Today I welcome Becky Scharnhorst, another wonderfully funny picture book author. Her debut, MY SCHOOL STINKS, illustrated by Julia Patton caught my attention from its delightful title and I am sure you will find it as funny as I did! Becky has generously offered one lucky winner a copy of MY SCHOOL STINKS and some fun book swag! Comment on the post to enter the giveaway.
What were you like at the age of your target audience?
I was happy, playful, and a little bit reckless. At the age of three, I jumped off the diving board into the deep end of the pool during my swimming lessons. The only problem was my teacher wasn’t watching! I also got a concussion after darting in front of the batter during a family game of baseball, and I still have a scar on my nose from running into a wall. I had a lot of energy and loved playing outside with my sisters. I spent a big chunk of my childhood playing in lakes, catching frogs, and fishing with my dad. I also LOVED sweets! My dad said I would steal cookies and hide under the table eating them. After I finished, I would come out with crumbs all over my face and ask if I could have a cookie. Clearly, I couldn’t risk my parents saying no, so I always ate a few first.
What inspires you?
I’m often inspired by something funny my kids say or do, but I can find inspiration anywhere if I’m paying attention. I think the biggest roadblock to inspiration and creativity is busyness. When I’m rushing through life focusing only on crossing items off my to-do list, I struggle to find inspiration anywhere. But if I take time to read an interesting article, explore nature, or let my mind wander, ideas start to swirl. MY SCHOOL STINKS was inspired by my own anxiety and the wildlife at the camp where we lived. My third book was inspired by a school project my son did on octopuses. I even wrote a manuscript inspired by a math problem written by a 5th grader at the school where I worked. You never know what will lead to your next idea.
What’s one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
Mostly I just want kids to enjoy the story and hopefully laugh! But also, I hope they realize things are not usually as scary as we imagine them to be. I remember that anxious feeling I had before the start of every school year, but by the end of the first day, it was gone. None of the things I worried about ever happened. Fear has a sneaky way of planting doubts and anxious thoughts inside of us. But if we face our fears, good things can come out of almost any situation. You might even make some unexpected friendships along the way.
What’s next for you?
I have two more books coming out in the next couple years. THIS FIELD TRIP STINKS is a sequel to my debut, and it comes out in 2022. HOW TO GET YOUR OCTOPUS TO SCHOOL is another humorous picture book that comes out in 2023. Both are being published by Flamingo Books which is a new imprint of Penguin Random House. I also have another picture book currently out on submission.
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog today, Laura!
You’re going to want to learn more about Becky’s books:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckyscharn. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckyscharn/
Website: https://beckyscharnhorst.com/
Laura Roettiger Books 
This sounds like a fun book about an important topic. I’ll add it to my TO READ list for sure. Thank you Becky and Laura!
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Thanks for reading, Laura! I’ve got this book and it’s super creative and fun!
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This looks an amazing book and can’t wait to read it.
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Thanks for stopping by the blog. It’s a really funny, creative book! Good luck in the giveaway.
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That picture is SO CUTE! Congratulations on this fabulous book, Becky.
I own a copy already and we LOVE it over here!
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Thanks for reading, Michal and for being such a wonderful supporter of the blog! Little Becky is adorable 🥰 and I love MY SCHOOL STINKS! Such a fun book.
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This book looks like so much fun! Brilliantly clever! Love the story behind the story. Thank you for sharing about this book. Best wishes with your debut (!) book, the sequel and your other books! 🙂
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Mia, thanks for reading. Yes, the book is indeed clever (Why didn’t I think of that??)
Good luck in the giveaway.
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I can’t wait to read this book! The illustrations are adorable. This author and I shared the love of being outdoors–if I wasn’t reading, I was outside exploring, biking, climbing trees, and catching frogs and toads. Thank you for the interview and chance to win a copy.
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Danielle, thank you so much for all your kind words and support of the blog. This book really is super fun and the illustrator did an excellent job. Good luck in the giveaway.
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I am excited to share My School Stinks with my students on the first day of school. It will tie in nicely with a discussion about anxiety and starting a new year. I love the humor that is embedded in the story. Who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh when feeling anxious?
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Jennifer, thank you for reading. I agree, laughter is a perfect way to deal with anxious feelings. Good luck in the giveaway.
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Yes, there’s a reason they say that laughter is the best medicine! And this book could cure any bad mood! Congrats, Becky!! Laura, you don’t need to enter me in the giveaway. I have my own copy already. Thanks!
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Jilanne, thanks for reading. Laughter has definitely been a wonderful medicine for me over the years.
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My 3rd graders will love this book!! How true it is that a good idea can come from just about anywhere!
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Amy, thanks for reading. I love Becky’s book and can guarantee your students will love it! Good luck in the giveaway.
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I think your book would bring a smile and ease the fears of kids about school. Sounds delightful
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Elyse, thanks for reading. This book definitely will appeal to children of any age. Including me! I really loved it. Good luck in the giveaway.
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Such a fun book with adorable illustrations! Thanks for the opportunity! 😻
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Thanks for reading. Yes, the illustrator did an amazing job and the story is just delightful! Good luck in the giveaway.
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This book looks like something my 3rd graders would ♥️ To read. I’m always looking for new read alouds that will spark their interest. Can’t wait to check it out.
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My students would ♥️ this story. I’m always looking for new read alouds that will spark their interest. This one looks like it is a prime candidate. Can’t wait to check it out.
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Tracy, thanks for stopping by the blog. Yes, as a teacher, I can highly recommend MY SCHOOL STINKS and I am sure your students will love it. Good luck in the giveaway.
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I’m always happy to see picture books that are “just” written to make children laugh. We need them so badly! The world is serious enough.
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Janet, you will love this book! It’s so funny and creative. Good luck in the giveaway.
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This looks great, like maybe you hit the elusive sweet spot between humor and heart—congratulations!!
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Thanks for reading, Lynn. Yes, this book definitely has both humor and heart! Good luck in the giveaway.
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