Melissa Cenatiempo - The Power of a Simple Story

Posted on 26th of March, 2022 by Naomi Bolton

Melissa Cenatiempo is a mother, teacher, and most recently, children’s book author. Melissa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Elementary and Special Education. As a mother and educator, Melissa’s life was filled with picture books. Reading picture books daily, Melissa became moved by the power of a simple story to subtly teach the most profound, impactful lessons; lessons that illuminated young impressionable minds. Melissa always enjoyed writing and decided to combine her two passions. She began to write her own powerful stories with the goal to entertain, teach, and most importantly inspire and enlighten the minds of her young readers. As our Author of the Day, she tells us all about her book, Little Brother for Sale.

Please give us a short introduction to what Little Brother For Sale is about.

In Little Brother For Sale, Michael is fed up with his pestering little brother, Matthew. Matthew takes Michael's toys, he always wants Michael to play with him, and Mom always seems to take Matthew’s side. When Mom suggests the boys get outside and set up a lemonade stand, Michael decides to put his little brother up for sale along with the lemonade. With each sales pitch, Michael realizes that maybe his little brother isn’t that bad after all.

What inspired you to write about a boy who decides to put his little brother up for sale?

My oldest two sons inspired this story. The characters are named after them, and the illustrations are even inspired by them! From the day Matthew was born, he wanted to be by Michael’s side. Having been the only child for five years, Michael was not always enthusiastic about having a needy little shadow following him around at all times.

Sibling relationships play a central role in this story. Why did you find this important to write about?

I actually wrote this story because I wished there was one like it out there. One of my favorite things about picture books is how they subtly shine light on the most profound topics and open the door to further discussion. I thought, if I need a story about the ups and downs of sibling bonds to share with my children, I’m sure there are others out there who would appreciate it as well. A little brother can indeed be a pest, but he’s also a cheerleader, a support and a best friend. In the story, all it took was trying to sell his little brother to complete strangers for Michael to discover that!

Tell us more about Michael. What makes him tick?

Michael is now a big 13-year-old boy! I wrote this story a few years back when he was about 9. He’s always been very independent and a natural leader. When he is interested in something, suddenly so is everyone else around him. Michael is also naturally very cunning (to put it nicely), he’s the type of kid who could actually pull off trying to sell his little brother right under my nose!

michael1

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

I enjoy cooking, and not to toot my own horn, I’m quite a good chef. I grew up in an Italian family and learned to make sauce at around 10 years old. At this point I can say with confidence that I’ve mastered the art of sauce making. I also tend to think I’m Celine Dion and often serenade my family at home and in the car.

You have degrees in psychology, elementary and special education. How has this influenced your writing?

I pursued majors in psychology and education because I was always very naturally interested in these topics. The human mind is fascinating and mostly operates based on the foundation laid in childhood. When I set out on my educational journey, my ultimate goal was to one day be able to help children. Writing stories for children felt like a natural transition along this journey. My education and experiences have definitely shaped who I am and how I write.

Interesting cover. Please tell us more about how it came about.

The credit really goes to the illustrator of the story, Passant Ablal. I think the thought was, lemonade for sale with a splash of little brother.

What is your personal favorite line in this story?

“‘Oh not to worry!’ exclaimed Michael. He doesn’t take up much space. And he doesn’t mind sleeping in your bed at night, especially when there are monsters lurking in the dark.” I liked the idea of Michael “pitching” his little brother. He worked so hard to sell others on the idea that his little brother was pretty great, he actually ended up selling it to himself.

Which character was the most challenging to create?

It all came pretty naturally. I would have liked to have included more of Matthew, (the little brother) but that’s the challenge with picture books; one has to get to the point with a limited word count!

twobrothers22

What did you have the most fun with when writing this story?

I enjoyed writing about a topic that was important to me, in a fun, humorous way.

When starting on a new book, what is the first thing you do?

The first thing I do is mentally come up with an idea and a story map- what is the point of the story, who are the characters, and what are the general events? Then I sit down at my computer and let the words flow.