Over the past month, we’ve been inspired, amazed, and deeply moved by the creativity of students from around the world who participated in our Tell Your Story Personal Narrative Competition.
With more than 200 entries submitted from students across five continents, this competition became a powerful celebration of storytelling, student voice, and global connection.
Young authors shared stories of courage, curiosity, creativity, and personal growth—offering heartfelt windows into their lives through writing that was authentic, funny, emotional, and bold.
Before we introduce the winning stories, let’s shine a spotlight on the incredible judges who helped bring this competition to life.
Meet the judges
Our judging panel included celebrated authors and educators who brought deep care, curiosity, and expertise to each submission. Entries were reviewed by age group using a rubric focused on originiality, design, communication, and literacy skills.
Elementary school judge: Drew Daywalt
Drew Daywalt is a writer and the very silly person who wrote The Day The Crayons Quit, The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors, and the middle grade novel They Call Me No Sam.
He also wrote the dictionary, all of Wikipedia, and the complete works of William Shakespeare. But mostly he likes to make up stories about how he wrote the dictionary, all of Wikipedia, and the complete works of William Shakespeare.
Middle school judge: Tanya Avrith
Tanya Avrith is a passionate advocate for student voice and the power of storytelling in education. As a senior content producer on the Adobe for Education team, she develops innovative professional learning experiences that empower educators to integrate creativity into their teaching.
Tanya a former eduator and the co-author of The Google Infused Classroom and The Microsoft Infused Classroom.
High school judge: Ally Kennen
Ally Kennen has written eleven prizewinning MG and children’s novels. Her first book, Beast (Scholastic UK) was shortlisted for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal, won The Manchester Book Prize and was translated into sixteen languages. She is currently finishing her adult book Fearwater Farm.
Ally is a mum of four and runs her bookshop—Chocolate Books, in a sleepy town in south west England.
Elementary school winners
We’re proud to kick off our winner announcements with the incredible work of our elementary storytellers. These young authors impressed judge Drew Daywalt, author of The Day the Crayons Quit, with their humor, honesty, creativity, and heartfelt storytelling.
Each book in this category represents a unique voice and perspective—and we’re honored to share them with you.
🥇 First Place: When I Turned on the Faucet
By Abigail Aiello, Grade 5, USA (Connecticut)
Submitted by Jacqueline Mazzella, East Lyme Middle School
“Abigail’s story was not only laugh-out-loud funny, but it demonstrated a great grasp of character and relationships. By the end, I felt not only entertained, but also that I knew who she was and what her life with her mom was like.” – Drew Daywalt
🥈 Second Place: The Last Day of Fun
By Oscar Helbig-Reimer, Age 10, Canada (Nova Scotia)
Submitted by Jan Mills, Brookland Elementary School
“Oscar’s story of his last day of school in Australia was more than just a detailing of events. He really conveyed his feelings and his interests. And I was really invested in whether he would be able to bounce 1000 times on his pogo stick! To get a reader invested is the hardest thing to do, and Oscar did it with great aplomb.” – Drew Daywalt
🥉 Third Place: Going to School
By Angela Danso, Age 6, USA (New York)
Submitted by Michele Condello, Rolling Hills Primary School
“Angela writes with quiet simplicity about her mornings before school and yet, the depth of her thoughts and feelings are all on display. A sweet story of getting her day off to the right start.” – Drew Daywalt
🎉 Honorable Mention: We Love Our School!
By Mrs. McIlravy’s Kindergarten Class, Ages 5–6, USA (Iowa)
Submitted by Shelby McIlravy, Van Meter Elementary
“This collaborative love letter to the school was incredibly touching. I really felt the love the students have for their school experience, and by the end, I felt as though I had spent a day there.” – Drew Daywalt
Middle school winners
Our middle school entries were a true celebration of voice, vision, and vulnerability. These students explored personal experiences, imagination, and identity with a level of depth and artistry that wowed us. Judged by Tanya Avrith, Adobe Education Evangelist and co-author of The Google-Infused Classroom, the winners in this category exemplified the power of student voice—both written and visual.
🥇 First Place: Dear Universe
By Dagny Hwang, Age 13, USA (California)
Submitted by Lisa Highfill, Pleasanton Virtual Academy
“Dagny's work is absolutely breathtaking—and what set it apart most was her incredible artistic voice. The illustrations were not only beautiful, but mature, intentional, and deeply expressive. Every visual choice added depth and emotion to the story, transforming each page into a meaningful experience.”
