Two creative Hampton Bays Elementary School third graders have become published authors at their school. They each wrote and illustrated original books that are now available for their classmates to borrow from their school’s library.

Quinn Cuddihy authored “Sonic Forms,” a colorful chapter book inspired by the many transformations of the popular video game character Sonic the Hedgehog. Drawing inspiration from the chapter books he enjoys reading, Cuddihy filled his story with action and imagination, illustrating each page with bright, vibrant artwork. According to the school’s Library Media Specialist Christina Piazza, Cuddihy’s book meets a clear demand in the library collection, as there are currently no books centered around Sonic available for students to check out.

Landon Gerber wrote “Void,” an imaginative story about a villain who drains all the color from the world, forcing a team of superheroes to work together to restore it. Like Cuddihy, Gerber brought his story to life with detailed illustrations that capture both the darkness caused by the villain and the vibrant return of color as the heroes save the day.

The young authors were inspired to write their books after Piazza encouraged students to create their own stories using recycled and old library books. The project empowered students to become storytellers and contribute original titles to the school’s collection.

Cuddihy and Gerber are already planning their next chapter — collaborating to expand “Void” by developing deeper backstories for the superheroes and continuing the adventure.