Why I Write Expository Nonfiction by Katy S. Duffield
Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction authors discuss the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction and expository nonfiction with an essay by Katy S. Duffield. Thank you, Katy. When I was a growing up, I loved reading nonfiction science books loaded with quirky, little-known facts—and if those books included information about animals […]
Why I Write Expository Nonfiction by Roxie Munro
Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction authors compare the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction and expository nonfiction with an essay by Roxie Munro. Thank you, Roxie. I find the expository writing style perfect for the kinds of nonfiction books I write. It allows me to impart a lot of information in […]
Why I Write Narrative Nonfiction by Kirsten W. Larson
Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction authors discuss the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction and expository nonfiction with an essay by Kirsten W. Larson. Thank you, Kirsten. I love underdogs. Real people who defy expectations—both their own and society’s—and everyday heroes who change the world. And I adore inspiring students to […]
Why I Write Expository Nonfiction by Traci Sorell
Happy Indigenous Peoples Day! Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction authors compare the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction and expository nonfiction with an essay by Traci Sorell. Traci has generously offered to giveaway a copy of 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing Instruction with Children’s Books, which I co-wrote […]
Why I Write Narrative Nonfiction by Nancy Churnin
Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction authors discuss the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction and expository nonfiction with an essay by Nancy Churnin. Thank you, Nancy. It’s a thrill for me to see a child get to the end of the book, turn to the back matter, and gasp when they […]
Why I Write Expository Nonfiction by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction authors discuss the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction and expository nonfiction with an essay by Marcie Flinchum Atkins. Thank you, Marcie. I am endlessly fascinated with the world. I often see things with a poet’s eye and compose poems in my head. Sometimes, I follow […]
Why I Write Narrative Nonfiction by Deborah Hopkinson
Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction authors discuss the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction and expository nonfiction with an essay by Deborah Hopkinson. Thank you, Deborah. As soon as I read about it, I knew young readers would be riveted. The year: 1347. The scene: a stone fort on the Black […]
Why I Write Expository Nonfiction
If you’re like most educators, you’ve probably heard the terms narrative nonfiction and expository nonfiction, but you might not be completely clear about the difference between these two writing styles. Both are meticulously researched and fully faithful to the facts, but they present ideas and information differently. Narrative nonfiction tells a story or conveys an experience, […]
Teaching Teachers to Dig Deeply into Nonfiction by Mary Ann Cappiello
Courtesy of Lesley University Teaching thirty sections of Exploring Nonfiction in the Elementary and Middle School Classroom over the last fifteen years has changed my life, personally and professionally. It led me deep into the world of nonfiction books, into collaborations with authors, including Melissa, and a stint on NCTE’s Orbis Pictus Book Award Committee. Most […]
It’s a Book!
Hip, hip hooray! After 10 years and who-knows-how-many drafts, I’m so excited to announce that Summertime Sleepers: Animals that Estivate entered the world yesterday. A few weeks ago, I described the 10-year story behind the book on Shay Fan’s wonderful new blog First Draft to Final Book. Be sure to check it out. What I didn’t fully […]