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Annual Contest Winner's Work 

Every year, AoAA hosts a variety of online activities and contests. Here are some of the winning creations from over the years.

Annual Bookmark Design Contest 

Bookmark Design Contest

2021   Upper Division 1st Place
Designed by Serena C.  North Carolina   4th Grader

2021  Lower Division 1st Place
Designed by Leo F.  Texas  2nd Grader

2022Lower Division 1st Place
Designed by Jolene Z.  Texas  2nd Grader 

2022 Upper Division 1st Place
Designed by Hantang D.  Illinois  4th Grader

2023 Upper Division 1st Place
Designed by Liv Z.  Pennsylvania 

2023 Lower Division 1st Place
Designed by Aaron L.  Texas 

Short Story Conytest

2022 Short Story Contest 1st Place
Author: Liv Z.  Pennsylvania  3rd Grader

2023 Lower Division1st Place
Author: Amy Z.  California  3rd Grader

Mog’s Journey


Chapter 1


Once upon a time, there was a dog named Mog. Mog’s owner thought if they named Mog Mog then it’d be easy to remember Mog’s name. But one day Mog got lost in the woods! Mog started to whimper and cry but it was no use. Mog knew that he was on his own and he had to find his way home. Mog walked and walked hoping to find his way home. That’s when he was trying to get across a bridge, he met a mouse named Mouney. When Mouney saw Mog. Mouney squeaked, “Hi friend! Are you lost? If you are I might be able to help you find your way home!” Since Mog was lost, he hung his head low and sadly said, “Yes, I am lost. I also can’t find my way home.” Alright, let’s go on a little tour trip then! So, Mouney said to Mog, “Here is where I usually get water from, you can always come here to get water!” continued Mouney. “Wow!” barked Mog happily.


Chapter 2


When nighttime stroke, Mouney suggested, “Let’s just sleep here!” “Sure!” agreed Mog. So, the two friends went to sleep on their own. When the sun rose the next morning, Mouney and Mog continued their journey. They came upon a river and in the river, there was a duck named Puck. Because it looked like Puck was the only one who could help Mog and Mouney right now So Mog and Mouney took turns telling Puck about Mog’s story. Finally, Puck spoke up and said, “Well I can help you guys get to the city.” “Thank you so much!” barked Mog hopefully. And the three friends continued the journey with Puck in the lead and Mog with Mouney behind catching up. “Catch up!” cried Puck, “Okay!” cried Mouney and Mog at the same exact time. After a long walk and swim, they got to land. Puck finally said in a sad tone, “I’m so sorry but I think I can’t continue the journey together with you guys anymore, I have to go back.”


Chapter 3


After saying a sad goodbye to each other Mog and Mouney continued the journey, but with just the two of them now. Neither of them spoke a word because of the sudden leaving Puck had to do. Then they came upon a house, “Come in!” Said a friendly voice, since Mog and Mouney were so tired they went inside the house. Plus, the voice sounded so friendly! When they got into the house, they heard the friendly voice again! This time it said, “Hi! Over here!” So, Mog and Mouney followed the voice into a room and on the table in that room there stood a… cat! “Hi!” said the cat, “My name is Lat!” “Hi! Lat” barked Mog excitedly. Then again Mog and Mouney took turns telling Lat Mog’s story, just like how they told the story to Puck. “Come over here and say it!” said Lat. So Mouney and Mog continued Mog’s story. Finally, Lat said, “You guys look tired, get some rest first.”


Chapter 4


When the sun rose the next morning, Lat took Mouney and Mog outside in Lat’s backyard. “Do you guys want to play?” asked Lat “Of course!” said Mouney and Mog excitedly. So, the three friends played fetch all morning long. Until all of a sudden, the friends heard someone yelping in pain and saying, “Sorry! Sorry! Please forgive me!” The friends ran all the way outside and they saw a very big dog bullying a little fox! Even
though the dog looked tough Mog still gained up his courage and yelled “Stop!” Then, the big dog looked up and smirked, then said, “well little fellow what can you do to me?” “Your meat isn’t enough to be a smack!” barked the big dog. Even though Mog’s legs were shivering, he knew he had to protect his friends and save the little fox! So, he yelled, “Go away you bully! Find someone else to bully!”


