In response to our Webkinz challenge two weeks ago, local children sent 140 entries -- some accompanied by photos, drawings, paintings and, in one case, a poem.

If you're clueless, Webkinz are stuffed animals that are in such demand that stores can't keep them stocked, and they're being auctioned online for top dollar.

These are toys with a purpose. Children register the animals online and then are responsible for caring for their virtual pet. They play educational games to earn "Kinzcash" to buy things in the virtual world for their pet. Teachers and parents -- some of them wrote us, too -- say that Web-kinz help teach math and money skills.

We asked fans to tell us what Webkinz taught them about money. At stake: new Webkinz for the top three essay writers (We planned to give away two, but the essays were so good, we expanded it).

We're sorry that we couldn't give more prizes. We decided to share highlights from a few other entries, which offer lessons about saving money, spending wisely and separating wants from needs:

* Greer Wendland, 11, of Apex wrote that Webkinz teach you "to contain your inner shopper and save up your money."

* Elissa Gaiffi, 6, of Cary learned the hard way not to share her account information in the hopes that her friends would help her earn Kinzcash. "I gave my password to Andrew, but he went on my account and spent all my money," she wrote. "I was very sad, and learned my lesson not to give out my password anymore."

* Christina Bailey, 6, of Raleigh addressed the Webkinz shortage that has parents scrambling. "Mom says the stores are sold out and the only way to get them is to buy them on Ebay," she wrote. "The people on Ebay want 50 dollars for a webkinz. They are bad people."

* "My teacher is pleased how well I am doing in math," Amelia Parkerson, 8, of Wake Forest wrote. "I told her it's all because of Webkinz."

* Cary's Leah Jensen, 9, had this thought for doubtful parents: "Web-kinz does not turn your kid's brain into mush because it's educational and talks about the economy."

Here are the winning essays:

'I saved up for a long time until finally I got one'

I have learned that the smartest way to buy something is to save up all your KinzCash and wait until you see it in the Curio Shop if it's a rare item or wait until it's on sale or you have a lot of KinzCash if it's in the W Shop.

When I was running low on food one day I went to the W Shop and saw that oranges were 30% off. I bought them and I saved a lot of money that I used later to buy a table and some chairs for my Webkinz's room. When I need to buy a bed I usually play games in the arcade that I'm good at (beds usually cost a lot of KinzCash even if they're on sale) until I have about 1000 KinzCash. I really wanted a pool one day to put in my backyard so I saw that they cost about 2000 KinzCash! I saved up for a long time until finally I got one and still had enough KinzCash leftover to buy a T.V. I have seen really cool books and video games before and I've saved my money and bought them and had a lot of money left to save up. If I win a Webkinz I will give it to my sister. She almost got a Pegasus but it was needed for something else for our school, so I really want her to win either Webkinz.

--Daniel Nance

'Savvy buying is ... a must'

Webkinz has taught me about saving money and buying smartly. If you don't save your money in Webkinzworld, you will end up broke. Saving money in Webkinzworld is the key to letting your Webkinz live a longer, happier life. If you buy everything your Webkinz wants, you won't be able to afford its needs. If it doesn't have a bed to sleep in or food to eat, it will get sick and die. And believe me, a dead Webkinz is absolutely no fun!

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