flew home fuming.
The Christmasaurus followed with a note from the mayor.
“Dear Wanda,” it read. “Thank you for the holiday helper. I hope to see you both at the Christmas party. P.S. Sorry we missed Halloween.” Wanda grinned. “Why not?” she said. “I do like parties.”
9. The Christmas Corgi
Dash, the Christmas corgi, Tries so hard to do his part. He might be small in stature, But he has a helpful heart! But Dash can’t wrap the presents. He’s too short to trim the trees. And if he tries to shovel snow – His stubby legs will freeze! The cookies are too tempting, And he can’t quite reach the lights. And have you ever heard a corgi… Singing “Silent Night?” He can’t harness the reindeer, Or help put together toys. And Dash can’t read the letters Sent by all the girls and boys. He’s too small to pull Santa’s sled; His nose will never glow. So Dash can’t shine the way Through storms of swirling, blowing snow. But if you’ve had a long, hard night, Of flying through the cold… If climbing down chimneys and stairs has left you feeling old… If you need something soft and warm to help you get some rest… For snuggles, fluff, and love, A Christmas corgi is the best!
10. NOT TOO LITTLE
I tried to help bake While Mom answered the door But SPLAT! Cookie dough spilled All over the floor!
I tried putting lights On the tree for my Dad But I couldn’t reach high enough It was so sad!
“You’re still just too little To help us right now But maybe next year You can help us somehow!”
“Too little, too little That’s all that I hear I don’t want to wait Until Christmas next year!”
Too little, too little, Too little I’m not! I know I can help I just need the right spot!
Then Christmas Eve came We had all gone to bed. We were all in our dreams Cookies danced through my head
My daddy snoozed, snoring Mom mumbled in sleep And my little brother Was counting his sheep
When out of my slumber I woke with a yelp A clamorous crash! Someone needed my help!
I bounded from bed And raced into the den As the clock struck twelve I caught sight of HIM!
He was setting the Christmas tree Back up and then… I saw it was Santa! White beard on his chin!
“I’m just bit late Do a favor for me? Fill up the stockings? Put gifts ‘round the tree?”
“Yes sir!” I shouted! “Just leave it to me!” “Thanks for the help,” Santa shouted with glee!
Up the chimney he went And jumped into his sleigh “Great helper!” I heard As he went on his way!
11. Let it Grow! Let it Grow! Let it Grow!
Oh the weather outside was dreary And the plants were looking weary. Poor Santa was filled with woe. “They won’t grow! They won’t grow! They won’t grow!”
“A Venus fly-trap for Tommy, And a String of Pearls for Mommy?! Their progress is much too slow! They won’t grow! They won’t grow! They won’t grow!”
Rudolph finally came one night. “How plants hate being out in a storm! Northern climate just isn’t right– The leaves and the roots should be warm!”
They ran around helter-skelter And devised to build a shelter. “Protected from ice and snow, They will grow, they will grow, they will grow!”
Well they didn’t show signs of perking. “Oh no, it isn’t working!” “Dear Santa, don’t feel so low. They will grow! They will grow! They will grow!”
“It’s not enough to be cozy.” So Rudolph lit his nosey. The greenhouse was set aglow. “There they go! There they go! There they go!”
Santa finally cheered “Hooray! Rudy’s light has again saved the day! Little Tom and his mom will cheer, And I can grow plants through the year!”
When the weather outside is nippy Santa’s garden still looks zippy. “With a greenhouse and Rudolph’s glow, Let it snow! Let it blow! They will grow!”
12. The Sleigh-Awake Band
Santa packs up his sled for the long night ahead, of lifting and gifting and being well-fed. The cookies and milk make the big guy feel tired, (but staying awake for his job is required!).
ZZZZZZZZZZ….
The sleigh teeters left and then sails to the right, and loops through the air like a runaway kite. The reindeer are dizzy, the presents are sliding – “It’s time” shout the elves (who had all been in hiding).
Jingle’s on cymbals and Jangle’s on cello. The sound shakes the sleigh just like jiggly jell-o. Now Santa is stirring. Noelle grabs a drum, and RAT-A-TAT-TATS til’ her thumbs become numb.
