Once upon a time, in a land of fun,
There was a contest for everyone.
The prize was big and oh so grand,
So kids all over the land,
Took an envelope and a pen,
To write and draw until the end.

They were wondering what to do,
How to win, they had no clue.
So they looked for some instructions,
To guide them in their creations.

Some drew rainbows and unicorns,
Others wrote stories with new forms.
But all of them worked with care,
Hoping their art would be rare.

The day came to send the mail,
And they sent it without fail.
The judges read them one by one,
And were amazed by all the fun.

In the end, they picked a winner,
Whose art was like a glimmer.
But all the kids who took part,
Had a place in the judges' heart.

So remember, when you join a contest,
Do your best and give it your best,
And you might just win the test,
Or have a great time with the rest.

Reflections

1. Have you ever taken part in a contest like the one in the story? What was it like?
2. How do you feel when you get an envelope in the mail? Is it usually exciting?
3. What did the kids in the story do to try to win the contest? Would you have done anything differently?
4. Why do you think the judges picked the winner they did?
5. What do you think the kids learned from participating in the contest, even if they didn't win?