Soon To Be Released Note from the Editors: The concept of the story contest was that it be free-wheeling, a work in progress from beginning to end. Designing, illustrating, and formatting the book had taken longer than anticipated and the original release date has been delayed but we are confident the end product will be well worth the additional work. In the beginning, messages were sent out, announcements were made, and stories began pouring in from all over the US and Canada. The stories were numbered so they could be judged blind. As we discussed the stories, we became more and more aware that what is called children's literature is more a genre than an age, just as folks of all ages love the film magic of Walt Disney, the music of Serge Prokofiev, and the paintings of Marc Chagall. The 28 winning stories were selected for their flights of fantasy, graceful language, wit, and joy of learning, even if the lesson learned is difficult. As the work in progress is moving toward published form, we are working with each of the writers and becoming friends with them. That is always the very best part of any artistic endeavor. These collaborative bonds help make artwork sparkle.