Our main task is publishing Christian children’s books, but we recognise that we need to start encouraging young writers today, so they can be the writers of the future. So we set up our creative writing competition for children.
Huge congratulations to all the winners of our first ever Writing Competition! We absolutely loved reading all the stories submitted to us. Sadly, not everyone could win a prize, but I’m sure you’ll agree that all these stories well deserve to be winners!
We had two categories; 9-10 year-olds and 8-9 year-olds.
Here are the winners from the 10-11s category:
1st Place: The Egyptian’s Legacy, by Magali Boetto.
2nd Place: Hardship to Worship, by Isla Simpson.
3rd Place: Ocean of Lava: Treasure Island, by E. L. A. Stokes
Here are the winners from the 8-9s category:
First Place: The Great Adventure of John, by Elijah Simpson
2nd Place: A Week of Treasure, by Elianne Herd
3rd Place: The Pirates and the Lord, by Toby Campling.
It was such a hard decision, choosing the winners!
It was so hard, choosing the winners! All the stories had something to commend them, but in the end, winners had to be chosen.
Magali B, who is 11 years old, won first prize in the 10-11s category – congratulations Magali! Magali has won a selection of 10 books from Dernier Publishing, which we hope she will treasure. 
The competition was open to children from all over the world, and could be written in their own language and translated if necessary. Magali wrote her story in her native Spanish (she is from Argentina), and was translated by Emilia Boetto.
Magali also drew a wonderful map, which we have included here, with Magali’s story first in English, then in Spanish:
The Egyptian’s Legacy
A very important and God-fearing Egyptian had died leaving in the hands of his secretary the map of a treasure, which he was to hand over to his heir when he died. Unfortunately the map never reached his hands because the greedy secretary kept it, thinking to get hold of the treasure and become rich as he had always wanted.
One night he packed everything he would need to enter the pyramid where he hoped to find the treasure. The next morning, he left with the excuse that he had some important business to attend to. He had not walked far when he realised that he had forgotten his canteen. But he remembered that, next to the pyramids, there was a water well.
The secretary walked in the hot midday sun. He felt thirsty and tired. The sand burned his bare feet because a sharp stone had broken his shoes. At last he saw in the distance some green trees by a spring of water. And even though he was carrying a heavy bag, he ran as fast as he could to reach the stream where he drank his fill.
Three hours later he arrived at the great pyramid. He had saved a good deal of time running with all his might and could not wait to fill his pockets with valuable gold and silver coins. Resolutely he made his way through the dark entrance to the place marked on the map. He had to hurry because the pyramid doors would soon close. If he got lost and took too long to find his way out, he would have to spend the night there, next to the eerie tombs of the pharaohs.
At last he found a box of the most expensive wood in Egypt with beautiful carvings. When he opened it, he was dazzled by the jewels it contained. But before stealing them he saw that there was also a letter, which he read carefully through and which ended like this:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6.19-20
Those words transformed him, so he decided to go back to his late master’s son, confess his fault and ask for forgiveness. He arrived just in time at the exit and what he saw outside perplexed him. The heir was standing there. He had suspected the secretary’s excuse and had followed him there to find out what was the matter.
The secretary fell at his feet in sincere regret. And the young man, who was as noble as his father, forgave him. And thanks to the words of the Bible they became very good men just as the Egyptian had wanted.
The judges said, “This is a thoughtfully written, exciting story, with a good beginning, middle and end. It contains intrigue, some great characters, and a lovely ending that satisfies both grace and justice. We love the use of scripture, the images of darkness and light, the descriptive language and the difference between the treasures of this world and true treasure. Well done Magali!”
For the Spanish speakers among you, here’s Magali’s story in Spanish:
EL LEGADO DEL EGIPCIO
Un egipcio muy importante y temeroso de Dios había muerto dejando en manos de su secretario el mapa de un tesoro, que debería entregar a su heredero cuando él muriera. Lamentablemente el mapa nunca llegó a sus manos porque el codicioso secretario se lo quedó, pensando en apoderarse del tesoro y hacerse rico como siempre había querido.
Una noche empacó todo lo que necesitaría para entrar a la pirámide donde esperaba encontrar el tesoro. A la mañana siguiente, partió con la excusa de que tenía unos asuntos importantes que atender. No había caminado mucho cuando se dio cuenta de que había olvidado su cantimplora. Pero recordó que, junto a las pirámides, había un pozo de agua.
