The Montcalm Area Reading Council (MARC) takes great pride in honoring the talented winners of the Rewrite a Fairy Tale Contest. MARC is pleased to announce that Karen Bowen of Edmore emerged as the first-place winner with her captivating piece, “Tiny Bell.” In this reimagination of Tinkerbell’s adventures, Bowen beautifully weaves a tale of enchantment, where Tinkerbell embarks on magical journeys with boys and girls in the forest, surrounded by the splendor of radiant blue flowers.

Securing the second place, Matt Kelley of Greenville presented his exceptional entry, “Hansel and Gretel’s Hospital.” Kelley’s piece takes us on a delightful journey where the iconic duo establishes a veterinary clinic, compassionately tending to creatures like the three bears and other beloved characters.

In third place, we have Loreno Dodger of Sheridan with her mesmerizing piece, “Happily Ever After.” Dodger’s tale revolves around a princess’s journey of hard work and dedication in raising her three daughters, ultimately finding her own Prince Charming and experiencing the fulfillment of true love.

First place was four box seat tickets to the West Michigan Whitecaps. The tickets were donated by the Whitecaps. Second and third place received a $25 gift card donated by Meijer.

“I am beyond thrilled with the way the fairy tales came out,” MARC executive director Amanda Lee said. “It was so fun reading them and seeing all the creativity that was poured into them. The learners had a great time writing them and learned a lot along the way. A special thanks to the Whitecaps and Meijer for promoting literacy in our community. It is very appreciated.”

Originally published in the MARC newsletter, October 2023.