San Francisco, CA — May 7, 2024 — 826 National, the country’s largest youth creative writing program, is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Paramount Pictures for the cinematic debut of the film IF, which will hit theaters on May 17th.
With Paramount Pictures’ latest film, “IF,” as inspiration, children around the nation put pens to paper to bring their imaginary friends to life through writing. Together, 826 and Paramount Pictures are publishing three books of youth writing inspired by the upcoming film, which stars Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Alan Kim, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Steve Carell.
The three ‘Big Books of IFs’ were created from the minds of young writers across the country. Like many great imaginings, it began with a spark and an invitation.
“Together, 826 and Paramount Pictures believe that writing is the key to cultivating a new generation of creative and diverse thinkers who will define a better, brighter, and more compassionate future,” said Laura Brief, CEO of 826 National.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with 826, which has been a singular force in stoking the imaginations of young minds everywhere and encouraging younger generations to tap into the incredible creative power within,” said Marc Weinstock, Paramount Pictures’ President of Worldwide Marketing & Distribution.
It was in this spirit that Paramount reached out to 826 as they prepared to release the movie. “IF” tells the story of Bea, a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends (“IFs”). Paramount Pictures wondered, “What would actual students joining us in classrooms and 826 writing centers imagine in this book? What would they come up with?” With this question, a collaboration was formed, and students in chapters across the 826 Network — in Boston, Chicago, Detroit/Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. — all set about writing.
And with that, three real-life ‘Big Book of IFs’ came into being. With a foreword by director, actor, and writer John Krasinski, the books invite readers into a world filled with imaginary friends — from a pocket-sized creature who turns into a rainbow whenever their human is nervous to a pigeon whose favorite activity is to nap with their human, young writers share what makes their imaginary friends so special and illuminate what is most important in a friend:
- “She’s so funny, and when she laughs, she makes sugar rain all around. That makes me smile even when I’m in an old grandpa mood. We’re very close, and she is afraid of losing me in my world of friends. She always tells me she needs a friend just like me, and I know I need a friend like her. She’s the best person that I can count on. Sometimes, she even follows me around at school to make sure I’m okay. She makes me feel confident about myself and makes me feel safe every time I’m around her. No one can see her but me, and that’s great because I want Chante the Beignet all to myself.” ~ B. Wimberley, 4th grade, 826 New Orleans
- “826 is a beacon of creativity and exploration like no other. To be asked to be a part of anything to do with this organization is an absolute joy. But to then have 826 invite us to do a full-blown collaboration with them, and to have these brilliant students create such mind-blowing work based on my new film IF? …well, that is nothing short of an honor!” – John Krasinski
From May 11-14, each 826 chapter will celebrate and host a book release party, including a pre-screening of “IF,” courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
To inspire more young writers and students to imagine and create their own stories, the lessons created through this project are available through 826 Digital, 826 National’s free online writing education platform. All three books will be available online and at every 826 Chapter beginning in May 2024, in conjunction with “IF”’s film release. Find out more about this project at 826 National’s website or please contact us at information@826national.org to learn more or to inquire about attending one of the nine book release events.
