Author | Educator | Speaker
Offering author visits to schools in PA, NY, NJ, MD, DE, & VA.
Writing picture books kids & parents will love.
Melissa Trempe loves sharing incredible, true stories with children! She has presented at countless schools, The Smithsonian Air & Space Museums in D.C. and Virginia, The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, and on Science Friday. When she isn’t busy researching or writing, she loves connecting with readers through author visits, speaking at conferences, providing critique services for fellow writers, and volunteering for SCBWI Eastern PA region. Melissa hopes to make this world a better place one book at a time.
Her upcoming release, The Girl Who Dreamed of Space: The Story of Eileen Collins, NASA’s First Female Pilot and Commander (Sourcebooks eXplore), tells the story of a quiet girl with a big dream: to fly. Growing up with limited means and struggling to find her voice, Eileen never imagined she would one day make history. But through focus, courage, and fierce determination, Eileen rose above expectations to reach a dream few thought was possible.
At its heart, this story reminds us that dreams don’t have to begin with perfect circumstances, they simply have to begin with belief. No matter who you are or where you start, you are capable and your dreams are worth pursuing. Because sometimes, the most ordinary kids go on to achieve the most extraordinary dreams.
Ladybug Launch: Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space (Simon & Schuster) is co-authored with Dr. Natalia Ojeda and shares the incredible story of students in Chile who convinced NASA to take their ladybug experiment to space. This story encourages children to believe in themselves, embrace their curiosity, and proves that children’s ideas are worthy of adult attention and can have a real impact on science and the world!
COMING SOON! Saving Squirrel: A Manatee Rescue Story (Simon & Schuster) releases in 2028. This nonfiction story shares the tale of one of the youngest orphaned manatees found in Florida, named Squirrel, and her journey to finding her a mama. This is a story of resilience, found family, and a powerful reminder that our actions shape the world we share with animals. It inspires us to care for the habitats we call home and shows that, together, we can make positive changes to protect the animals who share our world.
AWARDS FOR LADYBUG LAUNCH
2025 International Latino Book Awards Honorable Mention for Nonfiction
2025 Pedro & Daniel Commended Book Award
EVENTS
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EVENTS 〰️
From author visits to schools,
The Smithsonian &
Science Friday . . .
see where Melissa will be next!
Author visits and school presentations available for pre-kindergarten through middle school.
One Book One School project at Conshohocken Elementary!
Available anywhere books are sold!
Pre-order Now
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KIRKUS REVIEW
“…The book offers a stirring example of representation in STEM. A rousing story of kids making an impact on the world of science.”
Praise . . .
Steena Hernadez,
Author of Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers
“I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this beautifully written story by Melissa Trempe and Natalia Ojeda, and illustrated by Manuela Montoya. This story shines from the first page, as it parallels a little girl, who dreams of becoming a scientist, and a ladybug, who wants to go to space. Adorable illustrations of the starry-eyed ladybug add an endearing touch to what the reader learns is based on a true story. An encouraging teacher helps the little girl and her classmates take their idea straight to NASA! A sprinkling of Spanish words makes this a diverse read, and a Spanish to English glossary is included. This inspiring read is sure to have the youngest readers dreaming big and shooting for the stars!”
150 books donanated to students
in an underserved Philadelphia school…
I worked with a charitable organization called WePAC (West Philadelphia Alliance for Children) and my local bookstore, Children’s Book World, to provide a free author visit to an underserved Philadelphia school. With the help of friends, family, and my community, we raised enough money to give each child a copy of Ladybug Launch in April 2024.
After sharing the book with students, the children had a chance to make their own picture books!
This experience was incredibly special for me. These children have a school library that is only open one day a week and run by WePAC volunteers. When they check out books, they’re not allowed to take them home. The books stay at their school desks. To send these children home with their own books was an amazing feeling.
Photo provided by WePAC
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Critique Services
Is your manuscript query ready? For information on critiques, email melissatrempebooks@gmail.com.
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School Visits
Melissa can’t wait to present at your school! She’s located in the Philadelphia area.
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About Melissa
Learn more about the author! What was she like as a kid? You might be surprised!
