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Thank you to everyone who shared the love in our Silly Love Sonnets kidlit poetry contest! It was so much fun to read through all of the incredible entries and delight in the little things you all love! You all made it so hard to choose that we ended up awarding more prizes than we had originally intended. First up, we are excited to announce our WINNER... RYANN JONES Ode to OREOs But soft, what cream through yonder cookie breaks? ‘Tis OREO, and mine taste buds awake. A prize for glorious centers sweet. Peanut butter, mint, and birthday cake treat. And praise for thy chocolate divine. Oh, how I wish thou were mine, only mine! Whether stuck in mine teeth or new in thine pack Oh crunchy companion, you’re my favorite snack. And thy beautiful shape, so perfectly round. ‘Tis better than other cookies I’ve found. Goodnight, goodnight, till it be morrow. Parting from thee is such sweet sorrow, Shall I hide thee in a place only I know? My one true love . . . Oh, OREO! Congratulations, Ryann! There's no doubting your love for Oreos; this poem is double-stuffed with devotion! Here are more of our thoughts on this winning piece: Claire: How fitting for a Silly Love Sonnet to take one of literature's most notable declarations of desire and direct it at a cookie! And truly, is there any cookie more deserving than the Oreo whose pairing with a glass of milk could rival that of Romeo and Juliet any day? We came looking for a bit of fun and trivial delights and Ryann's entry really delivered. Carrie: Well, who doesn't love an Oreo cookie? I know I do. Ryann did a great job balancing archaic language and form with modern sensibilities. All the "ohs" and other round sounds throughout seemed to echo the cookie shape, adding a fun layer of sensory appeal for me. I imagine that both William Shakespeare and Sam Porcello (the creator of this fun black-and-white confection) would be proud of Ryann’s tribute. AND OUR RUNNER-UP IS... ANNELIES JUDSON My Love For You My love for you is hard to show. I watch you as you come and go. I’m waiting for the day you’ll know How much I really love you so. I know that I’m no Romeo But given time, our love could grow. My love for you is hard to show. * My love for you is hard to show. I try to wave and say hello… I move my body to and fro… I swim around a fake chateau…! My love for you is hard to show. * If I could wish a wish for you I’d wish you were a goldfish, too. Claire: So clever! The unique perspective in this poem sneaks up on you and then you get the great payoff in the ending couplet. You can just picture the goldfish brimming with love as it swims back and forth and I can't help but feel a twinge of sadness for the little fish and its big, unrequited love. Carrie: This poem snuck up on me. Coming to the turnaround line of that "fake chateau" snapped everything into focus, and bam! All of a sudden, I was feeling some feelings—so poignant and unexpected. Great work here. There were so many wonderful entries that we ended up selecting three Honorable Mentions in addition to our winner and runner-up. Please join us in congratulating our three HONORABLE MENTIONS... IAN BROWNIE Ode to a beach scene jigsaw Shall I construct thee to a summer’s day? Only if all thy pieces so align. A thousand of them, lying where they may; The table hasn’t room on which to dine. Whither the primarily yellow bits? Up and away to form the glowing sun, Or maybe as a playful towel it fits? I wonder how frustration’s so much fun. I pray that piece I need is not mislaid. It should go there, behind the ice cream van. Oh no, I really don’t require your aid; My satisfaction’s knowing that I can. All done, hurray! The puzzle is complete. ‘Twas so engrossing I forgot to eat! Claire: Both the puzzle's beach scene and the image of someone working on a puzzle are wonderfully brought to life in this poem, and in only fourteen lines! I loved all the little specific details of the puzzle with the towel and the ice cream van, as well as the nods to the puzzle's obtrusive and frustrating qualities. Plus there's a nicely woven-in message here about the joy that comes from sticking with a hard task and seeing it through to its end. Carrie: Here's another fun nod to the Bard. The vivid and specific language took me straight into the scene and kept me there, which mirrored what the narrator was experiencing. There's even a bit of a story arc, which is fabulous in such a short space. My favorite line is "I wonder how frustration's so much fun," which perfectly sums up the mysterious joy of jigsaw puzzles. STEFAN KARLSSON A Valentine's Flower for Frankenstein’s Monster Even a monster like me loves flowers: roses and tulips, petunias and buttercups. I’ve got a green thumb and a florist’s nose all thanks to the doctor who sewed me up. But I planted roses and they died—oh, I cried! Then my tulips withered—my green lips quivered! My petunias perished—well, those I forgot to water… And my buttercups croaked—I blubbered, I choked! If only my garden was green like me... But that’s it! If my yard is a tomb, then I’ll gather dead blossoms and zap ‘em—boom!— to make a new monstrous, mishmash bloom! From fallen petals—behold!—my Franken-Flower is born! I love it but it stinks and—ouch—it has thorns. Claire: This poem has a ton of kid appeal. It's like a Valentine to all the little Halloween fans out there! I love the humorous image of this poor monster trying to grow flowers and inadvertently killing them all instead. I can just picture its quivering green lips and look of dejection. I love that the monster, who is made from a mishmash of parts creates a new flower by similar means. Well done! Carrie: Stefan's work is always smart yet accessible. In addition to this piece's great storytelling and vivid imagery, the wordplay and humor of the narrator—a sewn-together monster made of once-dead bits—having a green thumb and a florist's nose was especially wonderful. MEERA—age 10 My Pet Human I’m a blue pig, as you can plainly see My human thinks I’m her pet, but that’s not how it is to me. From my view, she’s my pet indeed. She sleeps in my bed, but thinks it’s hers. Though she’s a little confused you see, I love her more than eating birdseed. Crackers are yummy too, but I love her more, I swear I do. If I don’t keep my promise to you, Then I’m no blue pig, it’s true. What promise you ask? Why, the one about me loving her, of course. Though she’s definitely a little confused about me, I love her so much… Claire: This poem is so sweet and fun! What kid hasn't imagined that their favorite stuffed animal was alive and loved them? The Toy Story-style flipped perspective here works so well. You can really feel this pig's devotion to its human. Carrie: My own stuffy pig was purple and my favorite toy for many years as a kid. I dragged "Piggy" everywhere! So, this "love poem" by a blue pig for their pet human took me back to some sweet memories. And lastly, my six-year-old's favorite and the winner of our KID CHOICE is... ANGELA JELF The World's Best Dog My puppy's eyes are nothing like the sun, His left ear sticks up like a sail, His paws get so muddy whenever he runs, That he's constantly leaving a trail. I've seen clever pups that can jump and roll over But my dog would rather chase sticks, And as for his breath, well, it don't smell like roses, And he's constantly giving me licks. He isn't too likely to win any prizes, For hounds who are handsome and smart, But a more loyal friend, you never did meet, And he holds the first place in my heart. Here's to a dog, who is loyal and true, Who shreds up your slippers and runs off with your shoe! Here are a few thoughts on this choice: "I like that it has an animal. My favorite line is the part about destroying the shoe!" Congratulations to all our winners! Please message @LTPmag on Twitter or email me at littlethoughtspress at gmail to claim your prizes and coordinate shipping. Our Winner, Runner-up and Kid Choice winner will receive a copy of one of our issues and our Honorable Mentions will receive bookmarks featuring cover art from Little Thoughts Press issues. Thank you again to everyone who participated! It was such a treat to read through your entries. And thank you as always for reading and supporting Little Thoughts Press. Our Fabulous Facts issue launches on February 28th and is available for preorder now!

