Aiming to get more kids hooked on creative writing, Paramount Pictures has teamed up with San Francisco-based nonprofit 826 National to publish three anthologies of short stories written by students inspired by the studio’s upcoming family movie IF.

IF is a passion project driven by filmmaker, actor and writer John Krasinski (The Office) that centers around a pair of kids (voiced by Ryan Reynolds and Cailey Fleming) who discover they can see everyone’s imaginary friends. 

In the lead-up to the film’s theatrical release on May 17, Paramount reached out to 826 National—the largest youth creative writing program in the US—to get students at the nonprofit’s writing centers to submit stories about their own imaginary friends and what they feel is most important in a friend. Some IFs featured in the books include a pint-sized creature who transforms into a rainbow whenever their human is nervous, and a pigeon whose favorite pastime is to nap with their human.

The books will be available online and at 826’s nine US chapters starting on May 17. Release parties including a pre-screening of the movie are scheduled to be held at these centers between May 11 and 14. 

Founded in 2002 by educator Nínive Calgari and author Dave Eggers (The Circle), 826 publishes works by young writers and provides educators with resources to encourage the joy of creative writing. With chapters in Boston, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, LA, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco and Washington, the nonprofit serves 710,000 students and 18,000 teachers in the US.