“What’s equally impressive is Dagny's imaginative storytelling voice—she clearly understands how to visually tell stories, using both image and text to build a cohesive, emotionally resonant world. Her story was powerful, but her illustrations are what truly made this piece unforgettable.” – Tanya Avrith
🥈 Second Place: The Sky Inspires
By Nityashree Arora, Age 11, Singapore
Submitted by Leela Rama, NPS International School
“Nityashree’s story is deeply inspiring. She captures the sky not just as a visual, but as a metaphor for limitless potential and self-discovery. I was captivated from start to finish by her precision with language and her ability to evoke emotion with clarity and grace.”
“I found myself thinking about her story long after reading it—her talent is truly extraordinary. There’s a bright future ahead for this young author.” – Tanya Avrith
🥉 Third Place: A Different Kind of Friendship
By Sara Tilton, Age 12, USA (New Hampshire)
Submitted by Erin Sobocinski, David R. Cawley Middle School
“Sara’s story was moving and full of insight. She did a wonderful job informing the reader about a serious disease, while also showing how the condition doesn’t define the person. Through her narrative, Sara provided a powerful lens into the humanity and nuance of friendship.”
“Her writing was heartfelt and educational, with a tone that was both compassionate and confident. An impressive achievement.” – Tanya Avrith
🎉 Honorable Mention: A Fall That Wasn’t Mine
By Zoe Hoffman, Age 13, USA (Massachusetts)
Submitted by Brendan Heck, W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School
“Zoe’s piece stood out for its exceptional design and creative use of the Book Creator platform. She skillfully blended multimedia, layout, and consistent visual style to guide the reader through her story.”
“Beyond the visuals, her expressive writing and attention to detail brought the narrative to life, making it easy for readers to imagine the world she built. Zoe did a truly impressive job crafting a story that was both beautifully told and beautifully presented.” – Tanya Avrith
High school winners
Our high school storytellers brought depth, creativity, and emotional complexity to the competition. These young authors tackled personal growth, fantasy worlds, and emotional honesty with skill and heart. Judged by Ally Kennen, award-winning author of Beast and Bedlam, these entries showcase the next generation of writers—fearless, thoughtful, and original.
🥇 First Place: This, is Drowning
By Shi Chavez-Kohn, Age 15, USA (Kansas)
Submitted by Barton Keeler, Ulysses High School
“Powerful, taut writing with lovely imagery.
Here are fresh and exciting ideas within the saddest of stories. The author should keep up her writing as the clarity and depth of her prose is alive with talent.” – Ally Kennen
🥈 Second Place: Magicae
By Sara Corradi, Age 12, United Kingdom (London)
Submitted by Anthony Peters, King's InterHigh
“A wonderfully energetic story, packed with ideas and observations. I loved the humour, the vast imagination and the rattling pace!
Keep reading lots as this will fuel your writing and help shape you as an author. Go for it!” – Ally Kennen
🥉 Third Place: Emotions
By Nóra Fejér, Age 16, Romania (Covasna)
Submitted by Kinga Pécsi, Colegiul Național Nagy Mózes
“A quirky, accessible and appealing piece of work.
The creator communicates her ideas in a cool, clever and very well presented piece.” – Ally Kennen
🎉 Honorable Mention: Night Devine
By Nina Lobas, Age 15, Online Homeschooling School (America and Europe)
Submitted by Brianne Wragg, Creative Genesis Program
“A sweet and solid piece about the rewards of hard work and following an idea through to the end.” – Ally Kennen
🎉 Honorable Mention: The Power of Curiosity
By Anna Mikola, Age 17, Romania (Covasna)
Submitted by Kinga Pécsi, Colegiul Național Nagy Mózes
“Wow! What a beautifully designed book. Stunning!” – Ally Kennen
A Final Word: Thank You for Telling Your Story
To every student who submitted a story—thank you. Your words, your creativity, and your vulnerability inspired us. Whether your story was funny, reflective, fantastical, or deeply personal, you reminded us of the power young people have to connect, teach, and move others through storytelling.
We also want to express our sincere appreciation to the educators and schools who encouraged participation and made space for students to reflect and write. It takes a village to nurture young authors, and your support helped bring more than 200 stories into the world.
Tell Your Story is more than a competition—it’s a reminder that everyone has a voice worth sharing. And this is just the beginning.
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With 20 years of experience in education, Katie is passionate about creating inclusive and accessible classrooms for all students. She loves exploring new places, trying different foods, and connecting with fellow educators.
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