Author Visits with Melissa Trempe
Melissa is excited to visit schools and connect with young readers with her book LADYBUG LAUNCH: Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space. As a former elementary and middle school teacher, she hopes to spread a love for literacy and encourage others to pursue their passions. She is also available to present at your library, conference, or writing group.
If your organization is located greater than 50 miles from Philadelphia, there may be additional travel and/or accommodation expenses. Melissa would love to visit virtually anywhere in the world!
Testimonials
“Melissa Trempe was a guest author at our school and I cannot say enough about her enthusiasm and ability to engage all students. The assembly was personable, interactive, and educational. WOW, we learned so much… This experience taught students that writing is a process, takes time, and requires research, even for a children's book. The students and staff loved the assembly! I would highly recommend this event and am eager to bring Mrs. Trempe back to our school.”
Dr. Renee Mosser, Principal Manoa Elementary School Havertown, PA
“Melissa Trempe was a wonderful author presenter. She not only kept the kids engaged and having fun, but she also showed them all the work that goes into being dedicated to your passion. She provided photographs, statistics and information about publishing while keeping the attention of our PreK- 5th Grade students. Would highly recommend!”
Emily Woodward, Lower School Librarian,
The Baldwin School
“When Melissa visited Edward Heston, she was phenomenal with the kids! Students left Melissa's session excited to dive into their own copies of “Ladybug Launch" and empowered to never give up on their dreams!"
Katelin Beck, Edward Heston School
One Book One School
One Book One School
Conshohocken Elementary chose Ladybug Launch for their One Book One School project! We kicked off the year with an author assembly, and every student received a signed copy. Each month students will participate in different activities related to the book.
Thank you, Conshohocken!
Melissa’s 2024-2025 Events
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Events in BOLD are open to the public! Events in BLUE are links.
Nov. 1 - Coopertown Elementary
Nov. 8 - Manoa Elementary
Nov. 9 - Upper Dublin Library Author Expo 1-3:00
Nov. 11 - Ludington Library 11:00 story time & craft
Nov. 15 - Chestnutwold Elementary
Nov. 22 - Lynnewood Elementary
Nov. 23 - Moore Bookstore from 1-3:00 at 28 W. Eagle Rd. Havertown
Nov. 29 - Smithsonian Air & Space Museum 12-2:00 Chantilly, VA
Dec 8 - Chestnutwold Elem. Holiday Market 10-3:00
Dec. 13 - Chattam Elementary
Jan. 9 - Marshall Street
Feb. 21 - Hancock Elementary
Feb. 26 - Penn Wynne Presbyterian School
March 26 - Tredyffrin Library 5:00 story time and craft
April 2, 2025 - Salford Hills Elementary
April 5, 2025 - Lahaska Bookshop in Peddler’s Village 1:00-3:00
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October 5 - Collingswood Book Festival New Jersey
October 9 - Conshohoken Elementary One Book One School
October 17 - Reeceville Elementary
October 25 - ACLAMO Norristown
September 21 - North Wales Library local author signing 11-3:00
Sept. 14 - Barnes & Noble 1-3:00 Brick, NJ
Friday Sept. 13 Virtual Event! Soar Together at Air & Space Museum - Sept. theme is Animals in Space! Click here to register!
September 7 - Elmwood Zoo - meet the author!
September 1 - Barnes & Noble 1:00 Broomall, PA
August 31 - Barnes & Noble 11:00 Plymouth Meeting, PA
August 3 - Paul Smith Library in York, PA 10:30 AM
August 2 - Kaltreider Benfer Library in Red Lion, PA. 2:00 PM
August 2 - Bound Books in York, PA. 5:00-6:00
August 2 - Dover Community Library in Dover, PA. 10:30 AM
August 1 - Dillsburg Public Library in Dillsburg, PA. 10:30 AM
August 1 - Mason-Dixon Library in Stewartstown, PA. 2:00 PM
August 1 - Kreutz Creek Library Hellam, PA. 6:30 PM
July 13 - Penn State BookFest
June 1 - Bards Alley Bookstore 11:00 Reading, Craft in Vienna , VA
May 20 - E.M.C. Elementary
May 17 - Lathrop Street Elementary
May 16 - Choconut Elementary
May 10 - Agnes Irwin Lower School
May 9 - James Dobson Elementary
May 8 - West Broad Street Elem.
