2026 Poetry Contest

April is National Poetry Month

Celebrate Poetry by Entering the 2026 Poetry Contest

In the spirt of the 25-year legacy started by The Children’s Bookstore, Turtle Books is pleased to announce the initiation of the 2026 Poetry Contest. We can’t wait to read your poems. The goal of the poetry contest is to celebrate the creativity and spirit of the contestants.

Contest Rules:

Writers from grades one to eight are encouraged to submit entries. The deadline for submission is April 30. Submissions will be considered in one of four groups.

Grades 1 to 2
Grades 3 to 4
Grades 5 to 6
Grades 7 to 8

One winner and two runners-up will be selected from each group. Poems from winners and runners-up may be posted to our website, on social media, and displayed at the Turtle Books store. Only one poem per entrant may be submitted. Poems should be work of the entrant alone.

We encourage poems to be submitted in the entrant’s native language, however the poem must be translated to English by the entrant and only the English-translation will be judged.

Use of AI in drafting poem text is not allowed. We encourage you to find your authentic voice and write from your experience.

All submissions become the property of Turtle Books. In submitting your entry, you grant permission for your name, grade level, and poem to be displayed at the store or online.

The decisions of the judges are final. Winners and runners-up will be notified prior to May 30. The Award’s Ceremony will be held at the Turtle Books store at 224 Washington St. in Brookline Village, Massachusetts. The date for the Ceremony has tentatively been set for June 13.

Instructions to Submit Poem Entry:

Entries may be submitted by either (1) mail/drop-off or (2) online. Entries may be submitted by teachers on behalf of their students.
If your poem has special formatting requirements that are not easily represented on a typed form or include illustrations, then please mail or drop-off your entry.

1. Mail / Drop-Off Submissions

Poems should include a title and the name of the entrant. All poem entries must be submitted along with a submission form. Click the button below to obtain and print the form for mail / drop-off entries. Entries may be dropped off at Turtle Books, 224 Washington St., Brookline, MA 02445 or mailed to that address. Entries dropped off at the store must be received by April 30. Mailed submissions must be postmarked by April 25. Please do not write poems or complete forms using pencil.

2. Online Submissions

Click the button below to open the entry form. Complete all information and type in the poem title and text. Be sure to click the send button and check that you receive an email acknowledging your entry.