PARIS, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — A local teacher and “Golden Apple Winner” celebrates the publication of her own book!

The book is titled Herbert the Edgy Hedgie and it follows the journey of Herbert, a hedgehog who is overwhelmed by the troubles of the day, but in the end, he saves the day with help from a friend.

Marie Wimsett is a 4th-grade teacher at Carolyn Wenz Elementary in Paris, Illinois. She says her students have been super supportive throughout the process.

“My class was super stoked, I’ve been sharing my process and my progress along with them and when I brought the book and showed it to them this week they all cheered, it belongs to them too,” Wimsett explained.

Tara Elmore co-authored the book with Wimsett.

“This has just been a great opportunity that we just kind of took upon ourselves, and it’s been so much fun, and so organic, the whole process,” Elmore said.

Wimsett says the project came about after a text conversation with Elmore during the pandemic and was turned into a book idea.