SimonSays.com

The Great Dog Wash was named the Grand Prize winner in the Cheerios® Spoonfuls of Stories® Children's Book Contest, a national contest to support unpublished, new children's book authors -- and earned Braeuner a $5,000 cash prize and the opportunity to have her book reviewed by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Simon & Schuster has since offered Braeuner a book deal for her winning story, and has paired her with Robert Neubecker as the illustrator, and with an editor to see her through the editorial process. Braeuner's book will be launched in paperback form inside Cheerios boxes in spring 2009, and will be available in hardcover through booksellers that summer.

Click here to read some lines from "The Great Dog Wash" and see a few very early sketches Robert has created for the book.