Chapter 5


Guess what, the big dog got scared away! Then, the little fox said in a tiny voice, “Thank you!” of course Mog said nicely, “You’re welcome! It’s my pleasure!” Then the little fox introduced herself, soon the friends learned that the little fox’s name is Nobey. And then all of them became fast friends. Soon enough nighttime came, so Lat asked Nobey, “Do you want to go to my house?” “Yes please!” replied Nobey. Then, she said, “I’m scared of the dark.” The very next morning, the friends packed their stuff and continued with Mog’s journey. But now there’s the four of them! So, they headed for the human’s city. Pretty soon, they arrived, and Mog saw a house that looked very familiar to him, so he said to his friends, “Let’s look inside that house!” “Sure!” replied his friends.


Chapter 6


When they looked inside, they didn’t see a single shadow! Mog hung his head low and said, “I thought this was my owner’s house.” So, he let out a big sigh. “Wait a second!” yelled Lat. “I feel like this house is a copy of my house!” Then, when everyone got out of the house, they were shocked, it was a copy of Lat’s house! After all the commotion the friends continued walking by houses, but Mog didn’t recognize anymore of the houses. Mog let out a big and sad sigh. Everyone was silent. Until, Mouney finally said, “I’m sorry but, I must go back. My parents are probably already worried enough! At least It was fun meeting you guys!” After everyone said a sad goodbye to Mouney, they continued the journey with Mog. Neither of the friends left spoke a word because everyone was sad.


Chapter 7


The friends that are left walked and walked. Then, suddenly, a spider came out of nowhere! The friends were all scared, until the spider said… “Hi! My name is Crider! How can I help you?” “Well.” Said Mog, “I do need help. I need help getting to the human city, the real human city.” “No problem!” said Crider “Come on! Let’s follow the leader!” finished Crider happily. So, just like that, the three friends followed Crider. But, not knowing that the three friends would soon be very good friends with Crider because very soon Crider would be a big help to the three friends, especially to Mog. After a lot of walking the sky was already turning dark, then Crider asked the friends, “You guys are all thirsty, hungry, and ô€†Ÿred right?” “Yes!” “Thank you so much!” replied the three friends at the same exact ô€†Ÿme.


Chapter 8


So, Crider took Mog, Lat and Nobey in front of a house and said, “This is my owner’s house! And I promise you that my owner wouldn’t treat you guys like how the animal patroller’s do, and even beô€†©er my owner would treat you guys like her own pet!” Then suddenly Mog thinks he just remembered something, but not just anything Mog remembered something special so special that Mog would be one step closer in finding his owner. Suddenly, Lat broke Mog’s thinking and said, “Mog, what are you thinking? You look kind of stressed, are you sure you’re okay? “Oh! It’s really nothing, I’m just kind of ô€†Ÿred you know. Aô€…Œer all that journey and all the sadness.” Replied, Mog but with his tone geô€†«ng sadder when he said the word sadness. “It’s okay Mog.” said Nobey, trying to cheer Mog up “Let’s look on the bright side.”


