Yake Elementary students took a journey through books when award-winning children’s author Lisa Wheeler visited for a special presentation during March is Reading Month. Wheeler, known for her lively storytelling and engaging picture books, captivated students with animated readings, silly songs, and interactive activities that brought her stories to life.
But for Wheeler, this visit was extra special—she has deep roots in the Woodhaven-Brownstown community. Though she now lives in Addison, Michigan, she previously lived in Brownstown, and her own children attended Wegienka Elementary and later Woodhaven High School.
Wheeler shared not just her stories but also her journey as a writer. Born in Pennsylvania, she moved to Michigan at 15, attending high school in Rockwood before graduating from Carlson High School. She admitted she never went to college but emphasized, “There’s a lot to be said for passion.” Her love for writing started early, but she never imagined she could make it a career.
“I was that kid who was terrified to stand out,” she told students. “But I had to learn. I’ve always written poetry, and when I was in high school, my teacher would edit my work with a red pen. We need people to teach us because we never get it right the first time. We all make mistakes.”
Before becoming a published author, Wheeler worked in the former Toys R Us at the back of the store in the Books R Us. It was there, surrounded by books, that she thought, I think I could do this. In 1995, she began sending out manuscripts. It wasn’t an easy road—she faced 225 rejections before selling her first book. “Don’t be afraid to fail,” she said. Now, she has written over 60 books.
During her visit, Wheeler took students on a literary adventure. She began with Sixteen Cows, a playful story about Cowgirl Sue and Cowboy Gene, who try to round up their cattle with different songs—only for the cows to hilariously mix up. She sang parts of the book, inviting students to respond with enthusiastic “moos!” and transported them from Michigan to Texas through the power of storytelling.
She then introduced Jazz Baby, a rhythmic city-based story that had students clapping, swaying, and using hand motions to repeat beats in the book, demonstrating how rhythm and movement can bring a story to life.
Next, she shared Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum, a tale of a toad who gets stuck in a gooey wad of pink bubblegum—followed by a shrew, a goose, a bee, a crow, and even a big blue truck! Wheeler invited students to imagine other creatures that could get stuck, improvising rhymes on the spot as students suggested animals like a fox, a deer, a spider, and even a sheep. “When you write a book, you get to be the boss of the story,” she told them, inspiring young minds to dream up their own creative tales.
She also explained what every good story needs: a beginning, a middle, and an end. “If one is missing, it’s not a very good story,” she said, helping students understand the importance of storytelling structure.
“For me, getting to spend time in a school with kids is the most fun ever,” Wheeler shared. And for Yake Elementary students, her visit was an unforgettable celebration of reading, creativity, and the magic of stories.
To learn more about Lisa Wheeler and her books, visit lisawheelerbooks.com.
