In honor of National Poetry Month, Baker Books (Dartmouth, MA) hosted their eleventh annual poetry-writing contest for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. This year, the bookstore had over four hundred and fifty poets from two dozen schools in the SouthCoast area competing for prizes and the opportunity to have their work published on Baker Books' website. This year's contest theme, The World's Greatest: Poems, was based on Chronicle Press' book of the same title, written by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Kenneth Graves.

On Thursday, May 8, 2008, Baker Books announced the winning poems at a special awards ceremony and poetry reading held in the New Bedford Public Library's Trustee Room. Fifteen winners were picked from three age groups: Younger Poets (kindergarten through second grade), Middle-Grade Poets (third through fifth grade), and Young Teen Poets (sixth through eighth grade). The Bartleby Scrivener Poets, a local writers group that meets at Baker Books, once again did the final judging for the contest. The judges were particularly impressed with the general quality of the writing and accompanying artwork in this year's submissions. The winners read their poems to a packed house of parents, teachers, friends, and poetry fans. (SEE BELOW FOR WINNERS)

This year's contest invited young writers to take a look at The Guinness Book of World Records and write a poem inspired by a current or past world record holder. Winning entries considered sandcastles, mazes, and tsunamis; various animals, birds, and sea creatures; and odd world records such as the longest kiss and thickest layer of make-up. Chronicle Press donated copies of The World's Greatest: Poems and Random House donated copies of The 2008 Guinness Book of World Records for the winners, and each child was awarded a gift certificate of achievement. First place winners in each category were also awarded gift certificates by Baker Books.

Many thanks to all the children and young adults who shared their wonderful poems with us and to all the teachers, parents, and librarians who helped encourage these young bards. See you next year!

Signed,
- Baker Books Staff

Click here to view last year's contest winners.

BAKER BOOKS CONTEST WINNERS

Older Poets -- Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grades

FIRST: "Depreciation of a Realm" by Samantha Wright

Gr. 8 - Seton Academy for Girls (Fall River, MA)

SECOND: "The Measurement of a Life in a Maze" by Perry L. Angelo

Gr. 8 - Seton Academy for Girls (Fall River, MA)

THIRD: "World's Smelliest Bird" by Elizabeth

Gr. 7 - Freetown-Lakeville Middle School (Lakeville, MA)

HM: "Disguised Disaster" by Chelsea Young

Gr. 6 - Seton Academy for Girls (Fall River, MA)

HM: "The Biggest Eye in the World" by Sadie Reynolds

Gr. 6 - Dartmouth Middle School (Dartmouth, MA)

Middle Grades -- Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades

FIRST: "Longest Kiss" by Maddison Medeiros

Gr. 4 - Joseph DeMello School (Dartmouth, MA)

SECOND: "Two Giants" by Matthew Perry

Gr. 3 - Dartmouth Early Learning (Dartmouth, MA)

THIRD: "Animal Records" by Heather Welty

Gr. 4 - Rogers Elementary (Fairhaven, MA)

HM: "Water Strikes Back" by Teddy Brunette

Gr. 5 - Rogers Elementary (Fairhaven, MA)

HM: "Largest Game of Leap Frog" by Nicole Correia

Gr. 4 - Quinn Elementary School (Dartmouth, MA)

HM: "World's Smallest Sea Horse" by Victoria Cornell

Gr. 4 - Quinn Elementary School (Dartmouth, MA)

Younger Poets -- Kindergarten, First and Second Grades

FIRST: "Giraffe" by Izaiah Farr

Gr. 1 - Dartmouth Early Learning (Dartmouth, MA)

SECOND: "Peregrine Falcon" by Maeve Denshaw

Gr. 1 - Dartmouth Early Learning (Dartmouth, MA)

THIRD: "Blue Whales" by Meg Hughes

Kindergarten - Center School (Rochester, MA)

HM: "Eastern Black Water Monitor" by Travis Nevins

Gr. 1 - Dartmouth Early Learning (Dartmouth, MA)