Molly B.

Burnham

Middle Grade Author

Educator

Travels from: Northampton, MA

“Delightful… An endearing story about grief and friendship that will resonate with readers.” – School Library Journal

Molly B. Burnham has been a dog walker, ice-cream scooper, and elementary school teacher. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two daughters, and a dog named Pepito. Molly earned an MFA in children’s writing from Hamline University. She won the Sid Fleischman Humor Award for her debut book Teddy Mars: Almost a World Record Breaker; she followed with two sequels in the series, Teddy Mars: Almost a Winner and Teddy Mars: Almost an Outlaw.

The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing, her most recent book (January 2023), is an enchanting middle grade novel about navigating the odd spaces between grieving and everyday living, and learning to carry sadness in one hand, and joy in the other.

Molly B. 's Featured Titles

TRUTHS, FAKES, AND KINDNESS

Presentation for Grades 1-6
One of the most asked questions of many writers is “Where do your ideas come from?” In this presentation, Molly explores this topic, drawing from Truth or Fake—the game she created for her book, The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing. For Molly, TRUTHS and FAKES are the building blocks of a story helping her to find characters, emotions, and problems. But writing a story requires something more–it requires KINDNESS. In this dynamic and entertaining presentation, students will be part of the conversation. They will explore with Molly about these qualities, coming to understand the writer’s process and also, why being kind is so important.

THE WONDERS OF WONDERING

Presentation for Grades 1-6
Molly takes students through her practice of wondering and how, with the help of wondering, she wrote the Teddy Mars Series. Students come out from this presentation with an understanding of how wondering first sparked her idea, how wondering helped her to find characters, emotions, problems, wants and needs, and even to learn the end of a story. This presentation is full of interactive moments, laughter, student engagement, and loads of photos from the Guinness Book of World Records. Molly believes that the power to wonder is an essential skill for a curious and engaging mind, as well as for a happy life.

WRITER’S WORKSHOP: A MILLION WAYS TO TELL A STORY

Writer’s Workshop 3-6
Writing is all about choices and sometimes, we don’t know the best choice until we try it. In this Writer’s Workshop, Molly creates opportunities for students to try out ideas. Through writing prompts, improv games, drawing stick figures, and even writing words, students explore how their choices change a story. Should it be told in first or third person? What does this character really want versus what they need? What emotions is the character experiencing? What problems might this character encounter? And how are they resolved? This workshop can be directed toward fiction or nonfiction.

WRITER’S WORKSHOP: SAME AND DIFFERENT: STUFFED ANIMAL STORIES

Writer’s Workshop K-2 (Encouraged to have students bring in a stuffed animal from home—but not necessary)
As writer’s, we are inspired by experiences that are the same in us and ones that are different from us. Encouraging our younger students to recognize what is the same and what is different is an important step in their education. Molly enlists the power of a beloved stuffed animal to be the main character in the young writer’s story. This offers space for the student to express themselves and also think outside of themselves. The stuffed animals also encourages ideas to flow freely, and connects the students more easily to the building blocks of story—a problem, an emotion, and an ending.

WRITER’S WORKSHOP: THE ANATOMY OF A GIGGLE: THE POWER of HUMOR

A Smaller Group Presentation/ Workshop 3-6
Humor is the best and can also be the worst. In this workshop, Molly begins by introducing concepts of humor, examining and considering why some things are funny and why some aren’t. She then moves on to writing exercises that encourage humor and laughter. This workshop is truly about thinking, analyzing, and developing a framework for an understanding what is funny and what is hurtful.

KEY NOTE: Octopuses, Platypuses, and Humans: Evolution and Finding our Hearts

A keynote on Molly’s writing process and finding peace with it.

WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS: The Anatomy of a Giggle: A Workshop on Writing Humor for Children’s Books

In this workshop for adults, Molly introduces key concepts of humor, examining and considering why some things are funny and why some aren’t. She then moves on to writing exercises that encourage humor and laughter. This workshop is about thinking, analyzing, and developing a framework to work humor into one’s writing.

“[A] brilliant mix of a plot…embellished with black-and-white illustrations… Profound in its own sparkling, humorous way.” — Kirkus, starred review

“Delightful… An endearing story about grief and friendship that will resonate with readers.” — School Library Journal

“A warm and compassionate tale about myriad paths toward healing.” — Publishers Weekly

“Engaging first-person narration, ample drama and bizarre actual world records. Fans of world-record quests will savor Teddy’s efforts.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A highly entertaining debut. Delightfully rambunctious black and white sketches elevate the comedy, while Teddy’s hard-nosed perseverance with the aid of friends new and old, takes world record-making to hilarious new heights.” — Publishers Weekly

“This heartwarming story starts the Teddy Mars series on a hilarious foot, tracing one boy’s struggle to stand out in a big family, one failed record-breaking attempt after another. Once the wreckage is cleared, what’s left is a loving family that celebrates one another for exactly who they are.” — Booklist

“There’s a lot to love here: a quirky family, an eccentric next door neighbor, best friends, and a dream come true.” — Literacy Daily

Fun Facts about Molly

Molly’s School Visits

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Sid Fleischman Humor Award Winner

Media clips

Mr. Schu Reads | The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing by Molly B. Burnham

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.