Then Eve heaves her tuba and gives it a blast. BOOM, BOOM “Wake up Santa, and please make it fast!” WHOOOSH! Just in time. He grabs hold of the reins. The sleigh soars up high, past the birds and the planes.
The Sleigh-Awake Band jams across the night sky. “You rock!” Santa shouts with a gleam in his eye. You helped me make presents, baked cookies and cake, but you helped me the most when you kept me awake!
Now, each Christmas Eve, Santa makes sure to pack the Sleigh-Awake Band to help keep him on track! BOOM BOOM, RATTLE RATTLE, A RAT-A-TAT TAT! They’re off to spread joy with the tip of his hat….
Now YOU get to enjoy the agony of decision as you try to choose which of those amazing entries to vote for! You’re going to need that Santa hat!
Please vote for the entry you feel deserves to win in the poll below by 7PM EST Thursday December 17th.
Tune in Friday December 18th to see THE WINNERS!!! – same bat time, same bat station 😊
Thank you all so much for taking the time to write (if you did), read, and vote! These contests simply wouldn’t be what they are without all of you!
I truly cannot wait to see who you choose as the winner! Good luck!!! 😊
⭐️Deck the Halls! ⭐️ Light the menorah! ⭐️ Fill the Kikombe cha Umoja! ⭐️
It’s time for . . .
THE10THANNUALHOLIDAYCONTEST!!!
~forchildren’swriters~
The Contest: Write a children’s holiday story (children here defined as age 12 and under) about a Holiday Helper!
Your helper can be one helper, or a pair, or a group or a bevy or a herd of helpers. Your helpers can be children, animals, elves, aliens, unicorns, fairies . . . whatever your heart desires. He/she/they can help bake, decorate, shovel snow, wrap gifts, clean the house, entertain guests, feed the hungry, comfort the lonely, bring the holiday spirit to those who have lost it – sky’s the limit 😊 But the focus of the story must be on helping – not just a brief mention in passing that Marla helped Dad set the table in the middle of a story about her frustration at not getting the starring role in the school holiday pageant.
Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, New Year’s or whatever you celebrate during the Holiday Season, but is not to exceed 250 words (I know! So much freedom after the Halloweensie Contest 😊 ) (It can be as short as you like (the judges will be grateful 😊 , you are welcome and encouraged to write shorter, but no more than 250! Title not included in word count.) The field is wide open! Have fun! The more creative the better! No illustration notes please. (And yes, if you feel compelled to submit more than one entry you may, just remember you’re competing against yourself!)
Post: Your entry should be posted between right now this very second and Wednesday December 9th at 11:59 PM EST, in ONE of the following three ways:
Post your entry on your own blog and enter your post-specific link (not your main blog URL) to the link list below, OR
Paste your entry in the comment section below (please include your byline since if your posting handle is something like MamaWritesByNightlight I will have no idea who you are 😊), OR
If you have trouble pasting your entry in the comment section for any reason (which unfortunately does happen!) you can email it to me at susanna[at]susannahill[dot]com and I will post it for you. If you email it, please copy and paste your entry into the body of the email NO ATTACHMENTS – they will not be opened. Please include your title and byline at the top of your entry. (And since there have been many questions about this byline means who it’s by, for example, The Hanukkah Helper by Janie Simcox.)
Please submit your entry only ONCE! If you add it to the blog link list, and the comments, and email me to post it, things get very confusing! I try to stay as glued to my desk as possible, but sometimes I have to get up so if I don’t respond to your email or approve your post immediately, don’t panic! I’ll get to it as soon as I can!
There will be no regular posts (Tuesday Debut, Would You Read It, or Perfect Picture Book) for the duration of the contest so this post with the links and comments will stay up for everyone to visit and enjoy until I post the finalists.
The Judging: My lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to approximately 10 finalists (depending on the number of entries – if we get a lower turnout we’ll post fewer finalists, a higher turnout possibly one or two more.) In the interest of finishing up the contest in a timely fashion so everyone can go about their holidays, we will do our best to post the finalists here by Monday December 14th for you to vote on for a winner. The vote will be closed on Wednesday December 16th at 5 PM EST. Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to tenth place (or wherever we place to), and the winners will be announced on Thursday December 17th. (These dates are subject to adjustment if it takes the judges longer than we anticipate to get the judging completed.)
