2026's Silly Love Sonnets Kidlit Poetry Contest!
- Little Thoughts Press
- Feb 8
- 2 min read
Valentine's Day is almost here!
To celebrate and spread a little kidlit love, we are excited to once again host our
"Silly Love Sonnets” Kidlit Poetry Contest!
This year, we are happy to welcome our guest judge, Linda Hofke!
Linda was our 2025 Silly Love Sonnets winner!
It's time again to celebrate the little things you love the most! Blue M&Ms, kitty cat sneezes, cupcake frosting, absolutely nailing a backflip when jumping on a trampoline! Give us unusual perspectives: the first flake of a big snowstorm making its way to the ground, a hummingbird in search of the perfect flower, a chocolate chip cookie excited to be a child's yummy treat.
Don't let the form scare you away. We are looking for sonnets but aren't sticklers for specific rules. Just give us fourteen lines about something silly you love. Rhyme and meter are a plus, but aren't required.
What: A fourteen-line poem celebrating any little thing you love. The sillier the better! This is all about spreading joy and saluting the small pleasures in life. All submissions should be appropriate for a readership of kids ages 12 and younger.
Who: Agented, pre-agented, published, pre-published, writers of all ages and stages— all kidlit creatives are welcome to enter!
When: The contest submission period is from February 9th - 11th. A winner, two honorable mentions, and a kid choice winner will be announced here, on the Little Thoughts Press blog, and on our socials on Saturday, February 14th! Selected poems will be featured on the blog and the winner will receive a free copy of their choice of one of our issues & a bookmark featuring Little Thoughts Press cover art. Winning entries will be selected by our guest judge, Linda Hofke (last year's Silly Love Sonnets winner!) and by Little Thoughts Press editor-in-chief, Claire.
How to enter: Post your entry as a comment on this post by 11:59 pm (EST) on February 11th. Comments will be turned on starting February 9th. Entries posted outside of this window will not be considered. Please include your name with your poem so we know for sure whose entry it is!
Details: Rhyme and meter are not required, but your sonnet must be fourteen lines. 1 entry per kidlit creator.
Grab your copy of our participant badge and help spread the word by sharing #sillylovesonnets on your socials! We can't wait to see all the silly things you can't help but love!
When Some-bunny Gets You
by Jenn Gaulding
Every day Marie comes home with me.
We race to space aboard my tire swing
or host a tea with acorns from my tree.
Together, we imagine everything.
Today, we find two bunnies in my shed.
We scoop them up and hold them oh-so-tight!
“I’ll name mine Hops,” I wink. “Let’s call yours Fred.”
We pet and hug them, giggling with delight.
We’re all in now — devoted to their needs.
We build them shelters, colorful and strong,
then pick and fix them yummy bowls of weeds.
Marie and me, we love them all day long.
Our friendship’s full of silliness and trust,
and afternoons with bunnies — made…
Fourteen in the Fourteen
February the fourteenth marks romance
It started in the fourteenth century
The love day customs started to advance
This day would stay in people’s memory
Valentine’s Day is now about a sweet
The fourteenth century flew like a dove
Back then you’d be lucky to get a treat
This day was noted to be one for love
People drew names to pick a valentine
Hung up everywhere lights like a fairy
Outside all you hear is will you be mine
Children play in the snow couples marry
It was honoured in history’s pages
So it kept flowing throughout the ages
-Isabelle Paruzel-Gibson
(Age 11)
Ode to Cheese
by Lisa Billa
Oh cheese, I love you countless ways–
for breakfast, lunch or snack:
shredded, grated, sliced, or melted
in a mini-burger stack.
You bring the zing to popcorn
(though there’s cheese dust in the car).
You add pizzazz to pizza–
on each slice, you’re the star!
You travel in my lunchbag,
prepared in cubes or strings;
you pair so well with crackers
and sweet or savory things.
Yes, nothing dims my love for you–
unless you’re filled with streaks of blue.
Confessions of a Candy Heart
By Sarah Elynn
Look! I’m on the shelf! It’s finally me!
All pink! All proud! All love! All glee!
“BE MINE!” “TEXT ME!” “UR CUTE!” “WOW!”
I’ve got all the messages ready to go right now!
Valentine’s coming! Tomorrow’s the day!
I’ll sprinkle sweet feelings every which way!
But wait. Why’s my box going… down… down… down?
Why am I headed to Discount Town?
My buddy Candy Corn tried to prepare me: “Kid, seasonal fame is temporary.”
I dreamed of forever in aisle fifteen,
Of ruling the shelves like a candy queen.
Now bunnies and eggs have stolen my seat.
Curse you, yellow marshmallow Peep!