Aidan McKee

Many of the ideas that make-up Schauer’s story developed over years of telling stories to students.

When I first heard that Michael Schauer, my third grade teacher, was writing a book, I knew there was going to be a story to tell, primarily because he taught me how to tell them myself. Although years have passed, the time I spent in Schauer’s class listening to his legendary stories, putting on grand performances, and going on adventures made me into the person I am today, so it only made sense that I had to tell his story.

Former Richfield Elementary School (RES, formerly Hillcrest) teacher Michael Schauer launched his writing career in October of 2023 with the publication of his first book, The Lost Hamsters of Barnaby Bunch. The tale, sure to appeal to all ages, captures the former educator’s love for storytelling and the whimsical sides of life. 

Throughout his thirty-year teaching career, Schauer taught at RES, impacting an incalculable number of young lives, but what would drive someone to want to spend their career around nine-year olds? Schauer explained the love he had for teaching at a younger level and the students who made it so rewarding. 

“When I was hired I really didn’t have a choice of where to start with. And then they told me in the interview, ‘this is for third grade,’ and I was excited when I heard that because I loved that age. I just love how they think, how they talk, how they express themselves, how they can understand and get your jokes. And you can talk to [them] on a level that you really can’t for a first grader or a kindergartener,” Schauer said.

Without students who could understand and fire back at his jokes, Schauer would never have created the impact that he did upon them. In addition to inspiring a younger generation to appreciate storytelling, he was honing his craft. Schauer explained the tradition of storytellers in his family and how he found a passion for the craft. 

“My grandfather was a real storyteller, and he would make up these fantastic stories, and of course, as a six, seven, eight-year-old, I believed everything that he told me. So I just was fascinated how you could tell stories and make them come to life and just capture someone’s imagination. As a teacher and now a grandfather I can do the same thing for this generation,” Schauer said. 

Many people consider themselves writers, but to write a book is something very few can claim to have done. Schauer’s writing journey is not unlike the average person, but where he stands out is in his persistence. No matter where he was in life he never lost sight of his passion, resulting in the achievement of a life-long dream. 

“I’ve always been interested in writing. And when I was younger, [my stories] stood out to teachers and they would read [them] out loud in front of the class and kids would laugh, so that really kickstarted this whole thing. But I’ve always had these ideas kicking around in my head. It wasn’t until really until I retired in 2020 that I was able to really sit down and have the time to put [them] together,” Schauer said.

From its title alone, The Lost Hamsters of Barnaby Bunch, the book may appear like a simple story for children, but as the reader begins to unpack its narrative they can discover the complex themes that take root in the book. Schauer explained why he feels children’s books need to carry a deeper meaning and the advantages of including them.

“I think [the story is] pretty weighty and substantial as far as what the meaning behind it is. It definitely is good versus evil, and how good can triumph in the end. But it’s also showing kids that there’s a lot of crazy things that are going on in the world right now and  they can stand up and just make their own decisions and feel good about themselves,” Schauer said.

Writing a story, even for someone with years of experience, is a challenge. Where Schauer found an advantage though was in his natural inclination towards storytelling, and the thirty years of experience he has in telling stories that make kids smile. Schauer gave a look into his writing process and how he approached being a first-time author.

“My process was just letting my mind kind of get on the hamster wheel, so to speak. Just writing down what I thought and not worrying about whether it fit or not. . . . Just coming up with the characters was a whole process, and I wanted to give them all individuality. . . . For instance, I’ve got one hamster whose name was Julian Bouchard, and he was away on a ship so he talks differently. So all of [them] have a little backstory, which I think makes it richer and more interesting to the reader,” Schauer said.

Schauer did not begin his writing journey until after he concluded his teaching career, but while writing the book he never forgot about his former students. Schauer explained the drive that inspired him to write the story, and the legacy he hopes it will leave.

“I dedicated [the book] to my nine grandchildren. And really the idea was that when I’m long gone, they’d have something from their grandfather that they could appreciate. They will always have a little insight into how I thought and what I believed in and everything. The second level of why I did it was for all the students that I taught, because I felt like it’s kind of a gift to them, to be able to say I always used to tell you stories. Now here’s one big story,” Schauer said.

Although it took him half of his life to publish his first book, Schauer is not unlike many others in his family. With the release of his story in October, he joined a large number of family members in the writing fraternity. He explained the pride he felt in becoming a published author and the tradition his family has in writing. 

“It feels great. It feels like I’ve accomplished something, but it’s kind of like my whole family has done this because my great grandmother got her master’s degree when she was 65 from Columbia University, and she was a professor of art at the University of Akron who wrote a bunch. I guess we’re all a bunch of late bloomers,” Schauer said.

Although his book was released only months ago, Schauer is still looking to the future and is already continuing the narrative of his inaugural story. He explained where he hopes to take the series, and how an author goes about constructing such an expansive narrative.

“I’m so absorbed right now in writing parts two and three, and it’s amazing how much of  your day is spent on the book that you’re writing. As a matter of fact, I get some ideas while I’m dreaming. I always hear people say ‘it was in the middle of the night and I thought of  something and I got up and I wrote it down,’ but that’s exactly what happened. I was so excited I couldn’t go back to sleep,” Schauer said. 

Rena Baker co-taught at RES with Schauer for three decades, having a front-row seat to his storytelling capabilities and experiencing countless adventures along the way. Due to these experiences, it was no surprise to her when she heard that Schauer was writing a book. She cited multiple examples of Schauer’s storytelling skills creating an impact in the classroom.

“[He] wrote epics for our third graders. A collection of fractured fairy tales written for a Puppet Theater, original poems about his classes and students, and his infamous play The First Thanksgiving?, to name just a few,” Baker said.

Having spent an entire career teaching with him, Baker could experience the story in a way that few will ever have the opportunity to. She explained the fun she had reading a book that one of her closest colleagues created.

“With every word, every line, I could hear Michael’s voice. Reading his story was yet another great adventure shared,” Baker said.

When asked what she first thought when she heard Schauer was writing a book she had a simple answer.

“It’s about time!” Baker said.

Rochelle Malick is a long-time friend of Schauer’s, who, by having young children, can experience the book through the lens of a friend, but also a parent. Malick shared her thoughts toward the story. 

“It was a delight from beginning to end. . .. It’s so descriptive, so cleverly written, that I couldn’t put it down. I could see the story playing out like a movie in my mind. Reading it aloud to my daughter was so easy because the writing is very expressive. Everyone, from child to adult, will enjoy the read,” Malick said.

Throughout his teaching career, Schauer had an impact on thousands of young lives. His stories, jokes and lessons influenced another generation of storytellers, ensuring his memory will live on forever in the hearts and minds of his students. The publication of The Lost Hamsters of Barnaby Bunch only allows for that impact to reach young people for generations to come.

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