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Storybird Challenges is a writing competition to inspire and uncover visual storytellers.

We began Challenges late last year and have, with the help of our community, discovered and celebrated smart, funny, and ingenious stories for all ages.

Our writer's pool now includes six countries: the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. If you're over 18, a resident of one of these great places, and think you can turn art into intriguing prose—you're invited to play.

These next rounds of Challenges also signals our interest in discovering talent for the Storybird Shop, which will feature and sell hand-picked stories and artwork from the Storybird commons. If you can make it past the votes of hundreds of thousands of picky kids, tweens, and teens—you may have a commercial outlet for your creative skills.

We're joined by Cheryl Klein and Tara Lazar to help pick May's winner. Some of you may recall Tara from our first round of Challenges or have read her Storybirds. Soon you'll be able to read her first published book, The Monstore, to be released by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster. Cheryl Klein is a children's and YA book editor of much repute, having presided over smash titles like Moribito, The Book of Time trilogy, Crossing to Paradise, Marcelo in the Real World, and a relatively unknown series called Harry Potter.

Cheryl's also the author of Second Sight, a book about the craft of writing for children and young adults. We can't think of a better gift for the writer in you (or beside you, near you, or capable of receiving packages from Amazon). It's smart and packed with wisdom from one of the best in our industry.

Speaking of wisdom, this month's theme is moms. They ARE wise. And funny. Tired, often. But beautiful and vital and the backbone of our communities. As the Jewish proverb says, "God could not be everywhere and therefore He made mothers."