Travel with Carlo the Mouse

2023 contest for young writers: Age 5–10

“When a story is told, it is not forgotten. I strongly believe that the best stories live inside each of us. Look around and write! Let your stories see the world! Use your imagination and make your story uniquely yours. Write what you know, write what you feel, write what you love, write because you want to.”—Mrs. D.

Children have a great imagination when it comes to creating stories. Theirs minds are highly imaginative, and they are not shy about sharing their creations with the world.

I hope your child or student is one of these children who love reading, writing, or just telling stories. If so, they might be interested in entering Mrs. D’s writing contest for the chance to win fun prizes, which include Mrs. D’s signed books, autographed coloring books with a special message, T-shirts, posters, pillows, small canvases, and other souvenirs with Mrs. D’s characters, or some gift certificates.  

The “Travel With Carlo the Mouse” contest is based on Carlo’s adventures or misadventures. He is one of Mrs. D’s mischievous characters, and he wants you to write about his journeys that may have happened on his vacation. He would be delighted if you take him with you to visit new places, eateries, parks, or any fun locations you may go to with your family.

Mrs. D knows that writing about where Carlo the mouse may go next will spark your children’s imagination and inspire them to write new stories about Carlo’s voyages.

So, dear young authors, shoot high and reach your star! Show your writing skills and your endless creativity! And, of course, have fun with Carlo the mouse! He is in New Jersey now, but as soon as you are ready to travel, he will be waiting for you in your closet, shoe, under your bed, or inside your iPad or backpack. It is up to you where you take him. But please make sure he has the best trip of his life.

Now sharpen your pencils and let your imagination soar! Take Carlo to the Moon or Mars or any other cool planets, visit Washington or the White House or all kinds of museums. On your way to your destination, stop to see interesting places. Get lost in the huge ocean or cross rough seas or drift along the lazy river. Fly around the Earth! Explore space or find some inhabited islands. Make Carlo the mouse your hero, saving the world! Together, visit new countries, cities, famous landmarks, farms, and villages. Introduce him to your mom and dad, sister and brother, grandma and grandpa. Let him have fun with your friends, classmates and cousins, and family pets (not sure about the cats, so be careful)! Celebrate your holidays and birthdays together!

It’s YOUR imagination, and with Carlo you can be everyone you want to be and go everywhere your dreams would take you. Just DON’T forget to take along your notebook and sharp pencil and of course Carlo the mouse … and your best story will be awarded a cool prize!

Eligible groups: age 5–7 and 7–9.

All stories will be displayed on Mrs. D’s site and blog. The winning stories will be marked with a Carlo the Mouse award.

And if you are having trouble thinking about what you want to write, please read the Carlo the Mouse books and they may help you to get your creativity moving.

Eligibility and Entry Guidelines

• Entrants must be children in kindergarten, first, second, third or fourth grade. Only one entry per person will be accepted.
• Only single-author stories qualify (no co-authored stories).
• Stories can be fact or fiction, and prose or poetry.
• Any failure to adhere to these contest rules may result in disqualification from the contest.
• No purchase is necessary.

Word Count Requirement

• Kindergarten and first grade stories must have a minimum of 50 words, and there’s no limit on maximum words.
• Second-, third-, and fourth-grade stories must have a minimum of 100 words, and there’s no limit on maximum words.
• Text must be printed, written legibly, or typed.
• Children who cannot write may dictate their story to be printed, written legibly, or typed.
• Text may be integrated into the illustration pages or on separate pages.
• Stories must have at least 3+ original, clear, and colorful illustrations.
• Original art can include drawings, collages, and 3-D created by the author or photographs taken by the author.
• Videos where children are reading their stories are welcome.

Questions about the guidelines? Email olga@mrsdbooks.com

Awesome prizes are waiting for young authors!

GOOD LUCK!