Haiku Hype Contest: The Results!

At last, it's time to announce the Haiku Hype Contest winners! So many beautiful, punchy, emotional poems! The judges and I were, once again, impressed. We did two rounds of selecting and sorting, calculating and recalculating points to come up with the list of finalists, but please know that we appreciated every single haiku that the students wrote and submitted to us! Honestly. Because writing that poem, creating something new, evoking an emotion with your words in someone reading from across the country is the true accomplishment here. And all of the entrants did that.
 
So students, I want you to be proud for writing your haiku, proud for sharing with us, and excited for the next opportunity that comes along. The more you practice, the more you connect with your creative nature and the better that serves you in all areas of your lives.
 
Thank you so much to all the teachers, librarians and  students for participating and for making this an inspiring and successful event. I hope you had fun in the process.
 
It is my goal to encourage kids to continue to write, strive to connect with their creative side, and share their work with others as I believe all that is of great importance.
 
Thank you all again for entering the contest. I hope you'll return next year!
 
My gratitude goes out to the amazing sponsors as well ― your prize donations were greatly appreciated!
 
And now, it's time for the results you've been waiting for!

1st place
The Lovely Beach
by Jane T.  
 
Gentle, peaceful breeze
Frothing, foaming waves lapping
Against the calm sand
 
(K.B. Polk Center for the Academically Talented and Gifted, TX)
* * *
2nd place

Mark G. 4th Grade

A lovely sunset
Reminds me of my mother
Both are beautiful
 
(John Ireland Elementary, TX)
* * *
3rd place
Storms
by JI Carrillo
 
The dark, damp storm cloud
Destructive light burns the trees
Noises, it cries out
 
(K.B. Polk Center for the Academically Talented and Gifted, TX)
* * *
4th place 
Hippopotamus
by Toby L.

Hippopotamus
Eats a can of green bean soup.
He likes green bean soup!

(Van Elementary School, IN)
* * *
5th place
Summer
by Bryce F.

The warm, cool summer!
When kids play outside all day!
But it never lasts…

(Van Elementary School, IN)
* * *
6th place
Maximiliano R. 4th Grade

A peaceful evening
Sparrows singing together
With pretty feathers.

(John Ireland Elementary, TX)
* * *
7th place
Genesis E. 5th Grade
 
My mom, beautiful.
She is the best at loving.
She likes reading books.
 
(John Ireland Elementary, TX)
* * *
8th place
Fire
by Braelynn J.

Dancing with the wind,
Glowing all night in darkness,
Warming people’s hearts.

(Van Elementary School, IN)
* * *
9th place
Snow
by Isaac C.

A winter blanket,
It covers the icy ground.
It is beautiful.

(Van Elementary School, IN)
* * *
10th place
War
by Ricardo J.
 
Clouds made from ashes
Bombs of death and destruction
Power and money
 
(K.B. Polk Center for the Academically Talented and Gifted, TX)
* * *
First Honorable Mention
Dinosaurs
by James D. 3rd Grade
 
Dinosaurs are cool
Dinosaurs: awesome creatures
I want to see one

(George Mitchell Elementary School, Bridgewater, MA)
* * *
Second Honorable Mention
Emily P. 5th Grade

Mr. Estrada
Is the funniest of all
And he is the best!

(John Ireland Elementary, TX)
* * *
Third Honorable Mention
Emotions
by Annie P.

Sad, mad, happy, shy,
All the things that are inside,
To have and to feel.

(Van Elementary School, IN)
_______________________________________________________
And the Teacher/Librarian prize goes to . . .

My youngest child did the honors and picked the teacher to win the Starbucks gift card. Here's a picture of him drawing Shannon Anderson's name from
​the bag with the tickets.

​Prizes will start shipping out to the schools on Monday, 5/14. If you have a student among the winners, please look out for your packages in the mail starting next week. If you won a bundle of books, those will arrive in multiple shipments as our various sponsors will be mailing them separately. 

Skype Visit Prizes: Authors will be connected with the teacher/librarian who sent the submission to make further arrangements.

Just one more thing . . .