MO Day #9: Becky Scharnhorst Explores Epistolary Texts

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February 15, 2022 - Registration Post Hello March On With Mentor Texts!

AND NOW, HERE'S OUR MENTOR...

EPISTOLARY PICTURE BOOKS

by Becky Scharnhorst

I’ve never read anyone’s personal diary, but that’s probably because no one I’ve lived with has ever kept one. Likewise, I’d have a hard time resisting temptation if an old box of letters from my husband’s past happened to fall on my lap. There is something especially tantalizing about these types of epistolary texts because they give us an intimate look into a person’s life and personality we might otherwise never see.

The same is true for books written in letters, diaries, emails, text messages, or journals. Reading one is like peeking into a character’s head and heart. Through their own words, characters reveal their hopes, fears, quirks, and flaws.

We gain even more insight by how they tell us, through grammar, word choice, punctuation, diagrams, and doodles. We see what’s important to them by what they include in their entries, and by what they leave out.

This structure works especially well for humorous texts because the character’s flaws and vulnerabilities are front and center. Flawed characters are both highly relatable and often very funny.

When I was writing My School Stinks, I used several humorous, epistolary picture books as mentor texts, such as The Day the Crayons Quit, Diary of a Worm, and Memoirs of a Goldfish. By the time I was writing This Field Trip Stinks, I had found several more. Here’s a quick peek at four of my favorites.

Experiment #256 by Marty Kelley

Written as notes in a science journal, this book chronicles the main character’s attempt at building a jet pack for his dog. Short, matter-of-fact sentences give us insight into this budding scientist’s personality, while a repeated phrase adds humor and tension. The author masterfully manages to tell a complete story through minimal notes in a science journal.

Dear Santa, I Know it Looks Bad But It Wasn’t My Fault! written by Norma Lewis and illustrated by Olivia Beckman

As the title suggests, this book is a series of letters to Santa written by a mischievous cat who wants to clear up any misunderstandings there might be about his behavior. It’s clear from the first line, Scalawag is an unreliable narrator, and we see that play out in the illustrations with humorous effect.

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

Arfy is determined to find a home, so he writes letters to everyone on Butternut Street. Written in corresponding letters, this format allows the author to showcase each character’s unique voice and personality through their responses.

This is a Sea Cow by Cassandra Federman

Manatee isn’t pleased with some of the information being shared in a child’s report, so she comes to life on the page to set the record straight. The childlike illustrations, diagrams, and funny asides reveal a great deal about both the child writer and her manatee subject.

Consider how an epistolary structure might add humor to your own WIP. Can you add a diagram? Will letters allow you to reveal further character flaws or personality? Give it a try! Happy writing!

Bio: Becky grew up in Northeast Wisconsin and spent most of her childhood playing in lakes and reading books. Shortly after receiving a BA from Luther College, Becky spent a year working as a children’s bookseller at Barnes & Noble and soon discovered she enjoyed reading picture books more than anything else. Now Becky spends her days writing children’s books and working at her local library. Her debut picture book, My School Stinks, was published by Philomel Books in 2021. Her upcoming books, This Field Trip Stinks (2022) and How to Get Your Octopus to School (2023), will be published by Flamingo Books. When she’s not reading or writing, Becky can be found hiking through the woods, baking something sweet, or thinking happy thoughts.