Melissa Pope grew up 60 miles south of St. Louis, Missouri. She has a sister and a brother, great parents and experienced a wonderful childhood!
After graduating from Southeast Missouri State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education she began her teaching career and loved it! She and her husband Joe (who’s also from the same area), were married in 1992. In 1994, her first son was born. After teaching for 9 years and the birth of her second son, she began her “stay-at-home” mom career.
Storms can be scary, and often times the fear of a storm is common among our young ones. Melissa’s middle son was one of these children who was terrified by storms; he would make himself sick with worry, and seek comfort until they were over. She always wished she would have had something to help him through stormy weather. So, Melissa created Storm Buddies, her first children’s book, with characters that can come alive when they need them the most, and help parents comfort them. To complement the book, she also created plush Storm Buddies stuffed animals that live inside a small blue cloud pillow that can be removed for storm contentment. The plush toys set are available with or without the book.
In 2003, she had another sweet son and a house full of males. She wouldn’t have it any other way!
Melissa is busy creating future books for other areas of comfort to children, such as getting shots, seeing a dentist, and more. She sincerely hopes that children will gain a sense of security with her books and animals.
Melissa has always had a passion for helping children and is on the Board of Directors for Cope24