Best Nonfiction of 2021 Roundup
Next Monday is a big day in children’s literature. The winners of the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards will be announced. So today seems like a good time to look back at some of the highly-regarded titles published last year. There’s no doubt about it. 2021 was a phenomenal year for nonfiction, and it […]
How I Write Narrative Nonfiction by Candace Fleming
Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction authors discuss the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction and expository nonfiction with a fascinating essay by Candace Fleming. Thank you, Candace. A few years back, a middle-school student confronted me with a scene from my YA narrative nonfiction book The Family Romanov. He read it […]
Why I Write Narrative Nonfiction by Teresa Robeson
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 Teresa Robeson. Thank you, Teresa. Say the word “story,” and people of think of fiction, but nonfiction can be written as a story too. To create narrative nonfiction, writers weave […]
Investigating Nonfiction Like Detectives by D’Anne Dwight Mosby
Recently, school librarian D’Anne Dwight Mosby tagged me on Twitter so I could see the great activity her students were doing to think more deeply about the 5 Kinds of Nonfiction. I knew other educators would want to give D’Anne’s idea a try, so I asked her to write a blog post. When I received D’Anne‘s piece, […]
Why I Write Narrative Nonfiction by Cynthia Levinson
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 Cynthia Levinson. Thank you, Cynthia. Although I’m sure Melissa didn’t intend to cause me angst, pondering her question “Why do you write narrative nonfiction?” has led to something of an […]
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 […]
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 Narrative Nonfiction by Deborah Heiligman
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 Heiligman. Thank you, Deb. I’ve written a lot about why and how I write narrative nonfiction. I write nonfiction because I love truth and facts, and am passionate about research, especially […]
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 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 […]