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

The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing

Dial Books |

January 17, 2023

Middle Grade Fiction

An enchanting middle grade about navigating the odd spaces between grieving and everyday living, and learning to carry sadness in one hand, and joy in the other.

Ten-year-old Dottie Bing is a problem-solver and question-asker who is never more gleeful than when she’s encountering a new dilemma– whether it’s her own, or someone else’s. But when her Grandpa Walter comes to stay (and stay, and stay!) he brings the biggest question that Dottie has ever encountered: How do you heal a broken heart?

You see, Grandpa Walter is grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Dottie’s Grandma Ima. Even though she knows every solution starts with a question, for the first time in her life, Dottie isn’t sure what to ask.

Fiction, Grief & Loss, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade, Kid-Lit: Picture Books & Early Readers

Teddy Mars Book #3: Almost an Outlaw

Katherine Tegen Books |

December 15, 2022

Middle Grade Fiction

Teddy goes from record breaker to rule breaker in this conclusion to the hilarious and heartwarming series by the winner of the 2016 Sid Fleischman Humor Award.

Told in short, accessible sections with fun lists and rambunctious illustrations, the heartwarming Teddy Mars series is perfect for reading aloud. Teddy’s never-give-up attitude will have readers laughing out loud and striving to break world records of their own.

Just like world records, some rules are made to be broken. When Teddy’s great-aunt Ursula moves in, she makes rules about everything from juice to The Guinness Book of World Records to being a good big brother. At first, Teddy is excited. Maybe she’ll finally end The Destructor’s reign of terror! But when Aunt Ursula’s newest rule, PIGEONS ARE NOT PETS, puts the neighborhood pigeons in danger, Teddy may have to bend a few rules to save them.

Comedy & Humor, Fiction, Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade

Teddy Mars Book #2: Almost a Winner

Katherine Tegen Books |

February 21, 2017

Middle Grade Fiction

Teddy goes from record breaker to friendship fixer in the heartwarming and hilarious follow-up to Molly B. Burnham’s 2016 Sid Fleischman Humor Award-winning debut, Teddy Mars: Almost a World Record Breaker, now in paperback.

Win or lose, friends stick together. But when Teddy’s whole class decides to break a bigger, better world record, friends turn into enemies. And Teddy feels stuck in the middle. To fix this mess, Teddy will have to do something he’s never done before—try NOT to break a record! Can he win at losing before his whole class misses out? Humor and grit triumph in this story of one boy’s struggle to make peace in a class full of record breakers, a coop full of pigeons, and a world full of wonders.

Told in short, accessible sections with fun lists and highly rambunctious illustrations, the heartwarming Teddy Mars series is perfect for reading aloud. Teddy’s never-give-up attitude will have readers laughing out loud and striving to break world records of their own.

Comedy & Humor, Fiction, Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade

Teddy Mars Book #1: Almost a World Record Breaker

Katherine Tegen Books |

February 23, 2016

Middle Grade Fiction

Sid Fleischman Humor Award Winner!

Fans of Jeff Kinney’s humor and Sharon Creech’s heartfelt stories will love this hilarious new series about a ten-year-old boy from a big family who dreams of making it into The Guinness Book of World Records.

Teddy Mars is determined to stand out in a world full of wonders and a house bursting with siblings. With the help of his best friends, Teddy tries to build the biggest snow mound, stuff the most grapes in his mouth, and lift a chair with his teeth. He’ll do anything to succeed—even if it means sleeping in a tent and cleaning up pigeon poop for Grumpy Pigeon Man. Too bad his pesky little brother, also known as The Destructor, always wrecks Teddy’s record-breaking plans!

Told in short, accessible sections, with memorable lists and winning illustrations, Molly B. Burnham’s Teddy Mars #1: Almost a World Record Breaker is perfect for reading aloud. Teddy’s never-give-up attitude will have readers laughing out loud and clamoring to break records of their own!

Comedy & Humor, Fiction, Friendship & Community, Kid-Lit: Middle Grade

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.

Similar Authors

Misako

Burnham

The Infinite Questions of Dottie Bing

Teddy Mars Book #3: Almost an Outlaw

Teddy Mars Book #2: Almost a Winner

Teddy Mars Book #1: Almost a World Record Breaker

TRUTHS, FAKES, AND KINDNESS

THE WONDERS OF WONDERING

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

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

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

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

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

Honors, Awards & Recognition

Media clips

Media Kit

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