I write picture books that make kids feel like they belong the second they walk in the door — then I hand teachers the tools to keep that feeling going all year.
A Place for Me is out now · Based in Mount Laurel, NJ · Visiting South Jersey schools + virtual everywhere
The Heart of the Story
"Good morning, friend. I'm glad you're here. This room is yours. And it is mine."
A Place for Me follows Jordan on the hardest kind of morning: the first one, in a room full of strangers, feeling too loud, too bright, too much. Miss Reese doesn't fix Jordan. She makes space for her. That's the whole idea I built this book around — belonging is something a classroom does on purpose, not something that just happens.
After 20 years teaching K-5 and now working as a National Curriculum Specialist, I wrote the book I wish every new student walked into. It's for the kid who just moved. The one still learning the routines. The one deciding, in the first five minutes, whether this place is safe.
I spent two decades teaching and coaching in K-5 classrooms before moving into national curriculum work, where I train teachers and build literacy tools that reach classrooms across the country. Somewhere in between I started Patty Pepper Education Resources, and A Place for Me is where all of it comes together: the teaching, the training, and the storytelling.
Written by Patrice R. Jenkins
A Little Girl With A Big Dream
ABC’s Good Morning America chose me from teachers across the country to circle the globe with Ginger Zee: nine Disney experiences, three continents, four countries, one week.
That journey deepened my love for playful, immersive storytelling. The same sense of wonder shows up in the Patty Pepper universe and in the way I invite students into texts.
“This book is theirs as much as it is mine.”
My parents kept telling me to dream big, and kept telling me this was my purpose, long before I believed it myself. Every teacher has a version of Miss Reese in their memory, or wishes they did. I finally had the courage to give her a name, and that courage came from them.
So when you read about Jordan walking into a room that feels too loud and too bright, know that somebody made a place for me first.
Thank You, Mommy & Daddy
Because a great read-aloud deserves more than one good day.
Every school and family that brings A Place for Me into their space gets access to a full companion kit built to stretch the story into real instruction — not just a nice moment.
Included With Every Author VisitEvery visit is built around the same goal — kids leave feeling seen, and teachers leave with tools they'll actually use.
A quick call or email to talk through your students, grade band, and what you want the visit to accomplish.
I read A Place for Me live — in person or on screen — with the same energy and voice work that makes this story land with kids.
A guided activity or discussion straight from the companion kit, so the message doesn't stop when the book closes.
A short optional PD add-on on building belonging routines, straight from my work as a curriculum specialist.
Real numbers up front, so you can get budget approval without waiting on a quote.
One read-aloud + Q&A, 45 minutes
Up to 90 students, 45–60 minutes
Two sessions or assemblies, one school day
Up to 4 sessions across multiple grade bands
Up to 4 classrooms, 30–40 minutes
Up to 3 sessions in one day
A short session on belonging & MTSS strategies, tied straight to the book
Travel: Free within 30 miles of Mount Laurel, NJ. 30–60 miles adds a flat $50. Beyond that, ask for a custom quote.
Many schools use Title I, PTA, or literacy grant funds to cover author visits — I'll format your invoice for your purchase order process.
Order 20+ signed copies for your school and get a discount code plus free signing at your visit — a great fit for library fairs, family literacy nights, or classroom sets.
I book a limited number of in-person dates each Fall and Spring semester to give every school my full energy — reach out at least 4–6 weeks ahead to lock in your preferred week.
hello@talesofpattypepper.com
Yes. Many schools use Title I, PTA, or literacy grant funds — I'll send an invoice formatted for your PO process.
4–6 weeks minimum for in-person visits. I take a limited number of dates each semester, so earlier is always better.
Yes — Full-Day and Half-Day visits are built to flex across K-4, with age-appropriate content for each group.
Just a Zoom or Google Meet link and a projector or screen so students can see and hear clearly.
Yes — bulk signed copies with a discount for orders of 20 or more, great for building your library collection.
Email with your school, grade level, and ideal dates.
I'll confirm format, timing, and your package.
A simple agreement and invoice, ready for your PO process.
I show up (in person or on screen) ready to make it unforgettable.