Congratulations to these enthusiastic young writers who submitted their stories about making the world more beautiful, inspired by Barbara Cooney's Miss Rumphius. Each wins a $25 gift certificate to Crow Bookshop in Burlington. We were dazzled by your delightful descriptions. Below you'll find one of the winning stories.

"Once upon a time, in the city of Athens, in the country of Greece, there lived a beautiful maiden named Grace. She was agitated that she was so beautiful, but everything else was dull and grey. One day she couldn't take the dullness anymore. She decided to take her beauty and give it to the city. She said a blessing to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. She touched the ground. Instantly, the ground became green. She touched a building and it became red. Soon the whole city of Athens was a blur of color. Gaea, the Mother Earth, was so astounded at what Grace did, she persuaded her grandson, Zeus, to make her immortal. So she lived happily on Mount Olympus, until the end of the world."

Hunter Norton, 9
North Ferrisburgh

Other Winners

Eva Goodwin, 10
Middlesex

Cynthia Smith, 10
Berlin

Bella Olinger, 9
South Burlington