In the days of Laura Ingalls Wilder, folks traded in a sod roof for shingles as soon as they could afford to. The reverse seems to be happening now, as homeowners trade shingles for sedum, even though they can’t necessarily explain why they did it.

Since 1978, sixth-grade students at St. Anthony Park Elementary School have participated each spring in an essay contest that was started by neighborhood resident Robert Hahnen. The winners ride in the annual Fourth of July parade on Como Avenue and read their essays at Langford Park. Here are this year’s four contest winners.