UPDATE: OKEMOS - Allison Stoutland is a former Okemos teacher and a mother of two. She is now a full time author writing children's books inspired by her own childhood, the students she used to teach, and the life lessons she carries with her everyday.

Stoutland has published four books in partnership with her good friend Cathy Hofher who illustrates all of the books. The duo also travel the country visiting schools to talk about the books and how they got to where they are today.

For Stoutland, teaching kids about books and the importance they carry is a full time job.

"They have to have a connection, and a love, and a desire, and respect the book. And understand how a book begins and where it comes from, and they can't be afraid of the book," she said.

During the presentation at Hiawatha Elementary, Stoutland told the story of how she first discovered she wanted to be a writer after her second grade teacher awarded her a blue ribbon for a story she had written.

Her teacher put her story on display in the classroom for all the students to read.

By traveling to other schools around the country, Stoutland hopes to inspire that same feeling in the students she speaks to that her second grade teacher did in her: the feeling that they to can follow their dreams.

ORIGINAL STORY: OKEMOS - In honor of March Reading Month, one local author came back to Okemos to share some of her stories with Hiawatha Elementary School students last week.