In June, the CCBC
listserv hosted a discussion about nonfiction children’s books, and for one
week, my book No Monkeys, No Chocolate
was featured and people could ask me questions about it.
One of the
people on the listserv is Melissa Techman (Twitter: @mtechman), a fabulous
school librarian in Virginia. She urged me to share the following excerpt from
the listserv conversation on my blog, and I always do what Melissa says.
people on the listserv is Melissa Techman (Twitter: @mtechman), a fabulous
school librarian in Virginia. She urged me to share the following excerpt from
the listserv conversation on my blog, and I always do what Melissa says.
Librarian Megan Schliesman asked:
I think we generally assume that picture
book authors—the best picture book authors—are
very tuned in to how the words sound when read aloud, but I don’t know if we
always think about informational picture books in this way. In this book, you
had the two levels of narrative (three if we include the bookworms). Do
you think about both of the primary narratives with this in mind?
Here’s my answer:
book authors—the best picture book authors—are
very tuned in to how the words sound when read aloud, but I don’t know if we
always think about informational picture books in this way. In this book, you
had the two levels of narrative (three if we include the bookworms). Do
you think about both of the primary narratives with this in mind?
Here’s my answer:
As I’m revising a manuscript to make the
words choice as pleasing and precise as possible, I always read it aloud while
I’m standing up. Somehow I pay more attention when my butt isn’t in a chair. I
usually have someone in my critique group read the manuscript back to me, too.
If that reader stumbles over a word or a phrase, I know I need to rework it.
words choice as pleasing and precise as possible, I always read it aloud while
I’m standing up. Somehow I pay more attention when my butt isn’t in a chair. I
usually have someone in my critique group read the manuscript back to me, too.
If that reader stumbles over a word or a phrase, I know I need to rework it.
When writing books with
layered text (a term invented by April Pulley Sayre), the challenge is to make the main text stand on its own AND
to allow room for readers to interrupt the main text with the secondary text
(and in this case the tertiary text, too).
layered text (a term invented by April Pulley Sayre), the challenge is to make the main text stand on its own AND
to allow room for readers to interrupt the main text with the secondary text
(and in this case the tertiary text, too).
I’ve discovered that students
are really passionate about hearing all three layers of text in No Monkeys, No Chocolate. Here’s a
conversation I recorded on Facebook after a school visit in Maine:
are really passionate about hearing all three layers of text in No Monkeys, No Chocolate. Here’s a
conversation I recorded on Facebook after a school visit in Maine:
Third grader: I’m so
mad at my teacher. When she read No
Monkeys, No Chocolate, she skipped over the bookworm parts. Don’t you think
they’re CRITICAL?
mad at my teacher. When she read No
Monkeys, No Chocolate, she skipped over the bookworm parts. Don’t you think
they’re CRITICAL?
Me: Yes, I
do.
do.
Third grader: That’s
what I think, too.
what I think, too.
I love that
kid.
kid.
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments
Topics
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments