Erik Burgeson

I am a school library media specialist and a National Board Certified Teacher, but if you ask me what I do, I answer differently. I say, "I collect stories. Tell me yours." I have been a story collector since I was born. My mom and dad told me stories, and I was in heaven. My mom read books to me every night over and over again until I could fill in the words and finish all the sentences. My dad showed me how to use emotion, both verbal and non-verbal to enhance those stories. He would always read picture books to me and my siblings the "right" way and the "wrong" way. The "right" way was nice and normal. The "wrong" way was sarcastic and silly. Obviously, we loved the contrast between the two. To this day, I teach my students that stories are how we learn. We (the human race) have always learned this way, around a fire or gathered around a table for a meal. Stories get told. Laughter, and sometimes tears, erupts and memories are formed. We feel and we learn at the same time. It is my goal to make my readers feel something genuine and to empathize with the characters, both the "good guys" and the "bad guys". No gender offense intended. In the end, stories help us make sense of our world. Or, in the absence of sense, stories can make us feel not so alone. Mr. Rogers used to say, "In times of danger or worry, look for the helpers." I may have mangled how he said it, but the idea is powerful. We can all be helpers. Just remember that everyone is struggling with something. Peace to you all. Erik