animals

Story·Sawyer McCloskey, age 13 — A bullied boy runs away into the Canadian wilderness, survives alone for days, and discovers his supposedly dead father has been living in the forest after being kidnapped years ago.

Poetry·Katie Thomas, age 12 — A prose poem captures the joyful chaos of puppies at play, describing them as a single creature of fur, tongues, and wagging tails.

Story·Edie Koehlert and Chloe Weber — Three young cats journey to find a new home after their dying mother sends them away, guided by their deceased father's cryptic message about believing in possibilities.

Story·Isabelle Edwards, age 10 — A girl runs away after her father's sled dogs die in the Iditarod, gets lost in a blizzard, and is saved by her dogs, leading to reconciliation with her father.

Poetry·Dylan Geiger, age 11 — A winter walk with a dog reveals a landscape of leafless trees, frosted cows, squirrels with stored acorns, and snow drifts punctuated by passing trucks.

Story·Bethany Walker, age 13 — Two cousins exploring a Florida ranch forest encounter wildlife and flee in panic from an alligator sunning on a canal bank, later laughing at their overreaction.

Story·Shannon Keating, age 13 — A teenage girl and her toddler brother discover hundreds of stranded starfish on a beach, leading to reflections on life, death, and the power of small choices.

Story·Makayla Hentges, age 12 — A wolf-dog named Shannon saves her musher from drowning in an icy lake but sacrifices herself in the process, appearing later as a ghostly figure in the mist.

Story·Rachael Goddard Rebstein, age 12 — A boy navigates a sweltering forest, sensing danger and preparing to face a bear with his spear, until his mother's voice calling about homework breaks the spell.

Story·Brian Hoover, age 12 — A boy named Jake transforms into a werewolf under a blue moon in a clearing, surrounded by fleeing animals and supernatural lightning.