A photograph of Little Thoughts Press Issue Six: Fantastical Fall with a sneak peek of the poem "Spotted" by Hazel Knox. A white page with black text and a graphic of a mermaid's tale disappearing into water. Hazel Knox is a children’s writer and occupational therapist based in Edinburgh. She is a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Awardee and her poetry has been published in The Toy, Paddler Press, in a ghost stories anthology published by Crowvus, and online at dirigibleballoon.org. Find her on Twitter @hazel_knox. Little Thoughts Press: One thing I really enjoyed about your poems "Scorch the Dragon" and "Spotted" is the way you use comical, unexpected turns to bring humor and lightness to these pieces. What guidance would you offer to other writers on how to incorporate humor and playfulness into their work? Hazel Knox: For me, I write with humour when I feel playful. I’m learning not to force it when I don’t feel that way, or a topic doesn’t evoke that in me. To get myself in a playful place I spend time with children—the fun experts! I also find reading funny poems and stories can wake up my own sense of humour. Little Thoughts Press: And at times when the world feels especially heavy, how do we strike a balance between offering young readers an approachable but serious look at life's difficulties, and providing fun, joyful distractions through our stories and poetry? Hazel Knox: Both are important but I think sometimes the value of funny for funny’s sake is underestimated. Reading something that tickles us feels good and that alone has huge benefits. Humour can also be a distraction from difficult things and learning to give yourself that break is a useful skill. Little Thoughts Press: Issue 6: Fantastical Fall is all about imagination and adventure, things that children more naturally and easily gravitate toward than adults often do. What techniques do you use to tap into your imagination and maintain a childlike sense of wonder and exploration when writing for a young audience? Hazel Knox: Definitely spending time around children, especially if you can create situations where you’re not in charge. I also find the more I’m writing, the easier it is to look at things from a child’s point of view—writing feeds my wonder habit! Little Thoughts Press: What do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for a young audience? Hazel Knox: Most challenging is probably coping with the rollercoaster of acceptances and passes, and maintaining my confidence through that. Most rewarding is when someone finds my work funny—it’s the biggest compliment you can give me. Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Hazel Knox: I loved The Borrowers by Mary Norton and must have re-read The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett ten times. I also used to enjoy a series based on a TV programme called Children’s Ward. I really wanted to be a patient in hospital—I’ve got three brothers and I wanted some attention! Little Thoughts Press: And what about today? Any kid-lit writers you love and want to shout out? Hazel Knox: How many can I shout about?! I’m very grateful to Jen Carney for writing books that make my daughter cackle with laughter. Barbara Henderson writes brilliant Scottish historical fiction for middle-grade readers and is a huge supporter of other authors, whatever stage they’re at. I really like the everyday observations and gentle humour in Attie Lime’s poems, and appreciate her generosity in sharing her workshop ideas. Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers? Hazel Knox: Write about what you like and don’t worry about spelling. Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Hazel Knox: I’m delighted to be able to say my debut chapter book, The Night Pixie, is coming out later this year with HB Publishing House. It features a curious night pixie experiencing day for the first time, and I can’t wait to share her chaotic adventures with readers.

