Invite Marrielle for children's author visits in your school, library, organization, or community center (either in person or virtually) for a fun, interactive experience that helps children build confidence and positive thinking skills.
As an award-winning author of Magic Thinking for Kids, creator of the Empowering Kids program, and a certified Mindfulness and Happiness Coach, Marrielle combines storytelling, movement, discussion, and practical mindset tools in a way that keeps children engaged while helping them develop skills they can use long after the school author visits are over.
What to Expect?
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The Science Behind the Work
Children don’t just “hear” words. They internalize them, and these inner messages can shape how children manage emotions and respond to stress.
Psychology shows that children can learn how to shift those inner stories. One way is called cognitive reappraisal, which simply means learning to look at a situation in a different, more helpful way. The same moment can feel completely different depending on the thoughts behind it (Gross, 1998).
There’s also something called the negativity bias, which means our brains naturally hold onto negative moments more strongly than positive ones (Baumeister et al., 2001). For children, that can look like one small mistake feeling bigger than all the things they did right.
This is why simple affirmations can be so helpful. Phrases like “I am kind,” “I can try again,” “I am strong” give children something steady to come back to when their inner voice gets loud or unkind. When these ideas are practiced, they support the same core skills taught in social-emotional learning (SEL) – like noticing feelings, understanding thoughts, and learning how to respond with more care and awareness (CASEL).
School Visits & Community Programs
Many children understand what they should do (be confident, calm down, think positively), but not how actually to do it when emotions take over. Marrielle’s school visits and workshops are built around that gap by turning emotional concepts like regulation into simple, repeatable tools children can practice.
Programs are flexible and can be delivered through classroom visits, assemblies, and other formats. Core focus areas include:
Positive self-talk and affirmations
Confidence and resilience building
Emotional awareness and naming feelings
Basic emotional regulation tools children can repeat and use independently
Understanding thought–feeling connections
Reacting vs. responding
The Happiness Flip Workshop is a hands-on, interactive experience designed to help children (and families) shift the way they respond to challenging thoughts and emotions.
Instead of pushing “just think positive,” children are guided to slow down, notice what they’re feeling, and understand what their thoughts are doing in the background. From there, they learn how to “flip” a thought into something more supportive and kind.
Mindfulness workshops for kids blend movement and simple mindset tools so children can actually practice what they’re learning. Kids explore how to:
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Notice unhelpful thoughts
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Understand how thoughts affect feelings
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Practice “flipping” thoughts into supportive ones
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Use simple affirmations in real-life situations
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Build emotional resilience over time
Are you worried about your emotional young tween? The Empowering Kids Workshop was created to support children and families in building the tools they need for everyday life – things like resilience, confidence, mindfulness, and emotional awareness.
Instead of just talking about big feelings, children are guided through simple, hands-on social-emotional learning activities that help them understand what’s happening inside their minds and bodies, and what they can do when things feel overwhelming.
Inside the workshop, children practice:
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Managing stress and big emotions
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Building self-esteem and confidence
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Developing mindfulness and awareness
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Practicing emotional regulation tools
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Creating healthier inner dialogue
The goal isn’t to make children “happy all the time,” but to help them feel more supported and equipped when life feels overwhelming. Each child also receives an Empowering Kids Journal, designed to help continue building positive mindset habits at home after the workshop.
What is the Empowering Kids Workshop?
Past Schools & Community Events
Marrielle has had the joy of working with children and families through schools, workshops, and community events, including:
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Saddle Ranch Elementary (K–6 programs & International Day of Happiness)
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Monument Academy (K–3 elementary school author visit)
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Larkspur Elementary School, San Antonio, TX (K-6 Happiness Flip Virtual Workshop)
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Harpeth Middle School, Nashville, TN (6 to 8 grade reading and discussion)
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Highlands Ranch Recreation Center (Empowering Kids Workshops)
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Westridge Rec Center (Empowering Kids & Happiness Flip Workshops)
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Little Monkey Bizness (book readings of Magic Thinking for Kids)
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Tattered Cover, Denver (book signing events)
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International Day of Happiness school celebrations
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Worldwide Virtual Happiness Flip Workshops
She has also led classroom author events where older students explored how thoughts influence feelings, and younger students learned how to use affirmations and movement to build confidence.
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Kelly Collier (Librarian)
Monument Academy, CO
“Marrielle's talk held even the youngest students’ attention because she is delightfully entertaining and genuine. Her visit was a highlight for the teachers, students, and administration alike.”
Ms. Sylvs
“What a wonderful story to introduce the concept of affirmations with your children! Your thinking and words can really create magic. Must have for every children's library.”
Jenn
“My son struggles with self-regulation related to SPD and ADHD. What a fun tool to discuss feelings with him and ways to get back in control. Our culture somehow turned happy into a bad word, and it’s great to see a book geared towards kids that brings happy back in focus. Kids should be happy, adults should be happy, and Marrielle is showing us a fun way to be happy!”
John A.
“This book is absolutely revolutionary in using concepts that kids can understand to not only change their attitudes towards positive thinking, but also allowing them to grasp that they are in control of their feelings! My kids, 4 and 7, absolutely love it, and it has now become a daily favorite!”
Book a Visit or Workshop
Kids are already talking to themselves all day long. The question is what that voice is saying back. Through simple magic thinking tools, students learn how to gently flip self-defeating patterns with something more supportive and real.
Book school author visits or workshops to bring a meaningful, interactive experience to your students that supports confidence, positive thinking, emotional awareness, and practical social-emotional learning!
FAQs About Marrielle’s School Author Visits
How long are school visits and workshops?
School visits and workshops are typically designed to fit within a standard class or school schedule. Timing can vary depending on the type of program and format chosen.
Are visits available in-person or virtually?
Yes, for both! Marrielle offers both in-person visits and virtual sessions for schools, libraries, organizations, and community centers.
What kinds of programs can schools book?
Schools and organizations can invite Marrielle for a variety of experiences, including: Book readings, interactive workshops, school assemblies, author Q&A sessions, Empowering Kids programs, Happiness Flip workshops, International Day of Happiness events, and Happy Dance or Flash Mob experiences.
What topics are covered during a visit?
Topics include positive affirmations, self-belief, mindfulness, emotional awareness, quieting negative self-talk, positive thinking habits, emotional regulation, confidence, resilience, and understanding how thoughts influence feelings.
What age group are the workshops designed for?
The workshops are best suited for children through tweens, generally up to ages 11 to 12. The ideal age range may vary depending on the group.
We've found that many 6th-grade boys really enjoy the activities, while some girls in the same grade may find them a bit more geared toward younger participants.
How can schools book a visit or workshop?
Schools and organizations can book a visit or workshop here or by reaching out through the contact page. Programs can be scheduled based on availability.