and the winner is...

I've been anticipating the the results of this year's Washington Post Peeps Diorama contest for weeks. I was reminiscing about past winners a while back. This year I was imagining entries along the lines of Tiger Peep getting his windshield smashed with a golf club made of a toothpick and other such sordid themes. But I was way off the mark. The results are in and the winner and several finalists and runners up did perfect pitch renditions of scenes from children's books and movies. And the winner is...

"Eep" by Michael Chirlin & Veronica Ettle based on the Disney Pixar movie "Up". 

The impressive construction utilizes bed springs to hold up the house and many, many popsicle sticks for the victorian-style shingles shingles.

There's Russel on the porch with his merit badge sash and Mr. Fredericksen in the window with his glasses.

"The Mad Hatter's Peeps Party" by Amy Billingham, Rob Black, & Lauren Emeritz, based on the children's classic "Alice in Wonderland, was a finalist. I love the peep-shaped topiaries in the background.

Admirable use of sculpey clay to make the food and teapots.

What parent doesn't know this book by heart? Based on Margaret Wise Brown's "Goodnight Moon", finalist Mary Lea Harris' "Goodnight Peep" doesn't miss a single detail...

right down to the red mittens drying on the rack...

and the old lady whispering "hush"- while knitting with dress pin needles.

I just read the basis of this one to my kids tonight. "Peepaline", by 17 year-old Grace Timmery (you go girl!) and based on the book "Madeline" by Ludwig Bemelmans, made the semifinalist list.

This one just goes to show how deep the talent pool is in this competition. "Where the Wild Peeps Are" by Margaret Cooney and Adam Matuszeski looks just like the book. And I won't even bother to say what that book is- we all know, right people?

This year's entries certainly were exceptional and set the bar that much higher for next year. These are just a small sampling. Go to the official Washington Post page and see the rest of the impressive finalists and semifinalists and even some videos. All the images here are courtesy of the Washington Post.

Happy Easter!!!!