Contests

Act of Kindness Story Contest

In “The Pearl Inside,” Hana picks up the abalone shell that Nami has dropped—and finds an oyster with a beautiful pearl inside. In “Nagano Apples,” an aging Japanese man remembers how an American soldier gave him an apple during the war when he was feeling hungry and afraid. Even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in people’s lives. For this month’s contest, kind-hearted Muffin wants to see your best story featuring an act of kindness.

Perhaps you will write about caring for someone who is sick, or cheering up an unhappy friend, or welcoming someone new to your school or neighborhood. Maybe your act of kindness will occur between people who normally don’t get along, or between good friends who have to compete with each other in sports or music. Perhaps you’ll write about organizing an activity at church or school to help people in trouble. Or your act of kindness might involve helping an animal, or even an imaginary creature—like  returning a lost alicorn to a unicorn.

Whether your story is inspired by a small act of kindness that brightens a person’s day, or by a major humanitarian effort in a time of crisis, like the Berlin Airlift, everybuggy will be gathering politely around the Cricket Country mailbox to enjoy your best story—of 350 words or less, if you’ll be so kind—about an act of kindness.

  • 1. Your contest entry must be your very own original work. Ideas and words should not be copied.

    2. Your entry must be signed by your parent or guardian, stating that it is your own work, that no help was given, and that Cricket has permission to publish it in the magazine and on our website. 

    3. Be sure to include your name, age, and full address on your entry.

    4. Only one entry per person, please.

    5. If you want your work returned, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for each entry.

    6. Your entry must be received by September 25, 2018.

    7. Send entries to Cricket League, P.O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354. (No faxes or email submissions, please!)

    8. We will publish winning entries in the January 2019 issue and on the Cricket website.