A Halloween poem in less than 100 words (as told by a reluctant artist)
🎃✏️👹 🖍🎃✏️👹🖍🎃✏️👹🖍🎃✏️👹
Draw a Monsterfor Homework
The assignment: Draw a monster for homework.
My best friend and neighbor Jess, smiles a smirk.
“How hard can that be?” She mutters.
“Do you even know me?” I stutter.
Pencils and markers lined up for the job
I make careful shapes, but end up in a blob
A shadow of gray that won’t go away
“What’s that?” I imagine Miss Riley’s voice say.
So what if the corners are tattered and torn,
It’s Halloween which means endless candy corn!
My blob monster drawing, messy shadow and all,
Hangs proudly with others, out in the hall!
Published by authorlaurablog
I'm a reading specialist and award winning educator from Chicago. While living in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for nine years, I spent time hiking on the trails with my Goldendoodle Charlie and friends, writing, working in a literacy program at the Boulder Public Library, and mentoring writers and teachers. I love visiting schools. My books combine STEM and Kindness. "Aliana Reaches for the Moon" a picture book that draws inspiration from the moon and the curiosity of children, inviting children to be creative, explore, and experiment. "An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story" a picture book told in the form of a newscast which skillfully balances the serious subject of forest fires with compassion and humor to help children navigate this important topic through the real events of 2020. I moved to Northern New Jersey in 2025 and am working on new projects.
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Laura Roettiger Books 
Yeah, I’d have a heard time with this assignment, too. Great story! Good luck in the contest!
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Thank you! Hopefully after Halloween I’ll blog again about winning the contest! 😊
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Good luck to you too, Jilanne! I read your poem. 😊
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Blob monsters are the best. Good luck!
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Thanks Gregory! I’m famous for my stick figures, blob monsters, and one time I drew a hummingbird that looked more like a penguin. 😂
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I like how the mc gets her priorities in order and realizes candy corn is all that matters, haha
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Thanks, I think she also learns that anyone can be an artist.
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Loved this poem. Very clever. Good luck!
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Thank you!! 😊
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She did it! Great story.
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Thank you!
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Thank you! It’s fun writing to a prompt with very specific parameters.
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Great entry! Good luck in the contest!
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Thank you! Good luck to you too!
Cute story.
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Everyone can draw a monster – whether they know it, or not. Be sure to proudly hang it in the hall! =)
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Jill, I agree completely. That was the message of my poem. #teacherlife
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Yes, the fear we all have at times with being creative. I think it’s very relatable and kids will love it. Good luck.
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Thank you! I hope so. 😊
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Nice ending. Everyone’s been there.
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Savvy poem. I am loving these endings. Fantastic job. Best wishes.
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Thank you so much!
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Well done, Laura. I love the school assignment setting and your rhyme was lots of fun!
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Thank you Vivian!
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Yes! Everyone is an artist. Great story, good luck!
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Thank you! It’s a lesson I needed to share from my years as a teacher. 😊
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a story for all of us outsider artists! wonderful 🙂
good luck
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Thank you! Everyone has something they lack confidence in; I think it’s a universal feeling.
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I am glad she didn´t bin the drawing or throw a fit 🙂 She´s moved on to candy corn and perhaps a better drawing next time around 🙂 Good luck! I enjoyed your story.
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Thank you! She needed to bring in her picture so the lesson could be part of the story. Everyone has things they are good at and things they need encouragement to believe in themselves. 😊
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I like that, Laura. “The journey matters as much as the destination 🙂
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Those blobs on the wall were always mine back in the day! Great idea!
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I always draw with my students and when they don’t think they’re good enough, it’s heartbreaking.
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I am so going to assign monster drawing tomorrow…and hang up every one! Nice story!
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Ingrid, that makes me so happy! Thank you! Happy Halloween!
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I love that the blob monster hangs “proudly” in the hall. Very nice!
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It always helps to look at the big picture and get a perspective. Good story!
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As someone who is totally drawing-challenged, I can totally relate to your MCs struggle! Glad she accepted her efforts and focused on the good stuff – candy corn! 🙂 Thanks so much for joining in the Halloweensie fun, Laura!
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Susanna, thank YOU for hosting such a fun contest! My years of teaching and years of drawing stick figures and obese hummingbirds gave me plenty of inspiration. 💕
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