Author promotes tolerance at Knoch elementary
JEFFERSON TWP — Students at Knoch Intermediate Elementary School got to mimic screech owls and turtles Friday, Feb. 28, when they got a visit from a Western Pennsylvania children’s book author.
Gina Marie Burris, an author originally from Sharon, read her 2018 book, “Tallulah’s Diner,” to students up to fifth grade Friday in an attempt to inspire enjoyment of writing and teach them to respect one another, even if they have differences. The story is about a turtle who owns a diner and her children
“This particular book is about accepting everybody for their unique characters and traits,” Burris said. “Tallulah is also a mother, and she works really, really hard to balance not only the diner, but raising her children to be decent.”
Burris said she never intended to write children’s books, but came up with the character of Tallulah when her son was becoming a teenager, and found that the character was a good way to share values. Burris said her own mother owned a pizza shop when she was young, so she took inspiration from her own life to come up with a story.
During her sessions with each grade, Burris had the students participate by providing sounds or acting out characters as they appeared in the book.
Burris said she hoped the children left the session with her being more comfortable with writing, through hearing about her own writing process.
“Writing can be a really scary thing. Writing makes individuals very vulnerable,” Burris said. “You’re taking what’s in your brain and putting it into the written word, then you have to turn in an assignment. I try to encourage them to remember that every teacher wants them to be successful, so when they get that paper back, don’t be discouraged. It’s a positive thing.”
