Hello Friends!
Have you heard of the Kidlit Chuckle Challenge?
It’s a cool contest created by four awesome authors: Julie Hauswirth, April Berry, Kris DeCaro, and Bri Lawyer.
The rules of the contest? Choose one character and one object from a mix-and-match list, and write a funny story for kids in 200 words or less. Want to try it yourself? Here’s the list of characters and objects:
| Characters | Objects |
| Bob the Slob | Mystery Flavor |
| Captain Catastrophe | Super Squeaky Sneakers |
| Ghost Banana | Never-Ending Hole |
| Tammy, Talking Toilet | Hot Lava |
| World’s Loveliest Toad | Fart Thunderstorm |
| Fairy Godfather | Roller Derby Blunder |
I had so much fun writing my entry about Ghost Banana and the Super Squeaky Sneakers, and I got the most wonderful surprise in September…
I won! 🙂
I got to choose a prize from one of the incredibly generous donors, and I was thrilled to win a 30 minute Ask Me Anything session from the amazing Brian Gehrlein.
Brian, thank you so much for your time, wisdom, and encouragement!
Writer friends, Brian offers paid critiques, consultations, and mentorships, and he’s got a great newsletter with industry interviews and give-aways. Teacher friends, this is a great time of year to order his books for your classroom! Check out his website for more information!
Many thanks to Julie, April, Kris, and Bri for hosting and judging this contest and to all the generous prize donors! Congratulations to everyone who entered! And now, without further ado, I'm happy to share my 199 word #KidLitChuckleChallenge 2026 entry:
Silent but Deadly
By Abby N. Wooldridge
It all started with a fart.
We were sitting in the lunch room, and everyone was quiet when—SQUEAK!
“It wasn’t a fart! It was the floor!” the sneakers insisted.
Listen. I know what I heard.
And what I smelled.
And I wasn’t willing to let it go.
“It wasn’t a fart, Banana Brains! That’s just how shoes smell!” the sneakers yelled.
Then they stuck out their tongues.
And called me “unappealing.”
And threatened to squish me like a bug if I didn’t take it back.
Well, I couldn’t take it back because it was true! Those shoes farted—no ifs, ands, or but(t)s about it!
“You’re both bananas!” I cried.
So they squished me! Right there in the middle of the lunch room. Smash! Trash!
But I got the last laugh. Because what’s a super squeaky sneaker’s worst nightmare?
Banana peels!
And what did I do with my dying breath?
I flung myself out of the trash and slid over behind the stinky scoundrels.
They didn’t stand a chance. They never saw me coming.
The bell rang. They stepped back. And up they flew.
“That’s right, shoes! No more squeaking from you! Ghost Bananas are silent but deadly!”
