As part of a schoolwide read-aloud initiative, students at Hampton Bays Middle School recently brought the book “Good Different” by Meg Eden Kuyatt to life by transforming themes from the novel into imaginative, dragon-inspired artwork.

Drawing inspiration from the story’s main character and its message of embracing individuality, each grade level explored the dragon theme through a unique artistic lens. Fifth grade students designed colorful dragon eggs using oil pastels, pairing them with intricate dragon eyes rendered in colored pencil. Sixth grade students created detailed, close-up drawings of dragon eyes using oil pastels, and seventh and eighth grade students sculpted dragon eyes from clay.

“Through this project, students connected art with literature, expressing individuality, emotion and the idea that being ‘different’ is something to be proud of,” said art teacher Adrienne Gagliardi.