Whoa! We asked you to make us laugh with your Kidlit Chuckle Challenge entries, and you all really delivered. We giggled, we cackled, we howled – we may have even snorted once or twice – over the wonderfully hilarious stories you submitted for this year’s contest.
Not only were the entries amazing, but we were blown away with the kidlit community’s enthusiasm, participation, and mutual support. When we decided to host this contest, we wanted to create something that encouraged writers to step outside their comfort zone and connect with other writers. And because of you, those goals were achieved! Thank you to everyone who participated in this contest. You wrote, revised, and submitted. You put your work out there. For that, we think you are all winners!
Judging the entries was no easy task. With just six characters and six objects to choose from, you gave us twists we didn’t see coming, heartwarming endings, punny wordplay, sarcasm, and good ol’ slapstick humor. There was something wonderful about every story submitted, and we had so much fun selecting the 2025 Kidlit Chuckle Challenge Champions and the HA-norable Mentions.
HA-NORABLE MENTIONS
We wish we could give each and every participant one, but we just don’t have enough prizes to go round. While these hilarious stories did not receive a prize, they were simply too good to not receive some recognition.
Hats off to you, HA-norable Mentions! Please grab yourselves a badge!
Here are the honorees, in no particular order:
- Leah Pivirotto, BOB MCFARTYPANTS AND THE SOGGY GRILLED CHEESE
- Susan Corry, TEX T-REX’S FLITTING, FLAPPING FEAR
- Anna Marie Evans, JANIE COMPLAINY’S FAVORITE DINNER!
- Evelyn Day, DETECTIVE DODO AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING PERFUME
- Rebecca Singer, THE RUNAWAY NUGGET
- Allison Hackworth, TERRIFIED T-REX AND THE BOUNCY HOUSE OF DOOM
- Olivia Sedore, THE STINKIEST EXPERIMENT
- Shelley Jones Clark, THE BOUNCY HOUSE OF DOOM
- Tracey Kiff-Judson, SPECIAL BLEND
- Bethany Brodsky, SCAREDY-CAT T-REX
- Jessica Russo, TO LOVE, HONOR, AND COMPLAIN
- Amanda Spino, A MOST UNUSUAL DAY
- Alex Waldo, PANIC AT PICKLEBERRY ELEMENTARY
- Jessica Jenson, STEGGY’S REVENGE
- Carol Macpherson, AFRAID OF HIS OWN SHADOW
- Tracie Renee, BOB MCFARTYPANTS IN… DRESS CODE DISASTER
KIDLIT CHUCKLE CHALLENGE CHAMPIONS
And finally, these writers conquered the Kidlit Chuckle Challenge and earned a prize-winning spot in the top 30.
Congratulations to our 2025 Champions! Please grab yourselves a badge!
Here are the winners, in no particular order:
- Mike Flowers, BOB MCFARTYPANTS WON’T FART
- Kelsey Mango, THE CASE OF THE MISSING REMOTE CONTROL
- Jenn Ferna Hall, IGOR TO THE RESCUE
- Ana Kelly, THE COMPLAINY CHRONICLES: JANIE
- Stephanie Flom, BOB MCFARTYPANTS AND THE UNHAPPY UNDERWEAR
- Sherry Dubis, BOB MCFARTYPANTS AND THE BOUNCY HOUSE OF DOOM
- Vanessa Ireson, NOT EXTINCT. YET.
- Shaunessy Sinnett, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENFLOUNDER
- Cheryl Simon, TIME FOR A NEW TEACHER
- Matthew Bergs, WATCH THAT CHEESE, DETECTIVE DODO!
- Danielle Anderson, A MONSTROUS MEAL
- Lisa Billa, TERRIFIED T-REX AND THE BOUNCY HOUSE OF DOOM
- Daniele Arndt, THE LEGEND OF BOB MCFARTYPANTS
- Lisa Davis, JANIE’S (UN)COMPLAINY DAY
- Anne Lipton, THE CASE OF THE CHICKEN WHO FLEW THE COOP
- Russell Wolff, BOB MCFARTYPANTS
- Jessica Read, DODO’S SOGGY SUSPECT
- Linda Staszak, THE TRUE STORY OF HOW DODOS BECAME EXTINCT
- Ellen Meeks, BAAAA HUMBUG: A BARNYARD CHRISTMAS EVE
- Anne Weaver, DODO DETECTIVE AND THE CASE OF THE SMELLIEST STINK
- Susan Jakubowski, ROLEX REX
- Katie Lee Reinert, ONE BOUNCE
- Gayle C. Krause, MRS. TURDLEY’S GLASSES
- Nicole Garnett, DANIEL THE DETECTIVE AND THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING DODOS
- Lisa Carmody Doiron, REMOTE CONTROL YOURSELF
- Amanda Fletcher, DO NOT TRUST THIS BOUNCY HOUSE
- Kim Collazo, MRS. CREATURE, SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
- Laura Wippell, DODO DETECTIVE AND THE CASE OF THE STOLEN GRILLED CHEESE
- Stephanie Maksymiw, THE CASE OF THE SOGGY GRILLED CHEESE
- Kate DeMaio, BETTER BAIT
All winners included on this list should watch for an email from us on Friday, September 26 around 11am Central. That email will include time-sensitive next steps for claiming a prize.
Thank you again to all who participated and to our amazing prize sponsors! We are already looking forward to next year’s contest!
Thanks for the chuckles,
Kris (Twitter / BlueSky / Instagram ),
April (Twitter / BlueSky / Instagram ),
Julie (Twitter / BlueSky ),
& Bri (Twitter / BlueSky / Instagram )
