Story Monsters wins in all three categories at San Diego kids film festival

Story Monsters LLC and Book Street Press landed 12 Official Selections and won every category they entered at the 2026 San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival, held Aug. 21-23. The results highlight the company’s move beyond print into audiobooks, music and screenplays for children’s stories.

Why it matters: - The festival results give Story Monsters LLC and Book Street Press validation across three formats: screenplay, audiobook and original song. - The wins underscore the company’s broader push into multimedia storytelling for children and families. - The recognition can help expand reach for Story Monsters’ books and related adaptations.

What happened: - Story Monsters LLC and Book Street Press earned 12 Official Selections at the 2026 San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival. - The festival ran Aug. 21-23. - The company won in all three categories entered: Screenplay, Audiobook and Original Song. - The winning projects were Sixty-Minute Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Case of the Missing Pink Piggy - Audiobook Edition, and The Great Animal Escape Theme Song.

The details: - Sixty-Minute Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream was named Screenplay Showcase Winner. - Book Street Press published the screenplay, which was adapted by Professor Emeritus Cass Foster. - The screenplay was also selected for a live Screenplay Showcase during the festival. - The Case of the Missing Pink Piggy - Audiobook Edition won Best Audiobook. - Linda Harkey wrote The Case of the Missing Pink Piggy, Mike Minick illustrated it, Immy Dymott narrated it and Studio Story Monsters produced the audiobook. - The audiobook is part of the Story Monsters® Little Read-Alongs™ collection. - The Great Animal Escape Theme Song won Best Original Song. - Linda Harkey wrote The Great Animal Escape and Jeff Yesh illustrated it. - Zachary Simpson wrote the music and lyrics for the song, Erin Rementer performed it and Studio Story Monsters produced it. - The 12 Official Selections were spread across the festival’s three categories. - Screenplay selections included Sixty-Minute Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Case of the Missing Pink Piggy. - Audiobook selections included Cate and the Garden Bandits, I Know What You Do When I Go to School, Jamie’s Journey: Cancer From the Voice of a Sibling, Little Lucy Ladybug: Where Are My Spots?, Luna: The Mare with the Sky Blue Eyes and The Case of the Missing Pink Piggy. - Original Song selections included Marky the Magnificent Fairy Theme Song, The Bumblebees, The Great Animal Escape Theme Song and Saul the Baseball in the Big Game Theme Song. - Linda F. Radke, Monster-in-Chief of Story Monsters LLC, said the recognition matters because it shows how stories can come to life in different formats. - Radke said the company began with print but now reaches children and families through audiobooks, music, screenplays, live performance and other multimedia storytelling.

Between the lines: - The awards point to a business strategy centered on turning children’s books into cross-platform content. - Story Monsters is using festivals and awards to build credibility for its publishing, audio and music brands at the same time. - The company’s spread of selections suggests its catalog is being developed as an ecosystem rather than as standalone books.

What's next: - Story Monsters said the festival recognition reflects its continued expansion through Story Monsters Press®, Book Street Press, Studio Story Monsters® and Story Monsters® Little Read-Alongs™. - The company also thanked the festival organizers, judges, staff and volunteers for supporting storytellers. - Story Monsters says it will continue its mission of “Changing the World… One Story at a Time.”

The bottom line: - Story Monsters left the festival with broad exposure, category wins and another signal that its children’s content is evolving well beyond the printed page.