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. Holiday Helpers! – the rules state a Holiday Helper story, so it must be crystal clear that the story is about someone helping someone else in some way during Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, New Year’s, or whatever seasonal winter holiday you choose. The story must center on helping – the help must not be just an offhand mention/reference in a story about something else.
3. 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.
4. Quality of Writing: check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc. If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best 😊 Overall writing quality and use of language are also important.
5. Originality and creativity – because that is often what sets one story above another.
6. PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS! Large numbers of entries make it easy to cut entries that haven’t been entered as we asked.
The Prizes!: The prize list is completely and totally awesome! Read! Covet! Write your best! 😊
A Picture Book Manuscript Read and Critique by Agent Kaitlyn Sanchez of Olswanger Literary! Although she is currently closed to submissions (making this prize EXTRA special!) a look at her wish list will give you an idea of what she likes.
Agent Kaitlyn Sanchez
A 12×12 Silver Membership (valued at $177 but worth so much more!) generously donated by author and 12×12 founder and queen, Julie Hedlund! 12×12 is a fantastic, educational, supportive community with TONS to offer its members, including interesting and informational webinars of all kinds, access to forums and critiques, and the chance to submit to agents. If you’re not familiar with it, you can learn all about it HERE. Julie is the author of A Troop Is A Group of Monkeys (Little Bahalia Publishing, 2013), My Love For You Is The Sun (Little Bahalia Publishing, 2014), and the forthcoming Over, Bear! Under, Where? (Philomel Books, Fall 2021)
Julie Hedlund Photo credit Kim Huggins
A Picture Book Manuscript Read and On The Spot Critique by prolific author Laura Purdie Salas! Laura offers a 50-minute on on-the-spot critique via Zoom for one picture book manuscript of up to 600 words (fiction or nonfiction, rhyming or prose or poetry). She will read it out loud to the writer and then do a critique right then and answer questions. Laura is a writer of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, prose, her own submissions and work for hire – she’s done it all! She is also the author of a number of fantastic books for writers which are often given as prizes here. Some of her books include A Leaf Can Be (Millbrook Press 2012), Clover Kitty Goes To Kittygarten (Two Lions 2020), Snowman – Cold = Puddle (Charlesbridge 2019), If You Were The Moon (Millbrook Press 2017), Making A Living Writing Books For Kids (CreateSpace 2017), and Picture Books The Write Way (CreateSpace 2014)
Rate Your Story owner, Picture Book Mechanic, and author Lynne Marie is offering 4 amazing prizes!
[From the Rate Your Story site] “A SPEED PASS allows a Non-Member to submit to Rate Your Story, as well as a Member to submit additional items to best serve the rating and feedback needs of our writing community.
We have a variety of Speedpass options, including pitches, query letters, art or a single manuscript at any time for a rating + guaranteed comments*, and it will be returned in less than 7 days’ time. Should you require a faster turnaround, fast pass options may be purchased to facilitate that.”
A Picture Book Manuscript Critique by gifted author and former Holiday Contest prize winner, Jenna Waldman, author of the forthcoming Larry’s Latkes (October 2021) (originally written for the Holiday Contest!) and Shark-bot Shalom (August 2021) She is on twitter at @SarafinaDesign
Personalized, signed copies of The Night Baafore Christmas (WorthyKids 2019) by Dawn Young and Louis (HMH Books For Young Readers 2020) by Tom Lichtenheld, illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch. The Night Baafore Christmas will be signed by Dawn, the author. Louis will be signed by Julie, the illustrator.
Two Picture Books (TBD) donated by Darshana Khiani, whose own picture book How To Wear A Sari is forthcoming from Versify in June 2021.
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 holiday or other gift purchases, rating and/or reviewing their books on GoodReads, Amazon, B&N, or anywhere else if you like them, and supporting them in any other way you can dream up! 😊
This is the part in the proceedings where I would normally post my sample to entertain and encourage you. Ahem. Seems I’ve been a little over-scheduled with life lately, and my sample isn’t quite finished. . . If I can get it done whilst running the contest I’ll pop it in here. If not, you guys have the hang of these contest by now and you don’t really need my example! 😊
I know you guys are going to come up with great stories, and I’m so looking forward to reading them all! 😊
***UPDATE 12/8/20*** – I’m late adding this in and it would have benefited greatly from more time to work and a slightly longer word count, but. . .
