Derik Baltich

Learning to read opens wide the window of imagination for young children. Adventures with brave Jedi, extra-terrestrials, big yellow dogs or big green dragons are possible with the turn of every page. The best gift we can give a child might be teaching them the immense satisfaction of getting lost in a book.

But reading is not a wonderful experience for every child, or every adult. Being forced to read aloud to a classroom of unforgiving peers can be embarrassing and terrifying. For children with disabilities, the challenges and the emotional wounds are even worse. It’s nearly impossible to enjoy the story when the letters appear to dance on the page, and deciphering words one by one is exhausting. Derik Baltich knows first-hand both the joy of writing a good story, and the struggle of reading a good story.

As a child, Derik struggled with a learning disability. Reading in public brought on bouts of paralyzing fear. At Church, he was regularly called upon to read in small groups. It was a humiliating and puzzling experience. He wondered why he struggled. Other students read effortlessly. They seemed to enjoy it. In contrast, when Derik read, he stumbled and fumbled, losing his place and his confidence.

Book selection was key for Derik. He gravitated toward humorous books, such as Amelia Bedelia and Curious George. The words tended to be simpler, the pictures helped him follow the story, and the humor calmed his uneasiness about reading. Reading and finishing these short stories gave Derik a taste of the satisfaction other kids found in books. It was exactly the encouragement he needed to keep reading. Derik and his brothers have many fond childhood memories of their mom reading stories aloud. Listening to stories enabled Derik to visualize the characters and the action, something he was unable to do in his own reading. He enjoyed the imagery that appeared in his mind. It sparked the beginning of Derik’s fascination for creating stories.

Today, author Derik Baltich creates whimsical stories filled with humor – the kind of stories that helped him overcome his fear of reading in public. The kind of stories he hopes will inspire others to overcome their challenges and get lost in a good book.