Chapter 9


So, the friends went into Crider’s owner’s house. And that’s when Mog decided that he would stop hiding that he already remembers something and not tell it to his friends, so Mog finally said, “Guys, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys earlier, but I think I have some of my memories back and Crider’s owner looks familiar to me, and Crider’s owner’s house also looks very familiar to me.” “And?” asked Lat and Nobey at the same ô€†Ÿme. Aô€…Œer a long ô€†Ÿme of silence Mog finally replied to his friends and his new friend Crider that he thinks that Crider’s owner is also his owner. Then Crider’s owner broke Mog and his friends’ conversaô€†Ÿon and told them it was dinner ô€†Ÿme. Aô€…Œer dinner Mog knew in order for him to find out if Crider’s owner was actually his owner, he would have to ask Crider some quesô€†Ÿons and try to know beô€†©er about Crider’s owner. That very night Mog went to see Crider alone because he didn’t want his friends to know just yet. Mog found Crider and asked Crider “yes-or-no” questions to Crider. Finally, after lots of asking Crider finally admitted that his owner was Mog’s owner and he said that all the stuff Mog has been through was all for an act because Mog’s owner’s mom said that Mog wasn’t a normal dog because Mog’s owner’s mom thought that Mog was more way weirder than the other normal dogs.


Chapter 10


So, Mog’s owner set this act so she could prove to her mom that it is true that Mog isn’t a normal dog but Mog’s not normal is that he is a lot smarter than all the other dogs so that’s why Mog is so much more special than the other dogs. After Mog’s Owner’s mom saw how smart Mog was and that how he made it all the back home without even sniffing the ground or the air for scents, but he still made it home Mog’s owner’s mom was really proud of Mog. Because Mog forgot that his birthday was tomorrow and that Crider didn’t tell him Mog had no idea his birthday was tomorrow, and Mog’s owner wanted Mog’s birthday to be extra special this year, so Mog’s owner wanted it to be a “extra surprise birthday party!” The very next morning Mog woke up and went to eat breakfast, but he found no one at the breakfast table. Mog got very confused, so he went out in the backyard expecting everyone to be out there but still no one was there. Suddenly Mog heard lots of voices shouting, “Surprise Birthday Party!” That’s when Mog saw… his owner, his owner’s mom, Lat, Nobey, Crider, Puck and Mouney all standing there! That’s when Mog realized that it was his birthday today! After Mog “Super Special Surprise Birthday Party” he learned that from now on Puck, Mouney, Crider, Lat and Nobey would also be Mog’s owner’s pet from now on and from now on there well be no more acts until…
THE END

2023 Upper Division 1st Place
Author: Emma L.  Maryland  5th Grader

Fireworks


I felt a pang of sadness, watching my classmates being picked up by their moms. But, I needed my mom, why did she have to go? I climbed into the car and remembered how she always asked me about my day. Dad was different, he prefers the car ride being silent.


We ate at a restaurant since dad doesn’t know how to cook. I ordered mom’s favorite dish and remembered how she used to always remember all of my favorite foods. Now, I still remember hers. “I know this is hard. But, there’s nothing you can do. Just remember that mom is always watching over us,”
dad said. I nodded, appreciating his words but still not quite comforted. The sudden death of mom was devastating for both of us and I remembered her everywhere I went. It was torture.


After dinner, dad said it would be a good idea to get some fresh air by taking a walk at the park. I would much rather go home and sleep but he insisted that it would be good for the loss. As we walked, I remembered me and mom feeding the fish here. The memories seemed to be following me everywhere and I couldn’t escape.


Suddenly, a firework exploded in the sky. It stayed there for a moment until more came. They filled the sky with color and movement. Something inside of me unlocked, flooding me with hope and happiness. The sky was the giant canvas and the fireworks were the beautiful art. They burst with vibrant, bold, and bright colors. They slashed through the sky with energy and power. I could hear the wonderful crackles and pops, the children laughing and shouting in delight, and I could see my dad staring into the beautiful sky with hope.


Then the sounds slowly faded away. The fireworks rained down in a shower of brilliantly colored sparks. There was a sense of awe and surprise in the air. I realized that the fireworks were kind of like mom. They are powerful, wonderful, clever, and bright but they will have to leave when their time is up. There is something we can do though, we can remember.


The next day, as I waited for dad to pick me up I saw my classmate being picked up by her mom. This time I smiled and was happy for her. I don’t know what was unlocked inside of me when I watched those wonderful fireworks but it changed me and made me a better person. Dad was right, mom is watching over us.

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