Crafting Mega-fun Informational Writing: Text Structure
Most narrative nonfiction books have a chronological sequence text structure and most traditional nonfiction and browsable nonfiction titles have a description text structure, but expository literature has a broad range of text structures. That’s one of the reasons they make great mentor texts for informational writing. Mega-Predators of the Past is a blended nonfiction book […]
Crafting Mega-fun Informational Writing: Text Features
As you can see in the sample below, most of the spreads in Mega-Predators of the Past present information in five different ways—main text, main illustration, a comparison box, a caption box, and a Mega Fact File. Why did I include so many text features? Because I had a lot of goals for the book, and […]
It’s Time for the Sibert Smackdown!
The Sibert Smackdown is an activity intended to build enthusiasm for the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, which is given each year as part of the American Library Association’s annual Youth Media Awards. It focuses on picture books because they are more manageable to read in a school setting. Here’s how it works. Students in grades 3-8 read the […]
It’s a Book!
Hip, hip hooray! After 11 years and who-knows-how-many drafts, I’m so excited to announce that Tree Hole Homes: Daytime Dens & Nighttime Nooks is entering the world today. It offers young reader a sneak peek into the secret lives of tree-dwelling critters from around the world. Click here and scroll down to watch a video that shares the […]
A Deep Dive into Nonfiction by Kim Haines
After reading school librarian Meredith Inkeles’s blog post about students writing book reviews for nonfiction books, fourth grade teacher Kim Haines was inspired to combine that lesson with a variety of other activities that I’ve share on this blog, on my website, and in 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing Instruction with Children’s Books […]
Why I Write Expository Nonfiction by Meeg Pincus
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 Meeg Pincus. Thank you, Meeg. In writing my nonfiction picture books—both narrative and expository—I tap into two parts of myself: the trained academic/journalist who researches deeply, and the sensitive/creative soul who writes […]
Why I Write Expository Nonfiction by Deanna F. Cook
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 Deanna F. Cook. Thank you, Deanna. When I was a child, my favorite books were nonfiction, and I especially liked cookbooks and craft books and nature sticker books. I was […]
Why I Write Expository Nonfiction by Anita Sanchez
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 Anita Sanchez. Thank you, Anita. A food chain is simple: little fish are eaten by big fish, which are eaten by bigger fish, and so forth. An ecosystem is far […]
The Low Down on Our Smackdown by Patti Francis
In the past, I’ve written a #SibertSmackdown Wrap-up post with tidbits from some of the classes and schools who participated. But this year, I decided to invite teachers to share a reflection of their class’s experience. It was a great decision. It’s exciting to find out exactly how educators integrated the activity into their curriculum and […]
Why I Write Expository Nonfiction by Sara Levine
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 Sara Levine. Thank you, Sara. Whether the topic is germs, poop, or the functional anatomy of bird beaks, my books for children usually fall into the category of expository nonfiction. […]