Hello
Hi, I’m Alyssa Burks — a children’s author, educator, photographer, and mama from small town Arkansas.
I believe stories have the power to change the way kids see the world — and the way we see them. Whether it’s through my picture books, my photography studio, or The Upside Down Podcast, my goal is always the same: to help families find beauty in imperfection and connection in the chaos.
When I’m not writing, you’ll probably find me behind a camera, wrangling my two boys, Zeke and Clay, or working on creative projects that bring families together through art, storytelling, and laughter.
My debut picture book, Ethan and the Inside-Out Sandwich, was inspired by one of those delightfully messy “mom moments” — when a simple sandwich turned into a life lesson about kindness, curiosity, and embracing what makes us different.
I write for the dreamers, the doers, the misfits, and the mamas — for anyone who’s ever needed a reminder that perfect is overrated and love is always enough.
My Story
As a kid growing up in Arkansas, I used to write little books on folded notebook paper and staple the sides together. I didn’t know it then, but storytelling would follow me through every chapter of my life — from teaching elementary school to becoming a mom, to photographing hundreds of newborns and hearing their families’ stories.
Each experience taught me something new about connection — that the best stories don’t just entertain; they heal, teach, and bring us closer together.
The idea for Ethan and the Inside-Out Sandwich came from my son’s curious imagination one ordinary afternoon. He made a sandwich completely wrong — peanut butter on the outside — and instead of correcting him, I just watched. He was so proud, so sure, so him. Unapologetically, proudly, neurodivergent, HIM.
That moment stuck with me. It reminded me that the world tells kids (and adults) how things “should” be, but creativity lives in the “what ifs.” That’s when I knew this story wasn’t just for children — it was for all of us.
Now, through my books, podcast, and creative work, I share that same message:
That it’s okay to color outside the lines. That kindness matters. That our differences make us extraordinary.
Because sometimes the best stories — and the best people — are a little bit inside-out.