Story as Inspiration

Positive experiences elevate our perceptions of self, our desire to pursue goals, and our overall attitude of appreciation. Think about how this concept can be applied to the modeling we do in our classrooms and libraries. The positive experiences we have while reading can inspire us to grow, to change, and to evolve. Imagine how long those ripples will spread in the hearts of young readers and writers we work with every day. Demonstrations of inspiration are as varied as the people who supply them. Visits by authors and illustrators are an inspirational medium that allow this to happen. In addition to inspiring student interest in authors' and illustrators' work and the world around them, students often leave a guest visit inspired to write and share their own stories. The author visits can bring an entire class, an entire school, an entire community together through story.