Three students will soon see their stories come to life as professionally illustrated and published books after being selected through the Share Your Story Young Writers' Challenge.

Mexico Elementary student Osceola Bassette and New Haven Elementary students Max Clemens and Ellie Wallis were chosen by the Share Your Story team, founded by children's author and literacy champion Stan Tucker, to have their books professionally illustrated and published through Leap for Literacy.

Tucker once again visited MACS elementary schools in September, providing writing kits and encouraging students to share their unique stories. After submitting original manuscripts and illustrations as part of the Spring 2026 Young Writers' Challenge, Max, Ellie and Osceola were selected for the program. Each student will be paired with a professional illustrator before their completed books are published and made available for purchase through Amazon.

"Strong literacy skills open doors for students to express themselves, connect with others and explore their imagination," said New Haven Elementary Principal Brian Carnes. "Max, Ellie and Osceola embraced that opportunity, and their success is a wonderful example of what can happen when young writers are encouraged to tell their stories."

"This recognition reflects the creativity, dedication and perseverance these students showed throughout the writing process," added Mexico Elementary Principal Amy Fiedler-Horack. "We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and excited to see their stories shared with a wider audience."

Osceola's book, The Tired Elephant, tells the story of two elephants from Thailand, Thong Kon and Chatchom, who discover the importance of friendship and supporting one another.

Ellie's book, The Big Adventure, follows Lilly and her dog, Cutie, as they encounter a variety of animals while trying to find their way home after becoming lost.

Max, a passionate basketball fan, wrote Basketball! Anytime, Anywhere, a celebration of the sport he loves. The story follows young players who develop their skills and confidence while playing the game wherever they can find a hoop.

Students selected for the clubs were supported throughout the process by the district's elementary librarians: Megan Cernaro at Mexico Elementary, Kelly Cullen at New Haven Elementary and Tiffany Carpenter at Palermo Elementary. Osceola’s ENL teacher, Ann Elyse Foltz, and his art teacher, Lydia Larrabee, both staff at Mexico Elementary, were also credited for their contributions to the process. Their guidance and encouragement helped students develop their ideas and bring their stories to completion.