Valentine's Day is almost here! To celebrate and spread a little kidlit love, we are excited to announce the Little Thoughts Press "Silly Love Sonnets” Kidlit Poetry Contest! Save your romantic gestures and sweeping declarations for your one true love or latest crush. We want your odes to the little things you love the most. A perfect peanut butter & jelly sandwich, the Rainbow Road race course in Mario Kart, crunchy caramel popcorn, or the inexplicable softness of a kitty cat's belly. Give us silly perspectives: a poem from a hamster who loves its exercise wheel, a homerun baseball soaring out of a stadium, a crawling baby who can't resist turning over the family dog's water bowl. 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 7th - 14th. 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 Friday, February 16th! Selected poems will be featured on the blog and winners 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 Little Thoughts Press editors, Claire and Carrie. How to enter: Post your entry as a comment on this post by 11:59 pm (EST) on February 14th. 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!

A photograph of Little Thoughts Press Issue Six: Fantastical Fall with a sneak peek of the poem "On the Pond" by Jennifer Thomas. A white page with black text. Jennifer Thomas is a Canadian poet. Her children’s poetry has been published in The Dirigible Balloon, Little Thoughts Press, Tyger Tyger, Paddler Press, and The Toy. Jennifer comes up with her best ideas for poems while she’s walking her dog, and as a result, her dog gets lots of walks. This makes her dog very happy. Little Thoughts Press: Our Fantastical Fall issue includes poems and stories based on fairytales and imagined worlds, but both of your poems, "There's Magic Right There," and "On the Pond" are about the magic and mystery that exists in more ordinary settings. How do your environment and the natural world influence and inspire your writing? Jennifer Thomas: I live in Canada, a big country whose human inhabitants are mostly clustered in cities along the southern border. The rest of the country is populated by mountains, glaciers, and seemingly endless forests, and I think the knowledge that we as humans are tiny creatures in a vast landscape influences how Canadians think. The natural world is a huge influence for me — I get out into the woods near my house as often as I can. I do much of my writing while I’m out walking. I started participating in Haiku Saturday on Twitter (I can’t bring myself to call it X) about 18 months ago; it’s a very supportive environment where everyone is welcome to write and share haiku, even if they’ve never written poetry before. It’s been a great exercise for me in learning to look closely at things that I might otherwise have overlooked, like the way the snow is melting next to a stream in the spring, or the way a leaf has fallen on a rock in the autumn. I’ve become a lot more observant, which has really helped me in writing children’s poetry, because children often notice small details in the natural world that adults miss. In addition, I’m a person of faith, and believing that the trees, lakes, and sky I see were designed by a Creator infuses them with extra beauty and a touch of magic. Each time I look around when I’m in the woods or by a lake, I feel like I’m looking at a picture that was painted with a purpose in mind. I feel like I’m being invited to turn over rocks, peek into hollows in trees, or imagine what’s underfoot, because there’s always more in front of me than my human eyes can see. Little Thoughts Press: Issue 6: Fantastical Fall is all about imagination and adventure, things that children more naturally and easily gravitate toward than adults often do. What techniques do you use to tap into your imagination and maintain a childlike sense of wonder and exploration when writing for a young audience? Jennifer Thomas: When I’m writing a poem, I’ll sometimes start with a single word — for example, with the weekly word prompts that The Toy Press posts on Twitter. I try to shed all the things I know about the word as an adult and focus on the sound and bounce of the word, and what the word might mean to a child. I ask “What if?” a lot. If I’m washing dishes in the kitchen, I might ask myself “What if songs flowed out of this tap rather than water?” or “What if I couldn’t turn off the tap?” If I’m out walking my dog, I might look up and wonder “What if the clouds were having a conversation?” Once I’ve got the first wisp of a poem, I try to let my mind run free, without putting any constraints on ideas as they float by (“This makes absolutely no sense” or “That will be too hard to write” or “I’m sure someone has already done this”). I work as a medical editor, and that type of work is all about following rules and checking for accuracy. After a few hours of editing medical texts, it