There are a lot of writing competitions out there for kids, but when Betsy Bird singled out Roald Dahl's Imaginormous Challenge 2018 in her latest Fuse #8 Production blog, we had to look to see what was so appealing to her. It didn't take long. This Willy Wonka-themed story contest certainly stands out, in prizes if not concept.

Photo credit: Roald Dahl Literary Estate

Children ages five to 12 who live in the United States must submit a 100-word story idea that could be transformed by one of five prizes (when entering the story, kids select desired prize):

• Penguin Young Readers With guidance from the authors of the "Hank Zipzer" series, Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, the story idea will be developed into a published ebook.
• Minecraft Education Edition A team of Minecraft builders, including YouTube creator Stacy Plays, will transform and reimagine one idea into a playable Minecraft experience.
• Charlie the Musical The team behind the Broadway musical Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, going on tour this fall, will turn one story idea into a theatrical creation.
• Warner Bros. One winner and a parent/guardian will go to Hollywood to work with the Warner Bros. consumer product team to inspire a new toy design.
• Dylan's Candy Bar With the help of Dylan's Candy Bar, the idea will be turned into a magical, edible creation.

An educator component to the contest offers online teacher resources to help students come up with ideas, and the chance for teachers to win Roald Dahl books for their schools. One winner will be selected for each prize experience. (These five "golden tickets" are in keeping with a Willy Wonka theme.) Last year's Imaginormous Challenge had 20,000 entries. The submission deadline is May 1.