Tails of Hope

6th Annual Tails of Hope Short Story Writing Contest

Contest Details

Join us, the Pickering Public Library and Scholars of Pickering and Ajax , opens a new windowand write a short story about your furry friend. If you don't have a furry friend, that's okay, use your imagination and create an animal related story of your own. Select stories will be professionally published with one copy going to the child, and another becoming part of a permanent collection that will be used at the library and future animal related programming. Interested children should register for the program in advance to learn more about the criteria and deadlines.

3 Age Categories

• 5-7 yrs
• 8-10 yrs
• 11 - 12 yrs

Guidelines for submission: 

• All stories must have a biography of the author.
• Images must have no watermarks.
• All stories must be written by the child with no use of AI.
• Only emailed stories will be accepted.
• Please do not submit cellphone pictures of your story for quality purposes.

Before submitting your story make sure your story has the following:

• Cover (Title/Written by…you!)
• Stories must be no more than 12 pages long (can be pictures, drawings, cartoons…be creative!)
• Write a dedication (to my dog Oakley/for my cat Trixie)
• Artist Bio/Self-portrait (write a line and draw a picture of yourself and your furry friend)
• Each page should be 8.5 x 11

Registration Opens on May 11th!

 

Tails of Hope Short Story Contest: How to Workshop

Not sure where to start with your story?  Our 2026 Writers Workshop is scheduled for Thursday May 28th, 2026 from 5:30pm - 6:30pm at the George Ashe Library. Reserve your spot today!, opens a new window

 

Sponsors

A big thank you to Scholars of Ajax and Pickering, opens a new window for sponsoring this initiative.

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2025 Winners

For the 2025 Tails of Hope Short Story Writing Contest we asked our community to write a short story about their furry friend. We were thrilled to receive so many creative and high quality submissions and are happy to share the top 3 winners, one from each age category:

• Lily the Rescue Cat, by Humayraa: 5-7 years old
• Me and My Buddy, by Ava; 8-10 years old
• Wish, by Gloriana 11-12 years old

Young authors received a professionally published copy of their story and 4 large compilation books were created to highlight the all 32 entries. Two compilation books will be in circulation at the Pickering Public Library, while one will remain at the Pickering Animal Shelter and at HiFive Kids Dental & Braces. We encourage the community to stop into each of the locations to read these talented authors stories.

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2023 Winners

• The Turtle & The Coyote 2, by Isabella: 5-7 years old
• Storm The Dog, by Karissa: 8-10 years old
• The Three Fish and the Plastic Monster, by Aania: 11-12 years old

 

Congratulations to all the young authors!

 

Sponsor

A big thank you to Hifive Kids Dental & Braces, opens a new window for sponsoring this initiative.

2021 Winners