For my first Christmas, Granny gave me Jan Pienkowski's paper pop-up book, Dinner Time. I can remember my jump and cry of surprise when she read aloud, "...and there was a...". Granny paused before turning the page, "...CROCODILE!," Out of the book a cardboard crocodile snout with jagged white teeth and red flared nostrils snapped it's teeth.           Perhaps Dinner Time was the beginning of my love for books and writers.           As luck would have it, I now live across ‘Fountain Square', Cairo, from Ed Hutchins. Ed makes paper engineered books. His books are, literally, all different shapes and sizes--from a fold-out garden to a pencil case with international peace messages printed in different languages on the pencils. The shapes of Ed's books represent the message therein.           I knocked on Ed's door. He was happy to see me and invited me in. I asked if he had time to answer some questions I had about his work. He did so gladly while showing me his web-page, book collection and studio. It was an informal interview, untaped, and so I will simply summarize what he told me.           Ed works at home in Cairo in his studio, which is a room with his desk, a sink, paper, stamps, ink, and other bookmaking paraphernalia. He makes books because he loves reading and telling stories. There are three things Ed likes best about his work-- he gets to use his hands to make things, he can express his ideas and thoughts, and he is the "employee of the month" all the time because he works for himself!           The things Ed likes least about his work are a) the work never stops, b) there are no fringe benefits, and c) he doesn't get sick pay. Some problems Ed encountered were that it was hard for him to get his work recognized and it has been a struggle getting exposure. Things are looking better now, though. "Ed Hutchins--The Amazing Book Artist" is on the cover of the National Stampgraphic!           Technology is being used more and more in the process of bookmaking, for laying ut the pages, designing the book patterns and advertising. Ed has a list of his books which are currently for sale on his web-page. The thing I found most intriguing about his web-page was that he had a copy of his nursery school report card on it!           Speaking of education, Ed got a degree in government service. He worked a variety of jobs from a soda jerk, to a clown, to a tour guide. In the 1980's he took a Book Arts course and decided that he wanted to make books for a living. All of his previous jobs and education influence his books. Ed says that education in writing, art, printing and book binding are required to make books.           In response to my question about what will happen to bookmaking in future generations, Ed told me, "People will always write books, because they will always have a story to tell."