El secretario caminaba bajo el sol ardiente del mediodía. Se sentía sediento y cansado. La arena le quemaba los pies desnudos porque una filosa piedra había roto su calzado. Por fin vio a lo lejos unos árboles verdes junto a una vertiente de agua. Y aunque cargaba una bolsa pesada, corrió lo más rápido que pudo para llegar al riachuelo donde bebió hasta saciarse.
Tres horas más tarde llegó a la gran pirámide. Había ahorrado buen tiempo corriendo con todas sus fuerzas y no podía esperar para llenar sus bolsillos con valiosas monedas de oro y plata. Decididamente avanzó por la oscura entrada hasta el lugar marcado en el mapa. Debía apurarse porque pronto cerrarían las puertas de la pirámide. Si se perdía y tardaba demasiado en encontrar la salida, tendría que pasar la noche allí, junto a las espeluznantes tumbas de los faraones.
Por fin encontró una caja de la madera más cara de Egipto con hermosos tallados. Al abrirla, quedó deslumbrado por las joyas que contenía. Pero antes de robarlas vio que también había una carta, que leyó cuidadosamente y terminaba así:
No traten de amontonar riquezas aquí en la tierra. Esas cosas se echan a perder o son destruidas por la polilla. Además los ladrones pueden entrar y robarlas. Es mejor que amontonen riquezas en el cielo. Allí nada se echa a perder ni la polilla lo destruye. Tampoco los ladrones pueden entrar y robar. Mateo 6.19-20
Esas palabras lo transformaron, así que decidió volver ante el hijo de su difunto amo, confesar su falta y pedirle perdón. Llegó con el tiempo justo a la salida y lo que vio afuera lo dejó perplejo. El heredero estaba allí de pie. Había sospechado de la excusa del secretario y lo había seguido hasta allí para averiguar qué pasaba.
El secretario cayó a sus pies, sinceramente arrepentido. Y el joven, que era tan noble como su padre, lo perdonó. Y gracias a las palabras de la Biblia llegaron a ser muy buenos hombres tal como el egipcio había querido.
Isla S, who is 11 years old, won second prize in the 10-11s category – congratulations Isla! Isla has won our Treasure Series of books, which we hope she will treasure.
Here is Isla’s winning story:
Hardship to Worship
There was a little boy, called Elijah, who lived with his non Christain family. The town where they lived was very dark and grim. The weather wasn’t very nice and there were many pubs and lots of homeless people. Rats crawled everywhere because people threw their rubbish out the windows.
One day Elijah went out to look for money and food on the streets. He bumped into a nice lady who was not from the town. The lady was handing out flyers for a Christian group meet up. She was calling out for everyone to come. The men were shouting at her to go home, The woman were not very nice either. The children were hiding in the allies and too scared to come out. Elijah watched one of the flyers fall out her hand and blow away. He went and picked it up once she left. The flyer said “All are welcome, come at 6pm to the field behind the ruins of the old church. We will be in a white tent”.
Elijah thought it sounded like a nice idea, he was intrigued as to what she was going to say. He remembered when his family use to be Christians before all the churches got destroyed. He went home and showed his mum but she got annoyed, screwed up the flyer and threw it out the window.
Elijah walked outside, picked up the flyer and headed to the tent. The tent was big but only 10 people from the town had come to see the lady and what she had to say. The lady welcomed Elijah at the door and he asked her her name, “Anne” she told him.
Anne told everyone there how God had sent his only Son to die on the cross and how he had risen again three days later to save them from their sins. Elijah felt overjoyed and moved to tears because of what Jesus had done and he believed in Jesus.
The next day he told all his friends what Anne had said. One week later the tent was packed with people, the word had spread through friends and parents. More and more people trusted in Jesus. The churches were re built, the town became cleaner and cleaner, the homeless were looked after and given homes, the rats dissapeared, people stopped going to pubs all the time even the sun began to shine.
Elijah realised Gods word was the treasure the town had needed all this time.
The End
The judges said, “This is a story about a bravery, persistence, and about the difference someone can make when God is at work. The story had a good beginning, middle and end. It also ended on a lovely note of hope. We loved the imagination and the description; we also loved the title. Well done Isla!”
Beth S, who is 10 years old, won third prize in the 10-11s category – congratulations Beth! Beth has won a copy of The Treasure Hunt, which we hope she will treasure.
