Behind the Books: Writing Science/Nature-themed Picture Books
While there are certainly exceptions, most nonfiction picture books fall into two broad categories—picture book biographies and science/nature-themed picture books. As I discussed last week, almost all picture book biographies feature a chronological sequence text structure and a narrative writing style. That means that if you’re writing a picture book biography, most of your big-picture […]
The Science-Literacy Connection
I was delighted to see these wonderful teaching ideas related to No Monkeys, No Chocolate on the Teachers for Teachers blog. I love the notion of encouraging readers to ask themselves “So what?” as they read a book and “Now what?” when they are done. It never cease to amaze me when readers–kids or adults–see […]
Behind the Books: Nonfiction Point of View, Part 2
This week I’m continuing my discussion of point of view in nonfiction writing. In second-person point of view, the author engages his/her readers by addressing them directly with liberal use of the word “you.” When the author is writing with an expository style, the voice is usually lively and conversational. Examples include Bugged: How Insects […]
Behind the Books: Nonfiction Point of View, Part 1
Last week, as I was listing common characteristics of lively vs. lyrical voice in nonfiction writing, I mentioned point of view. This week I’m going to plunge more deeply into the topic. Traditionally, first-person point of view was reserved for nonfiction books in which the author shared his/her own personal story. Examples include autobiographies like […]
Take a Look: The Sparrow’s Perspective
Last fall, I wrote several posts about the same experience in nature from different points of view. Initially, I wrote from the “wondrous first person” and “serious third person” points of view. Later, I included a couple of entries written from what I imagined to be the perspective of the creature I observed. This week, […]
Take a Look: A Scientist’s Description
Last fall, I wrote several posts about the same experience in nature from three different points of view–wondrous first person, serious third person, and the perspective of the creature I had described in the first two posts. Not only was it fun, it was illuminating. So I thought I’d try it again. Last week, I […]
Take a Look: It’s Spring
During a recent school visit in Clinton, MA, I saw the first undeniable sign of spring. As I ate my lunch in the warm sun, I watched a hard-working little house sparrow gathering materials for its nest. The bird returned again and again to a patch of loose, dry grass where the school lawn met […]
Take a Look: The Chipmunk’s Perspective
There are lots of different critters that could be nestled inside the dens beyond these woodland entrances, but today I’m going to imagine that the inhabitant is a chipmunk. Last week, I listed the questions I pondered after spotting these holes. Today I’m going to turn the tables and consider the situation from the chipmunk’s […]
Take a Look: A Cozy Den for Winter
As my husband and I tromped through the woods last weekend, the chilly air and the whipping wind turned my thoughts to all the little creatures that struggle to survive in the winter. Many of them head underground and sleep or rest all winter long. I thought I’d look for signs of their cold-weather homes. I spotted […]
Take a Look: A Scientist’s Description
Okay, so last week I wrote a wondrous first person account of a lovely spider we encountered while hiking on the border of Hudson and Berlin. That means today it’s time for the serious third person description. Let’s see how I do. 10:14 hours, October 16, 2010 Gates Pond and nearby vernal pool, Hudson/Berlin, MA […]