A Little Christmas Joy (249 words)
Cara longed to play in the snow. She wanted to open her mouth and feel the cold snowflakes melt on her tongue. She wanted to lie on her back and make snow angels. But Cara wasn’t allowed outside alone, and everyone was busy inside because it was Christmas Eve. “So many presents to wrap!” Mom said. “I’ll help!” said Cara. She handed Mom scissors and tape, and pressed her finger to the crossed ribbon so Mom could tie a snug bow. “This tree needs decorating!” said Dad. “I’ll help!” said Cara. She hung pepperminty candy canes from the fragrant-needled boughs wherever she felt spaces. “So much cookie dough to bake!” said Cara’s big sister. “I’ll help!” said Cara. She grinned and scooped a fingerful of dough from the bowl into her mouth. The whole day passed, and Cara never got to play in the snow. She carefully placed cookies and milk on the hearth for Santa, along with apples for the reindeer. When Santa arrived, he saw everything Cara had helped with – the presents, the tree, the cookies – and her snow boots waiting hopefully by the back door. He smiled and whispered, “You help everyone else. It’s time you got a little special help yourself.” When Cara awoke, her gift was beside her. A wet nose, a wagging tail, and a note in Braille on her collar that read: Hi Cara! I’m Joy, your Guiding Eyes. I can’t wait to take you out to play in the snow!
*** There you have it 😊 ***
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 to add your post-specific link to the google form below so we can all come read your awesome stories! (Post-specific means not your main blog url, but the actual url of the post that has your story in it – otherwise if you post again before the contest ends, your link will take readers… and judges!… to the wrong place!)
Eager Readers – just go along the list of links, click on them, and enjoy the stories! And don’t miss the fabulous entries that are posted in the comments below! The titles are listed and linked just below the link list at the bottom of the post and will take you directly to the stories!
Happy Writing and Happy Holidays!!!🎄⭐️ ✡️❄️☃️🕎
Don’t miss the 119!!! fabulous entries that are posted in the comments below! The titles are linked and will take you directly to the stories!
It’s Perfect Picture Book Friday, and not a moment too soon!
Have you looked at the weather forecast for today and tomorrow? There could be no better way to spend the next two days than with a pile of perfect picture books and a cup of cocoa and your favorite little readers (or your favorite little or not-so-little writers. . . yes, you. . . who are reading perfect picture books to learn from the masters 😊)
Today’s Perfect Picture Book is so pretty and so touching I know you’re going to love it!
Opening: “In the front yard of a little house, on the branches of a mighty evergreen, there lived a happy pair of cardinals.”
text and illustration copyright Matt Tavares 2017, Candlewick
Brief Synopsis: [from the book jacket] “Red and Lulu make their nest in a particularly beautiful evergreen tree. But one day, something unthinkable happens, and Red and Lulu are separated. It will take a miracle for them to find each other again. Luckily, it’s just the season for miracles. . . . “
Links To Resources: the afterword contains a brief history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree tradition; what are some holiday traditions in your family? draw a picture, write a story or poem, or make up a song about a special holiday tradition in your family; in the story, the cardinals’ favorite Christmas carol is O, Christmas Tree, which was originally sung in German as O, Tannenbaum. Do you have a favorite Christmas or other holiday carol/song? Was it originally in English, or did it come from another language? Which one?
text and illustration copyright Matt Tavares 2017, Candlewick
Why I Like This Book: This is a such a sweet and lovely story – one of those stories that tug at your heartstrings and make it a little hard to read aloud in some parts past the lump in your throat 😊 Red and Lulu are so happy in their tree, and when the tree is taken, with Lulu still in it, Red flies as fast and as far as he can, determined not to lose Lulu. But a bird cannot fly as fast as a truck can drive. . . I love Red’s devotion and determination which clearly show his love for Lulu. I don’t want to give away the ending. . . so I won’t!😊. . . but it’s just right. The watercolor-and-gouache illustrations are full of detail – so pretty! Don’t miss this heartwarming story!
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific links (and any other info you feel like filling out 🙂 ) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
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