May 3 - Baldwin Lower School
May 3 - Oak Ridge Elementary
April 23 - Waldron Mercy School
April 24 - Little Explorers
April 20 - Barnes & Noble 11:00 Reading, Craft, Q&A in Devon, PA
April 20 - Children's Book World 3:00 Reading, Craft, Q&A Haverford, PA
April 19 - Friends' Central
April 18 - Edward Heston School
April 16 - Manoa Elementary
April 15 - Wallingford Elementary
School visits for 2024-2025 are getting booked now!
Email to plan your author visit today!
School Assemblies can be organized in various ways:
one whole school assembly
split sessions (Gr. K-2 & 3-5)
single grade level
classroom workshop
Pricing
Author Visit: Includes up to 3 sessions, plus a small group lunch with the author (if desired), and book signing. $800 - See assembly & workshop options below. Add a 4th session for just $200.
Ways to Save: Are you a smaller school or looking for an assembly for certain grades? Book ONE large assembly for just $400!
*Melissa has a K-6 & 7-8 ELA teaching certification,
but a teacher must be present at all sessions. Thank you!
*Book sale prior to author visit is requested. Melissa can assist with setting this up.
Large Group Assembly:
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY—Ideal for all grades K-6
This presentation is adjusted to entertain and engage a younger (K-2) or an older (3-6) audience and shares with students:
Growth Mindset
The importance of perseverance to achieve a dream and how failures help us to learn and grow stronger.
The Story Behind the Book
Learn how my co-author Natalia Ojeda and her all-girls’ science class—from a modest school in Santiago—worked with NASA to take the first ladybugs to space.STEM Facts
Kids will play a game to learn fascinating facts about ladybugs, space travel, and the world of publishing.Author's Toolkit/Magic Bag
Students help pull 'tools' out of the ‘magic’ bag that all writers need for success, highlighting the writing process in a fun way. Presentation will end with Q&A.
Smaller Classroom Workshops:
MAKE YOUR OWN PICTURE BOOK! Ideal for Grades 2-6 60 minutes (max. 30 students)
Melissa will guide students through the process of writing their own nonfiction or fiction picture books! Students will understand that a typical fiction story has a character with a desire (what they want) and a problem (what is stopping them). Using a fun, interactive brainstorming activity, students will generate a picture book ideas (with both fiction and nonfiction options discussed). Students will have time to plan out their story on a graphic organizer and begin writing. Melissa will demonstrate how to fold and cut just two to four sheets of paper to create a picture book for students to draft and sketch in. *She will also bring pre-made picture books for the students to work in!
BIG IDEAS/THEMES: YOU can make a picture book too!
SCIENCE + READING = MAGIC! Ideal for K-3 45 minutes (max. 30 students)
Melissa will read LADYBUG LAUNCH in an intimate classroom setting, allowing students to ask questions. Students will then learn about the life cycle of a ladybug and watch a timelapse video of a ladybug transforming. If you book a visit during the spring, Melissa will bring a *terrarium with real ladybugs progressing through the stages of larva to pupa to adult. Students will learn ten fascinating facts about ladybugs in an interactive game. Melissa will provide a ladybug craft or a science experiment highlighting “water walking” that students can share with their families at home! The experiment demonstrates a process called capillary action, which helps water climb up the roots of a plant to the leaves. The experiment also teaches how the primary colors can be mixed to create new colors.
*NOTE: $30 additional fee if you would like the author to bring live ladybugs.
Library Visits Library Visits
Library Visits Library Visits
Melissa loves connecting with our littlest readers at library events!
Kids will learn how ladybugs help gardens, participate in a fun skit, learn a song & make a craft.
