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This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Lorena M. Proia. All opinions are my own.
Book Information
How to Be Best in Class
Written and Illustrated by Lorena M. Proia Ages: 4-8 | 32 Pages Publisher: Self Published D.B.A. PnM Publishing (2026) | ISBN: 979-8-9885730-1-2 Publisher’s Book Summary: Obedience class is hard. Especially if you don’t do things like the other dogs do. Phebe’s flair for drama isn’t appreciated by her classmates, and when Rae says, “Come!” she stays. When she says “Stay!” she comes. Seeing the world a little differently than everyone else makes it easy to be misunderstood. Rae wants Phebe to fall into line, but Phebe can’t help but be herself. Will Phebe ever learn to be a perfect pup? Author Interview
Where did you get the inspiration for How to Be Best in Class?
My inspiration was twofold. It always begins with my memories of the real Phebe, who continues to be the spark behind so much of my creative work. I wanted to use the very funny and disastrous experiences from our obedience classes and blend them with my own lifelong experiences of feeling different. I often thought, I wish I’d known as a kid that I wasn’t broken. I didn’t learn I had inattentive ADHD until I was in my mid-40s. For most of my life, I couldn’t understand why everyday “simple” things felt impossible, yet I could look at a complex software problem and immediately see how to fix it. After my diagnosis, I realized that this brain of mine brought unique gifts that allowed me to excel in ways I hadn’t always recognized. What was your writing process like for this book? My process is fairly consistent from book to book. I start with the story itself. Once it’s working, I map out the pacing with boxes for each page and—wait for it—stick figures. This helps me get the images out of my head quickly without spending time on finished sketches. From there, I bring my storyboards to my editor, and we work together until the story feels solid. Once the story is set, I sketch everything out and then collaborate with a wonderful art director to bring it to life. Together we refine the images, and the story continues to evolve slightly as the visuals take shape. What is your favorite part about writing books for kids? My favorite part is sharing stories inspired by my dog Phebe. She was an incredibly smart, and sometimes challenging, first dog. Knowing that children, and hopefully adults too, can laugh at the antics that once made me laugh means she continues to live on through my stories. What are you working on now? Right now, I’ve been drawing nonstop to build awareness for my Kickstarter campaign. I’ve been creating short reels for Instagram and Facebook, and I’m genuinely having fun with the process. Most recently, I’ve been drawing Rae and Phebe in WWII-reminiscent recruitment posters. It’s a playful homage to those iconic images and a joyful exercise in wordplay and visual metaphor. What is your favorite book? It’s hard to choose a single favorite. One adult book that has stayed with me is As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner. I read it in college, and it was the first time I encountered writing that mirrored how my own thoughts worked. Always jumping, circling back, starting and stopping abruptly. I loved it, even though much of the class didn’t. Looking back, I understand why I felt like such an outlier. Maybe Faulkner had ADHD? When it comes to children’s books, the stories that stayed with me were the ones I identified with most. Lorenzo the Fish by Bernard Waber was one of them. I was always daydreaming while the rest of my “school” swam along. Plus my dad used to call me Lorenzo, which made it even more special. I also loved pouring over Richard Scarry books, discovering all the tiny stories tucked into his bustling cities. But if I had to choose an all-time favorite, it would be Winnie-the-Pooh. Those stories spoke to the soft, sensitive child I was. Their gentle wisdom and warmth have stayed with me ever since. Giveaway
Back this book on Kickstarter to help reach its funding goal AND enter our giveaway for the chance to win an extra-special bundle featuring a signed copy of the first book in this delightful series, How to Make a Sandwich, a matching set of Phebe-n-Me T-shirts (one child size and one adult size), and a gorgeous collection of 12 blank note cards with Phebe-n-Me designs.
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