Children’s Book Award Blog Tour- There’s a Shark in my Pants by Michelle Harrison and David Tazzyman

How does it feel to be nominated for the Children’s Book Award? This is the only book award that is voted on solely by children across the UK. 

What an honour to be nominated! To be considered for any award is wonderful, but when it’s one decided by children that makes it extra special.

Tell us more about your book

Well, the title tells you the most important thing about it! It’s a very silly, fun story about the excitement of going on holiday – and almost becoming a shark’s dinner.

What do you hope that readers will take from reading your book?

The first thing I want is for readers to ENJOY IT! When reading is fun it’s something we want to return to again and again. And the second thing is to wear extra stretchy pants at the beach, because you never know…

Where do you find ideas and inspiration for your books?

I often get ideas from things I’ve seen or places I’ve visited. The idea for this book started with a trip to the beach. My son was very grumpy on the car journey home because his pants were full of sand. And I thought, ‘what if the whole beach was in there? What sort of things would there be?’ And it went from there and got sillier and sillier.

Are you working on anything exciting that you can tell us about?

I am working on more picture books and middle grade stories, but am sworn to secrecy at the moment!

What advice would you give children keen to be an author or illustrator in the future?

Read lots, write lots, and draw lots. Write and draw things that excite and interest you, and don’t worry about getting it ‘wrong’. If you have fun creating a story, then others will have fun reading it. The more you do it, the better you’ll get.