News


EVENTS

9/25/2022: The Open Players present “Reading Rumpus 2022” including HIP, HIP…BERET, CLARINET AND TRUMPET, and books by several Maine authors and illustrators.

9/18/2022: Illustrator James Rey Sanchez and I chat with Lynne Marie about BATTLE OF THE BOOKS in a “Mentor Text Talk” presented by RateYourStory.org and The PictureBookMechanic.com.

9/17/2022: Join me and other New England children’s authors and illustrators at the Bath Book Bash at Library Park in Bath, Maine, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m, for a fun day of books, food, and celebration!

9/4/2022: Join me at Barnes and Noble in Augusta, ME at 2:00 pm for a Story Time with BATTLE OF THE BOOKS.

8/27/2022: Come to the Children’s Book Fair by the Sea on the beautiful grounds of the Camden Public Library in Camden, Maine from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. I’ll be there with many other local children’s book writers and illustrators to sign and personalize books!

8/24/2022: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. EST  Join me and illustrator James Rey Sanchez for a virtual event through Print: A Bookstore to celebrate our new picture book, BATTLE OF THE BOOKS! We’ll be reading our book, doing a signed giveaway, and sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the book. Fun for all ages!

4/24/22: Join me and illustrator John Herzog, together with Lynne Marie, as we read and discuss CLARINET AND TRUMPET for Rate Your Story and The Picture Book Mechanic’s “Mentor Text Talk,” 6:30 p.m. EST.

4/7/22: Join me and the NE-SCBWI Equity & Inclusion team as I moderate a free conversation around the topic of disability in children’s literature with panelists Roz MacLean (author/illustrator), Jessica Slice (author), Naomi Davis (agent), NoNieqa Ramos (author), and Andrea Hall (editor).

9/18/21: Join me and many other local children’s authors and illustrators at the Bath Book Bash in Bath, Maine, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m! I’ll be on a “Spotlight on Picture Books” panel with authors Samara Cole Doyon, Anna Crowley Redding, and Rajani LaRocca at noon in Library Park.

5/5/21:  Join me and illustrator John Herzog for a Zoom discussion of creating our picture book, CLARINET and TRUMPET. Hosted by Print:A Bookstore.

4/11/21: “Tinker and Talk” with Lynne Marie at 6:30 p.m. EST – discussing HIP, HIP…BERET!

2/23/21: Story time for HIP, HIP…BERET’s Book Birthday with the Camden Public Library

February 23, 2021, from 4:00-5:00 p.m. EST, join Melanie and HIP, HIP…BERET’s illustrator, Morena Forza, for a reading of their picture book, followed by a Q&A. Email children’s librarian Miss Amy at alhand@librarycamden.org to request a Zoom link to attend. Melanie will be personalizing signed copies of her book for pre-orders placed through the Owl & Turtle bookshop in Camden.  Call or go online to order.

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PRESS

4/20/21: Penobscot Bay Pilot/Local Children’s Author Donates to Museum Read-A-Thon

BLOGS, ARTICLES, PODCASTS

9/22:       Imagination Soup: 31 New Picture Books, September 2022

9/2/22:   The Picture Book Buzz with Maria Marshall

9/5/22:   Author Acrostics with Nancy Tupper Ling

8/30/22: Interview with Helen H. Wu about BATTLE OF THE BOOKS

8/24/22: Book Review and Craft Chat about BATTLE OF THE BOOKS with Kathy Halsey of Grog Blog

8/23/22: Q&A with Deborah Kalb about BATTLE OF THE BOOKS

8/11/22: Book giveaway and book journey post for BATTLE OF THE BOOKS on Writing and Illustrating

5/19/22:  Interview about CLARINET AND TRUMPET with Tonnye Fletcher for PBJAMZ

5/5/22: “Learning from 2022 Picture Books that Soar High with Craft:” Soaring ’20s books featured as mentor texts on KidLit Craft blog

4/28/22:  “Children’s Books About Musical Instruments:” Melissa Taylor’s Imagination Soup blog – includes my book, CLARINET AND TRUMPET

4/4/22:   Mentor Text Monday/Rate Your Story: Creating Community

2/14/22: My top 5 picture books for introducing musical instruments to young readers

8/12/21: Writer’s Digest article “5 Ways to Add a Refrain to Your Picture Book (And Why You Should)” by Christine Evans – cites my book, HIP, HIP…BERET!

5/14/21: Writers’ Rumpus Interview

5/12/21: Interview and Giveaway on Only Picture Books

4/19/21: Book Q&As with Deborah Kalb

4/9/21: Vivian Kirkfield/Picture Books Help Kids Soar: Perfect Picture Book Friday

3/31/21: Good Reads with Ronna: Author Interview

3/30/21: Soaring ’20s: CLARINET AND TRUMPET – Book Birthday and Giveaway!

3/30/21: Vivian Kirkfield/Picture Books Help Kids Soar: Book Birthday and Giveaway

3/21/21: Kathy Temean/Writing & Illustrating: Book Journey and Giveaway

3/8/21: KidLit TV: On the Look Out for Kids’ Books Spring 2021!

2/2021: Imagination Soup: Memorable Picture Books, February 2021

2/24/21: Tara Lazar’s Writing for Kids: Funny AND Female: A Research Project by a Hoity-Toity Otter

2/23/21: Soaring ‘20s: HIP, HIP…BERET! – Book Birthday and Giveaway!

2/12/21: KidLit411: Author Spotlight

2/9/21: Susanna Leonard Hill: Tuesday Debut Author Spotlight

10/31/20: Rate Your Story: The Benefits of Joining a Debut Group

9/30/20: The Soaring ‘20s: Staying Creative, Inspired, and Resilient by Melanie Ellsworth

8/27/20: Lindsay Ward/Critter Lit: Interview with Debut Author Melanie Ellsworth

4/29/20: The Children’s Book Podcast, episode 590: Getting Down to Details with the Soaring ‘20s

3/27/20: Wanted: Humorous Picture Books During Dark Times by Melanie Ellsworth