often feels like my brain is itching to run out the door and start doing cartwheels in the sunshine. Little Thoughts Press: What do you find most challenging and rewarding about writing for a young audience? Jennifer Thomas: For me, the most challenging part of writing poetry is the business side. There are far more good children’s writers than there are opportunities for publication. I’m very grateful for the volunteers who run children’s literary magazines like Little Thoughts Press, giving writers a place to share their work. Kudos for all of the hours you devote to supporting your fellow writers! The most rewarding thing for me is playing with the sound and rhythm of words. I’ll often start with a short string of words; for instance, “all things mathematical” was the jumping-off point for a recent poem about a government department filled with people who count absolutely everything, including all the water droplets in all the lakes. If it’s going to be a rhyming poem, sometimes that string of words will require that the poem be written in a certain meter, and then it’s fun to fit together other words that will work with that meter, a bit like putting together a puzzle. I love writing for kids because they haven’t yet put boundaries on their imaginations or their interests (the way we adults tend to do), and they still believe that anything is possible. Little Thoughts Press: Which kid-lit authors and books were your favorites growing up? Jennifer Thomas: My dad read the Narnia books to me at bedtime — I still have my childhood copies, and whenever I open one of them, I hear his slow, resonant voice. Later, I loved books by Enid Blyton and Mary Norton; the Borrowers series left me with a lifelong conviction that tiny people might very well be living under the floorboards. We also had a couple of books by the Canadian poet Dennis Lee on the bookshelf when I was growing up, Alligator Pie and Nicholas Knock and Other People. Like countless other Canadians, I start bouncing in my seat whenever I hear “Alligator pie, alligator pie / if I don’t get some I think I’m gonna die.” Little Thoughts Press: And what about today? Any kid-lit writers you love and want to shout out? Jennifer Thomas: I’ve borrowed many, many children’s poetry collections from my local library but, honestly, some of the best writing for children I’ve read lately is work that’s been posted on Twitter or published in children’s literary magazines. There are lots of talented children’s writers sharing their work these days — I won’t attempt to list all the ones I love, because I’d be bound to leave several out. Of the children’s poetry collections I’ve read recently, Kate Wakeling’s Cloud Soup and Moon Juice stand out. These two books sit on a shelf within easy reach of my desk. I admire her imagination, her masterful use of language and rhythm, and her ability to write poems that acknowledge and explore the full range of emotions that kids experience, in a way that feels unforced. Little Thoughts Press: What advice would you give to young writers? Jennifer Thomas: I’d give them the same advice I was given: read everything you can get your hands on. Novels, poetry collections, magazines, comics, game instructions, song lyrics, the back of the cracker box … you’ll find interesting words and ideas everywhere. Also, never assume that your work isn’t “good enough” (whatever that means). If what you’ve written is meaningful to you, then it’s good work. One last thing: when you’re cleaning up your room, please don’t throw away the scraps of paper with poem ideas, or the notebooks with half-finished stories, or the writing assignments you did for school! When you’re 40 years old, you’ll want to know what 8-year-old or 10-year-old or 12-year-old you was thinking and writing. Little Thoughts Press: Is there anything else you wish I had asked? Any upcoming projects, publications, or other news you'd like to share? Jennifer Thomas: I co-wrote a zine of children’s poetry called Invisible Things with three talented writers I met on Twitter, Susan Andrews, Jerrold Connors, and Laura Cooney. It’s about the gnomes, sprites, and other magical creatures who live at the periphery of a modern child’s world, and it’s fully illustrated by Jerrold. Co-writing it was a wonderful experience, in every sense of the word. It’s available on Etsy at www.etsy.com/ca/shop/InvisibleZines. My dream is to have a children’s poetry book published someday. Whether or not that happens, I’m having lots of fun writing and sharing poems. I’ve just started offering poetry-writing sessions for kids in my area, and I’m compiling some of my poems into a homemade booklet that I can use in these sessions. I’ve also launched a website: www.jenniferthomaswords.com. And there’s always another idea to explore! It's an honour to appear on the Little Thoughts Press blog. Thank you so much for having me.

