Amy Huesgen

Amy Huesgen – Educator/Storyteller/Creator

Contact:

amy_huesgen@hotmail.com

Hello!

I grew up in Missouri, where storytelling was part of everyday life. My mom and grandma were always sharing stories, and before long, I was spinning my own tales for anyone willing to listen (and a few who weren’t).

As a kid, I fell in love with books like Strega Nona, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, and Charlotte’s Web—basically anything with a little magic, a lot of heart, and maybe an animal or two. These days, I still love stories with beautiful language and memorable characters. Some of my current favorites include Mrs. Bibi’s Elephant by Reza Dalvand, Catching a Storyfish by Janice Harrington, Fences Left Broken by Kristen Terrette, and The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin.

When I’m not reading or sketching out ideas, you can usually find me outside enjoying a walk, looking for inspiration, or wandering into a bookstore—because that always seems to happen.

I’ve dedicated my career to education, serving as a Reading Specialist, Special Education Teacher, and English Language Arts Teacher—with a particular focus on supporting English Language Learners. Along the way, I also had the joy of working as a Library Assistant for a year, deepening my appreciation for the power of books in children’s lives.

Helping students of all ages learn to read, write, and fall in love with literature is more than a profession—it’s my passion. I believe every book has a soul, and somewhere, there’s a reader waiting to meet it. Whether sitting on a classroom carpet, working one-on-one, or exploring the shelves of a library, I’ve spent countless hours helping children discover the stories that speak to them.

I live in both Missouri and Alabama with my family and my two dogs.

Thank you for visiting!

An Amazing Elementary Librarian to Follow:

I have been fortunate enough to work with amazing educators for 30 years. Librarians have been the most resourceful, kind, and loving people I’ve had the pleasure to know and learn from. Currently one of the best I can recommend following is Melanie Wood. She was born to a librarian (one of the best I’ve known), became an award winning teacher, and then on to an amazing librarian herself. I just love seeing all of the innovative, imaginative, child centered things she does in her library. If you want good recommendations or just want to see cool stuff… follow her! Instagram: melanie_in_the_library Facebook: Melanie In The Library

Super Cool Bookstores to Follow:

Nomad Books – an award winning indie bookstore in London. Among other things, their window displays are fantastic! Instagram: nomad_books

Page & Palette – this bookstore has the coolest story and resides in the lovely artist/writer’s town of Fairhope, Al. It’s full of history, cool events, and warm and inviting staff members ready to recommend books. Instagram: Page & Palette

The Bookshelf – I just love the story behind this store and its owner Annie B. Jones. You can find them in Thomasville GA. They have wonderful podcasts along with all their amazing book recommendations. Instagram: bookshelftville

Most asked question in all my years as an educator specializing in reading and writing?
“What can we do to improve our child’s reading level, comprehension, and love of reading?”

My answer is always the same whether speaking to the parents of a kindergartner or a 10th grader…
“Read to your child, read with your child, read in front of your child, talk to them about what is being read, and enjoy the time together. Even if you (the parent or guardian) are doing the reading, they are growing as a reader and developing a love of reading.”

Link to a few of my suggestions on read-alouds and links to incredible experts/educators in reading:
MY TWO CENTS ON READ-ALOUDS

Link to Mem Fox’s Ten read-aloud commandments:
https://memfox.com/for-parents/for-parents-ten-read-aloud-commandments/