The theme for our 10th Better Read Kids Writing Competition was Windows, which provided the scope for unparalleled creativity, imagination, and sophistication that we have not seen so far in the kids writing competitions. We also received a record number of entries and have loved reading each and every one! Each entrant between the ages of 6 and 12 submitted a truly unique short creative piece of approximately 1000 words.
 
Through these pieces, we wanted to encourage young writers to pick up their pens and pencils, or use their laptops, to take a break from learning at home and channel their creative energy into a story. Each entrant has looked up from their desk (or dining table, or island bench, or lounge room floor) and gazed out a window for a short while. In these stories, windows have taken kids to far away places; to magical lands; on mindblowing adventures. They contain time travel and history and heroes and villains. For some, a window represented an opportunity worth taking, a journey ahead, a new relationship or a test of bravery. 
 
Some of the entrants have also entered other pieces into our previous writing competitions, so seeing how their writing has developed and been inspired by the opportunity provided by the Better Read Kids writing competitions is a bigger measure of magic than any tale could offer. There are definitely some future authors within the pages of this anthology, and each one sings with a love for books, words, and storytelling.