The leaves will start from nothing, The tree has Bare branches Showing through. The buds will grow, Then split. The tree has leaves; They’re fresh and new. Till the autumn air falls like a cloak Round the shoulders of the tree The leaves will change their colours Green to golden, you will see. And then they’ll take The leap down to A place they’ve never been. The crisp brown earth that’s underneath the tree that was once green. Marian is a 12 year old who enjoys sketching, watching films with her family, and eating sushi. She is an avid reader and collector of notebooks that are too nice to use.

Miles Meade is seven years old and in first grade. He loves fishing, flying drones, and boogie boarding at the beach with his family. His favorite treats are Oreo cookies.

One day some kids named Scarlett and Tom found a lake where there wasn’t one before. It was mysterious. Scarlett asked Tom, “Was this lake here before?” And Tom said, “No, it was not, but we will check tomorrow.” The next day, the lake was not there. Scarlett was surprised. “Wow! I did not see that coming! Tomorrow, if the lake comes back, we will dive in and see what is in there.” The next day, Scarlett and Tom walked to the lake. They were surprised to see that the lake was still not there. Then Scarlett said, “But I don’t understand. It was supposed to show up today!” “We will check tomorrow, Sis,” said Tom. The next day, they came in swimming gear. Tom said, “Wow! The lake is back!” “Let’s dive in!” said Scarlett. “Now!” “Scarlett, lower your temper,” said Tom. “Okay Tom. Maybe I am taking it too seriously,” Scarlett said. So they dived in and they saw a treasure box. “Wow!” said Tom. “I was not expecting this!” “Come on, Tom,” Scarlett said. “Okay,” said Tom, “but first let’s look for—” Too late. Scarlett was already swimming toward the treasure box, but right when she tried to touch it, a wave washed her away. “Scarlett!” said Tom. He was all alone. Tom was scared without his sister. He wanted to swim back but he knew that he couldn’t leave without Scarlett. He didn’t know what to do without her. Tom thought about the memories that they made together. He knew he had to save her. Then he heard a voice. “Scarlett?” shouted Tom. Scarlett came into view but something else did, too. It was something big. It…it…it was a shark! “Oh, sorry, Tom! I didn’t mean to scare you. I made a friend down there.” “Why does it have to be a shark!?” said Tom. “Does it have to be a different animal?” Scarlett said, “Tom are you afraid!?” Tom nodded. “Whatever, come on!” Scarlett said. “Let’s go get the treasure!” They swam to the treasure box together. But the shark got there first. Scarlett said, “I thought we were friends!” The shark shook his head and ate the treasure box. “Uh-oh. This is bad,” Tom said. Scarlett said, “I know. But I have an idea.” “What’s your idea?” “We have to let the shark eat us,” Scarlett said. “What?!” Tom said. “It’s the only way, Tom.” Tom looked nervous, but he nodded. “Aren’t you still hungry?” Scarlett asked the shark. The shark opened his mouth, and Scarlett and Tom swam inside. And there it was, right in front of them: the treasure box. They tickled the shark’s stomach and he laughed. While his mouth was open, they grabbed the treasure box and swam out. They quickly swam to the top of the lake. But when they got to the top and went on land, the treasure box was gone. “What’s wrong?” asked Tom. “I think the treasure box was fake,” said Scarlett. “Please don’t tell me that the real one is still in the shark’s mouth,” said Tom. “I bet it is,” said Scarlett. “Oh well,” said Tom. “We can try again tomorrow.” “As long as the lake is still here,” said Tom. But they never saw the lake again. Ada is in first grade in Florida. Her favorite movie is Trolls and her favorite book is the Dragon Masters series. She loves dragons and rainbows, and she has a cat named Smoothie.

