WELCOME BACK TO A BRAND-NEW YEAR OF FUN!  DURING SPRING, WE MEET SO MANY NEW FACES AND RECONNECT WITH OUR KIDLIT FAMILY. WE CHERISH THIS TIME WHERE OUR COMMUNITY BLOSSOMS. KAITLYN AND I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY CONNECTING, WRITING, AND SHARING FUNNY GIFS AS MUCH AS WE DO.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR STORIES IN THE FORM BELOW. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE BE SURE TO READ OVER THE RULES FIRST BEFORE SENDING AN EMAIL OUR WAY PRETTY PLEASE. 

FEEL FREE TO POST YOUR STORY IN THE COMMENTS BELOW. AND PLEASE CHEER YOUR FOR YOUR FELLOW WRITERS. BEST OF LUCK!

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOMETIMES THE FORM MAY TAKE A WHILE TO UPLOAD YOUR ENTRY. IF YOU DON'T SEE IT, TRY REFRESHING YOUR BROWSER BEFORE EMAILING. :) 

It is time!

We know you've all been waiting oh-so-patiently.

The struggle was real! We even had to add an extra prize because we just couldn’t decide!!!  Kaitlyn rocks! : 0 )

(Thanks for making it so hard guys! Geez.)
 
Now, what you have all been waiting for-

Winners will be contacted via email to select prizes. Please wait till we contact you. : )

​​And these are just a few of the many honorable mentions we wish we could make.

​All your stories had a piece of magic that made us ooey gooey with the feels, caused chuckles, or left us in awe. Kaitlyn and I are so proud to be a part of the kidlit community. Regardless of whether you see your name below, thank you for having the courage to share your stories with us! And thank you for supporting each other!

April 1st has arrived!

It’s time to submit your entries. Kaitlyn and I can’t wait to read your stories.

If you need any help or reminders of rules, scroll down to yesterday’s post.  :)

​Now if you will excuse me, I need to go get some popcorn…or coffee…whichever comes first…but not together, that would be gross. 

If you don't see your response below, give it a few minutes. It may take some time for your entry to show, I also included the button for you to be able to click for a larger view of the "Received Response" form. :)

After you submitted your response in the form above, you are done! Woot Woot!

Now, if you don't have a blog, feel free to post your story in the comments below.

You by no means have to post it there, only if you would like feedback. Kaitlyn and I will judge entries posted in the google form. Happy Writing!

Spring Fling is tomorrow! Can you believe it?
 
Check back here tomorrow to find the form where you will submit your entries. Here’s a reminder of the rules.
1. Your story should be geared towards kids ages 12 or under.

2. Choose a gif to inspire your story. be sure to share where you found your wonder gif. (The website or if you created it yourself!)

3. All gifs should be child appropriate and in no way be derogatory towards any faith, race, etc.

4. Now for the dreaded word count! You have 150 words. That’s it! No more but less is always welcome.

(Your title is not included in the word count.)

5. No illustration notes pretty please.

6. Your gif should be the only visual with your story.

7. he Spring Fling contest officially begins on Wednesday April 1st and closes April 3rd, post your gif and story on your blog.

(If you don't have a blog, no worries, you can put your whole story in the form below to enter the contest. If you want others to read your entry, feel free to post your story in the comment with the link to your gif. Please note: your entry must be submitted on the Google Form in order to be considered. We love comments, but the Google Form is the most important!)

8. Fill out the form on the Google Form. (This form will not be posted until April 1st.)

9. Deadline for posting your story or the link to your story is April 3rd at 11:59pm CST.
​
10. Only one entry per contestant is permitted.

Working with Kaitlyn last month reminded why Kaitlyn Sanchez makes me chuckle.

I say, “Girl, simmer down on the prizes.”

She responds, “Don’t worry, Ciara, we are going to do WAY less this year.”
 
(Not even a day later)
Ding goes my email-

From: Kaitlyn
To: Ciara
 So… we really need to include this person in our prizes, because OMG, they are THE best.”


“You’re not wrong,” I laugh and we add them to the list.

​
Now your curious about who our wonderful and generous prize donors are, aren’t you? Great! Click the link below to see the prizes Spring Fling website.

Wow, my friends!

The talent this year blew us away.

We wish that we could give every single one of you a prize. Just a few entries in, it became very clear that choosing was going to be quite the chore! Your stories were FANTASTIC!

Kaitlyn and I kept adding and adding more Honorable Mentions because there were so many great things. So please know that even if you didn’t place in the top, your stories were incredible. Don’t be discouraged. Every story you write, every competition you enter, every time you get your voice out there, it’s a victory!