Here is Beth’s story:
Ocean of Lava: Treasure Island
I was on a magnificent vessel with my crew – my best mate among them. Our days were happy and free. We were not the best sailors; always drinking beer and messing around. It was wonderful! But not everlasting. It was, as I remember, a bright, cheerful Tuesday, and we were eating our lunch when it happened: the lookout (a feisty, young man of 23) screeched, “LAVA! MAN THE LIFE BOATS, DOOM IS NIGH!!!” People ran to the lifeboats, and set them down half full! In the chaos, about half of the crew were left behind on the ship screaming, We left them. Archie, my mate, was left too. Along with my heart. We sailed off, and found a small ship with black sails, and- argh! PIRATES!!! Most of us were shot. Others were taken captive on the pirate ship. I hid underneath some blankets and bread in the hope that they would overlook me. The pirates sailed away, leaving me stranded in the middle of the LAVA.
I slept for a day or two. When I woke, my lips were dry and my stomach was empty. I needed food and water, FAST! Luckily, I was hiding under bread, and found some cooked salmon. There was also an old, water tank, half full! I ate and drank little, wondering how long I`d be out there. I stayed stranded in the middle of a vast pool of LAVA, sleeping, eating, drinking, and pondering why I was the one who survived? Why, of all the people on board, ME? I felt like a coward and so guilty.
It took two weeks four days and five hours until I noticed a box drifting. It wasn`t too far away, so I hauled it in and took a good look at it. It was an old Supply Pod! In it was paper and a pen, (which I am using now!) gum, biscuits, a bible, a first-aid-kit, a blanket, two sticks, a compass, a priceless gem, and a letter, which read:
If you are reading this, then you are in grave danger. You have two chances of survival (do both): read this Bible, then you will love God and go to heaven after you die, then follow these instructions. Use the compass and sticks to row west, until you reach TREASURE ISLAND!
Find triangle-marks-the-spot, and you shall be able to live in peace until the end of your days!
Signed, Rose.
I did as the letter said, and read the Bible. It changed me as I understood God loved me despite my cowardice. I decided to become a Christian, and love God! Rose had saved me not only from physical death, but spiritual death, too!
I found the triangle-marks-the-spot, but it wasn`t Gold, or Gems, it was Archie! I settled down on the Island with Archie, and didn’t feel guilty anymore. Thanks to the LAVA, PIRATES and Rose, I became a Christian – and Archie did too!
The judges said, “What a fun, imaginative story, that included lots of danger and suspense and the true treasure, which was Archie and friendship. We loved the supply pod, too! Well done Beth!”
Elijah S, who is 9 years old, won first prize in the 8-9s category – congratulations Elijah! Elijah has won a selection of 10 books from Dernier Publishing, which we hope he will treasure.
Here is Elijah’s winning story:
The Great Adventure of John.
John, a 39 year old missionary, had a task to go to a tribe in the jungle and work with them. He wanted to learn about the tribe, how friendly they were, if they would trade and also to tell them about God.
The tribe were not friendly, they didn’t want to trade or to learn about God, in fact they wanted to kill him. John escaped but they stole his valuables, he went home and told the emperor about the tribe. The emperor sent more missionaries who went to the tribe. Some of the tribe had been thinking about what John had told them on his last visit so when the new missionaries arrived they were more willing to listen. The missionaries told them that God would save them from their evil ways and that they could have eternal life with him if they believed Jesus died on the cross for them. The people of the tribe were sorry for what they had done to John. They let the missionaries stay and they gave back Johns valuables. They realised that eternal life was more important than valuables.
John married one of the woman from the tribe and they had children who ended up being missionaries who spread the gospel to other tribes when they had grown older.
The judges said, “What a fun story, with an emperor and missionaries, and the wonderful message of salvation in Jesus, which is far more valuable that earthly treasures. Your story flows well, with a good beginning, middle and end. You also show a good understanding of the good news of Jesus, for one so young. Well done, Elijah!”
Elianne H, who is 9 years old, won second prize in the 8-9s category – congratulations Elianne! Elianne has won our Treasure Series, which we hope she will treasure.
Here is Elianne’s winning story:
A Week of Treasure.
The Letter
In a small Scottish town there lived a girl called Darcy. Darcy was 9 and she was a Christian. She adored swimming and was the best in her class.
One day, when she was at her swimming class, her teacher called her. She thought, “oh no, God please help me now!” but it was exciting. She, Darcy Smith, was being asked to do the biggest challenge of her life. It was to do lots of swimming galas, try to win them and get the treasure at the end. She had never done this before but it would probably be very exciting!
The Big Week
Today, Monday, would be her first big day of that week. As she got into her car she felt nervous and excited. It was only half an hour to get there. Her Mum, Dad and two year old sister, Lucy, were coming with her to watch.