When autumn comes ‘round, leaves fall to the ground, and it seems like they’re not even trying. But there’s something behind it, I’ve worked hard to find it. It’s magic that there’s no denying! The fairies on leaves, they float with the breeze. Their young, tiny forms are a flyin’… They pull and they push, leaves fall with a swoosh. It’s true! Do you think that I’m lying? Mia Perron is a 7th grader who enjoys playing tennis, reading, writing, dancing, and spending time with friends, including her younger sister.

L ovely leaves start drifting down E very month of autumn leaves of all colours come down A utumn. My favourite season. V ery welcoming and safe. E very year it bestows earth’s love on us S o very warming Asger is 8 and you can usually find him hitting a balloon about or drawing in a notepad. Asger loves playing badminton and listening to music.

Tim the wizard magics the leaves, yellow brown orange and red Slapandio, sizzle and pop! Make these leaves colour and drop! Tim does the magic with a magic wand (secretly in the evening) Slapandio, sizzle and pop! Make these leaves colour and drop! Overnight the magic happens and in the morning...it is autumn! Little Lime is 6 years old. He enjoys Minecraft, football, and poetry. He has poems in The Dirigible Balloon poetry bank, in Parakeet Magazine, and in a previous issue of Little Thoughts Press. He also does voiceover recordings for other poets.

Carolyn Meade is five and a half years old and in kindergarten. She loves to paint, sing, and eat pancakes.

Arlo was not an ordinary human. Nor was anybody in his town, but Arlo was exceptionally different. Arlo lived in Halloween Town where everybody turned into a wolf when the moon came out at night. Their school also started at 8:00pm, so everyone was a wolf at school. Arlo though, didn’t turn into a wolf with the moon, he would turn into a hippo. For this reason, Arlo was bullied at school for being the odd one out. Everyone would play wolf games after school while Arlo would sit at home watching his favorite television show with his family. He loved his family but he wished for some friends. One day, Arlo came home from school with a sad face (as usual). He was watching TV with his family when a commercial came on. It was promoting a pair of glasses that made you look like a wolf. Arlo thought “That’s exactly what I need!” A week later, the package came on his front door. Before getting on the bus that evening he put them on. In the bus window reflection was a wolf! At school, everyone looked at him differently. He sat with the cool kids at lunch. They even invited him to play wolf football with them. For the rest of the month, Arlo followed his new “friends”. When they spray painted the school bathroom, so did he. He played tackle football instead of going home to his family. In fact, Arlo’s whole personality changed. He dressed differently, he had no manners towards his parents, and he even sneaked out at night. Although Arlo loved being one of the cool kids now, he missed watching television with them. He missed his mom’s delicious pumpkin pie. He just missed his family. One day, Arlo took the glasses off before he got on the bus. He was just his normal hippo self. He got to school and tried to sit with his friends. They told him he wasn't cool enough anymore. Everyone gave him dirty looks. Arlo realized that if you weren't “normal” no one wanted to be your friend. He wanted to put an end to this. He stomped on the table to get everyone's attention. “Hello everyone. I know I am not very “cool” anymore, but I just want you to know that you don't have to be the same as everyone else to be cool. Just be who you want to be and that's all that matters.” Arlo went home and told his family what happened. His family was very proud of him. He was proud of himself. Arlo went to bed that night with a smile on his face. When he went to school the next day, everyone was different. Some people wore their hair differently. Some people had different clothing on. Some people weren’t wolves either! But what they looked like was themselves. People thought of Arlo now as their friend. Although Arlo wasn't the “cool” kid, he was the hero who helped everyone be themselves. Keira is an 11 year old girl going into 7th grade. Keira loves writing and comes up with the most creative stories. When she is not writing, you can find Keira on the softball field pitching in one game after another. You can find more of Keira's work in Little Thoughts Press, including the following blog posts: Not My Dream Dog Can't Wait to be in California And an interview about "Christmas Countdown" from our Magical Winter issue.