Thank you so much for sharing your kidlit love with us. And congrats to our winners! (We will be contacting you to select your prizes.)

And now for our...

Currie
Honorable Mentions

Folk Tales Fun
NERIS and the Easter Rain by Ilona Bray
Fox’s Folly by Debora Daugherty
Harry’s Springtime Adventure by Vanessa Del Fabbro

Count Me In!

Four Little Bear Cubs by Stephanie Owen
Counting on Spring Picnic by Susie Sawyer

Beautiful Message

Spring is for Hoping by Armineh Nookian
The Spring in Me Jyothi Nookula
They Say I’m Brave by Lisa Acuff

Oh So Sweet!
The Mushroom Hunt by Ashlee Hashman
I Am Kai by Devin Devors
Betsy’s Rainbows Balloons by Donna O'Donnell Figurski

Great Endings
A Noise in the Night by Mary Ann Blair
Wishing You Home by Matt Gorgans
Lady Spring Comes Riding by Suzanne Poulter Harris

Awesomely Original
Waiting for Spring by Han O’Reilly
Spring Surprise! By Delia Black
Mad Goose by Robin Currie

Rhyme Time!
Spring Has Sprung by Samantha Sinclair

STEM Love!
Pushing Poo Means I Love You by Lori Housely
Venus’ Spring Trap by Tonnye Fletcher
Bogus Easter Bunny by Jill Lambert
One Grain of Sand by Kaitlin Sikes

Innovative Structure
Earthworm is Angry by Kelly Coutsoubos
Bicycle Bully by Erin MAtzen

Gave Me Butterflies
Carlise and the Butterflies by Beth Gallagher
How Dani P. Monarch Changed Her Life by Carrie Fannin

Grandparents are Grand!
Hanging Laundry by Sarah Rose
Daisy Chain by Erin Rew
Springbreak Blizzard by Lorie Sheron

Oh So Timely!
Making Up for Lost Time by Sarah Meade
Andy Rocks by Ann Kayoffsky

Memorable Characters
Recess! By Katherin Hunton
Smile in the Sky by Katie Brandberry
I Am Spring! By Claire Lewis

Awesomely Original
Waiting for Spring by Han O’Reilly
Spring Surprise! By Delia Black


Unexpected
Sassy in Spring by Karen Pickrell
Mad Goose by Robin Currie


Purrrfectly Good Stories
Winona Win-No-No by Becky Goodman
Martha’s Snoozing Adventure by Heather Morris

Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Opening Day--Postponed by Amy LewoUpski
Giving Up (On Luck) Brenda Whitehead
One Ball Game by Joel Chalmers

Great Gifs with Great Stories
The Sandbox Dragon by Jonathan Detley
Melvin Mushroom Gets Noticed by Molly Ippolito
Spring Break at the Museum by George Neeb

Cracking Me Up!
Easter Elf by Kriste Strocchia
Martha’s Beesiness Trip BY Allison Strick
The Mocktopus by Leah Block

Thank you for all the fun! 

Right click on this badge and click "Save Image" to add this badge to your site!

Can't get enough of the Spring
​Fling fun? Join Kaitlyn on her blog for
analysis of Our winning stories.
Click here

Here Ye! Here Ye! Spring
​Fling kidlit HAS OFFICIALLY begun!

What are the Rules?

1. Your story should be geared towards kids ages 12 or under.

2. Choose a gif to inspire your story. be sure to share where you found your wonder gif. (The website or if you created it yourself!)
​
3. All gifs should be child appropriate and in no way be derogatory towards any faith, race, etc.

4. Now for the word count! You have 150 words. That’s it! No more but less is always welcome.
(Your title is not included in the word count.)

5. No illustration notes pretty please.

6. Your gif should be the only visual with your story.

7. The Spring Fling contest officially begins on April 1ST AND ENDS April 3RD. post your gif and story on your blog.

(if you don't have a blog, no worries, you can put your whole story in the form below. if you want others to read it too, feel free to post your story in the comment with the link to your gif.)

8. Once you have finished your post, fill out the form below. There will be a place to add your story and blog link. 

9. The deadline for posting your story is April 3RD at 11:59pm CST.

10. Only one entry per contestant please.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Tuesday activities for this Spring Fling announcement.

​Our little Spring Fling contest is in its third year!!!!
 
So many things have changed since this first began; masks, weather, presidents. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the generosity of the kidlit community!

I am always so humbled and impressed with all the wonderful people willing to donate their time and books to our cause.
 
Kaitlyn and I are springing with excitement to announce our Prize Donors!

We can’t wait for the contest to begin, but in the meantime, checkout the wonderful prize donors by clicking the button below.