nature

Story·Jordan Dunaway-Barlow, age 13 — During a thunderstorm, a Native American girl rescues a cardinal trapped in a flooding snake hole, names him Fire, and reluctantly releases him at dawn.

Story·Brooke Antoine, age 13 — A girl sneaks out at night to the boardwalk, discovers a manatee tangled in a net, rescues it with her parents' help, and later travels to Florida to release it.

Story·Jamie Geng, age 11 — A family hikes through scorching heat to a waterfall, where the narrator climbs rocks and discovers a breathtaking view of the shimmering river below.

Story·Emily Grant, age 13 — A girl watches wild horses from behind a rock, naming each one and calling them her 'silent friends' who don't know she exists.

Story·Alison Lanza, age 12 — Three sisters reluctantly move to a new house, discover a magical sphere that grants three wishes, and use them to find their lost dog and build a treehouse.

Poetry·Nastassja Carusetta, age 13 — A granddaughter and grandfather share quiet tea on the back porch, watching the sunset and listening to the world together in companionable silence.

Poetry·Jeremy Trujillo, age 12 — Two dogs race across a beach where sunset transforms lake and sand into fiery red, ending with them asleep in the blood-colored landscape.

Poetry·Marshall McKenna, age 12 — A young baseball player faces his last at-bat, trembling with fear, then watches his hit soar out of sight, transforming doubt into victory.

Story·Claire Hekkala, age 12 — A bored boy on a wildlife reserve trip follows his tennis ball off the safe path and encounters a wild wolf, sharing a moment of connection before his parents call...

Poetry·Madeleine Yi, age 12 — A single daffodil pushes through snow and mud to bloom, becoming spring's first herald among the winter browns and grays.