When she got there it was buzzing with excitement. There were lots of girls and boys there with their parents.
The Race Begins
Darcy got changed into her rainbow leopard print swimming costume and went to line up. Her coach shouted “Darcy, Esme, Luna, Martha and Bella, get in the pool please!”.
“God please help me now !”she thought.
“On your marks, get set, go!”They were off! Splash, splash, splash!
“Darcy is in the lead” boomed the loud speaker, who is going to win?! DARCY!! Darcy won followed by Luna then Esme. Martha and Bella followed closely behind.
She had done it! The spectators went crazy. Her family must be so proud. She got out of the pool and sat down happily with her towel.
The Final Race
As the week went on, the races got better and better. Each one kept on getting better! Tomorrow would be the last race of the week. Darcy was excited and nervous for the race.
At last, it was Friday. As she got into the car Darcy wasn’t sure what she was feeling. She prayed in her head, “God, please help me today”.
When she arrived at the pool she got ready for the race and waited until she was called.
A few minutes later, her race was called and Darcy got into the pool. “Ready, set, go!” they were off. Luna was winning but Darcy took the lead again! Who is going to win?! Darcy!! Darcy has won again! Yes, she had done it.
The Treasure
This is the moment that everybody had been waiting for. “Darcy Smith, please come and collect your treasure. You will receive eight swimming costumes, goggles and hats for everyone in your group”.
This is the best day of my life thought Darcy contentedly.
The judges said, “Wow, Darcy had a great week, didn’t she? We didn’t expect Darcy to win every race, so that was a surprise! We loved it that the prize was to share with all her friends. Well done Elianne!”
Toby C, who is 9 years old, won third prize in the 8-9s category – congratulations Toby! Toby has won a copy of The Treasure Hunt, which we hope he will treasure.
Here is Toby’s winning story:
The Pirates and the Lord.
On a raging sea, lived a pirate crew, sworn to collect every treasure in the world. There was Captain Captain, One-Eyed Bob, and Charlie Boy. There was only one treasure left to collect: the treasure of the desert. So off they went in their boat. THUD!
“What be that?” Queried Captain Captain.
“I don’t know, Cap – “ THUD – replied Charlie Boy.
“It be the KRACKEN!” Said One-Eyed Bob. But then a voice boomed.
“REPENT…”
The pirates pondered.
“What is repent? How do we do it?” But when they reached the shore, they had more pressing matters. Coast guards. And that’s exactly what Charlie Boy screamed.
“COAST GUARDS! Could you kindly show us to the desert?”
The main guard said “Mmm, fine.”
So off they went. Until the guard said “Sandman!!” And ran for his life, only to be buried by sand.
The Sandman said “Go to John. He will tell you of REPENT…”
“There be that word again!” Said Captain Captain.
“Hello!” Said a mysterious voice.
“Who be you?” Said One-Eyed Bob.
“Er…Nhoj?” Said Nhoj.
“Well, Nhoj. Can you come with us?” Asked Charlie.
“Ok.” Said Nhoj.
(Find out who Nhoj is. Look in a mirror to find out! NHOJ)
As the pirates moved onwards, they became hotter.
“It be too hot…” stated Captain Captain. And just as they were about to collapse, Charlie Boy cried “X MARKS THE SPOT!”
The pirate crew dug until they found a chest.
Bob said “Myturntoseethetreasure!”.
But Nhoj said, “The only true treasure is the Lord. I shall teach you of repent, for I AM JOHN!”
The Lord suddenly put the Holy Spirit into their minds and showed them that repent is when you ask God to forgive everything you’ve ever done wrong and decide to follow him instead.
The crew replied, “We know repent! We WILL repent!!!!!”
They ran towards their boat with a pep in their step, but it had blown off the dock! Captain Captain knew what to do.
“Dear Lord, Please help us return to the ship. AMEN.”
BOOM!
A wave pushed the boat to the shore, and a huge gust of wind blew the pirates onto their ship.
“YOU’RE THE FIRST FOLLOWERS OF J..E…s…u…..s…..” The voice boomed for the last time.
And the pirates remembered. Always worship God.
The judges said, “This story had lots of humour and imagination, as well as including the serious message to repent. The story had a great opening sentence to draw readers in, with pirate dialogue that made us smile. Well done Toby!”
Well done to all our writers, and everyone who submitted their stories but didn’t win. We hope you will all keep writing! 🙂