Valentines for Blobfish

Our Valentine for Blobfish contest, in which local school librarians read Jess Keating’s stellar non-fiction book Pink is For Blobfish to K-4 classes and then have students write Blobfish a Valentine, was as heartwarming, funny, and successful as a contest might well be.

After an initial reaction of “ewww” upon seeing the blobfish, the young scholars found a deep empathy for him developing as they learned that he had been labeled as the world’s ugliest creature. This empathy deepened as they watched  Keating’s special Blobfish video she made after hearing about the contest.

Nothing can truly  prepare a person for judging hundreds of worthy Blobfish Valentine Cards. Two comments overheard while the kids were making their Valentines come into play here.  One child wondered,  “How are they going to get my card to the blobfish?” A great question.  All I could think to do, as the judge, was wade out into the sea, read them to the Blobfish, and carefully gauge his reactions.

Another child commented that , “”He wouldn’t be so ugly if he would just smile.”

What I can tell you is that these cards meant the world to him, and made him smile again and again.

All right then here are the Award Winners and a few runners up. I’ll also include a link to a larger gallery of runners up and honorable mentions.

The amazing Cascade Brook School winner! Awwww.

The astonishing Academy Hill School winner!

The Strong School winner! Blobfish is thrilled to be your friendfish.

The Mallett School winner! the goo does protect him!

The thoughtful Phillips School Winner!

The Phillips School First Grade winner! Blobfish wants to meet you in real life too!

A fantastic Cascade Brook Runner Up!

Just click here to see the full gallery of contest winners and runners up. Adorable!

Valentine for Blobfish Winners, Runners Up and Honorable Mentions
Academy Hill School
WINNER – Lucinda
RUNNERS UP – Fannie and Meredith
HONORABLE MENTIONS – Summer and Braize

Strong School, Grade 1
WINNER – Kooper Chase

Strong School, Grade 3
WINNER – Zachary

Cascade Brook School
WINNER – Persephone
RUNNERS UP – Chloe Roberts and Mikayla
HONORABLE MENTIONS – McKenzie Berry, Natalie McCarthy, Jon Lockhart, and Cinder

Phillips School, Kindergarten
WINNER – Ansen Pillsbury

Phillips School, first grade
WINNERS – MaKensie Longley and Imani Chilcote – Joof

Phillips School, second grade
WINNER – Jacob Black
RUNNER UP – Morgan Kelley

Phillips School, fourth grade
WINNER – Jordan Morgan
RUNNER UP – Lindsey White

Mallet School
WINNER – Kali Judkins
RUNNERS UP – Rowan Shanti, Brooklynn Webber, Adelaide Minton, Gwen Lesperana, Molly Patterson, Mackenzi Atwood, Bella – Piccolo, and Grace Allen