For several years now, I’ve been using
this visual to summarize the basic difference between the two nonfiction
writing styles—narrative and expository.
During conference sessions and professional development workshops, I
often read aloud two books about the same topic, but with different writing
styles to help solidify the concept in my audience’s mind. Fourth grade teacher and children’s book author Kate Narita recently suggested that I do something similar on my blog for
people who haven’t had a chance to see me present in person.
often read aloud two books about the same topic, but with different writing
styles to help solidify the concept in my audience’s mind. Fourth grade teacher and children’s book author Kate Narita recently suggested that I do something similar on my blog for
people who haven’t had a chance to see me present in person.
So for the
next few weeks, on Mondays, I’m going to share an expository passage from my upcoming
book Ick! Delightfully Disgusting Animal Dinners,
Dwellings, and Defenses and talk a little bit about my process.
next few weeks, on Mondays, I’m going to share an expository passage from my upcoming
book Ick! Delightfully Disgusting Animal Dinners,
Dwellings, and Defenses and talk a little bit about my process.
Then, on Wednesdays, I’m going to share a narrative nonfiction passage on
the same topic from a book I love. Then the author will talk a
little bit about her process.
the same topic from a book I love. Then the author will talk a
little bit about her process.
Our first topic is honeybees. Today I’ll share a spread from my book, and
on Wednesday, the uber-talented Candace Fleming will discuss her brand-new,
totally amazing narrative nonfiction book Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis mellifera, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Eric Rohmann.
on Wednesday, the uber-talented Candace Fleming will discuss her brand-new,
totally amazing narrative nonfiction book Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis mellifera, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Eric Rohmann.
Okay, here’s the honeybee spread from my expository nonfiction book Ick!
Delightfully Disgusting Animal Dinners, Dwellings, and Defenses.
Delightfully Disgusting Animal Dinners, Dwellings, and Defenses.
Notice that it’s illustrated with photographs, including a truly astonishing
close-up image of a bee with a drop of nectar. The spread includes a variety of
text features, including captions with fascinating facts and figures, a stat
stack for kids who love data, a spit-tacular sidebar, and a
factoid that compares honeybees to archerfish—another animal that relies on
spit for its dinner.
close-up image of a bee with a drop of nectar. The spread includes a variety of
text features, including captions with fascinating facts and figures, a stat
stack for kids who love data, a spit-tacular sidebar, and a
factoid that compares honeybees to archerfish—another animal that relies on
spit for its dinner.
Here’s the main text for this spread:
What’s in Your Honey
You
probably know that honeybees make sweet, sticky honey. But do you know how? The process might surprise you.
You
probably know that honeybees make sweet, sticky honey. But do you know how? The process might surprise you.
1.
A field bee—a honeybee that leaves the hive to collect nectar—sucks up thin,
runny liquid from dozens of flowers. She swallows some of the nectar and stores
the rest in her honey sac.
A field bee—a honeybee that leaves the hive to collect nectar—sucks up thin,
runny liquid from dozens of flowers. She swallows some of the nectar and stores
the rest in her honey sac.
2.
Back at the hive, the field bee upchucks the nectar, and a house bee slurps it
into her honey sac. Little by little, she regurgitates the sugary stuff. As she
rolls it around in her mouth, it mixes with her spit. The nectar warms up and
thickens.
Back at the hive, the field bee upchucks the nectar, and a house bee slurps it
into her honey sac. Little by little, she regurgitates the sugary stuff. As she
rolls it around in her mouth, it mixes with her spit. The nectar warms up and
thickens.
3.
After the house bee spreads the mixture along honeycomb cells inside the hive,
her sisters fan their wings over the cells. Water evaporates, causing the
liquid to thicken even more.
After the house bee spreads the mixture along honeycomb cells inside the hive,
her sisters fan their wings over the cells. Water evaporates, causing the
liquid to thicken even more.
4. After
about five days, most honey is ready to eat. It’s nutritious and delicious!
about five days, most honey is ready to eat. It’s nutritious and delicious!
Since this book focuses on animals that use substances like pee, poop,
vomit, or spit to find, make, or catch food; make their homes; or defend themselves from predators, my goal on this spread was to explain how bees make honey (using spit).
vomit, or spit to find, make, or catch food; make their homes; or defend themselves from predators, my goal on this spread was to explain how bees make honey (using spit).
To make the expository description engaging, I employed a
casual, conversational voice and included lots of strong, precise verbs;
alliteration; and a tiny bit of rhyme.
casual, conversational voice and included lots of strong, precise verbs;
alliteration; and a tiny bit of rhyme.
A numbered list is a great way to convey this information clearly
and succinctly to curious kids who are excited to soak up ideas and information
about the world. The linear progression helps young fact-loving minds digest and remember the
content, so they can quickly and easily share the tantalizing tidbits with
their family and friends—something
many kids love to do.
and succinctly to curious kids who are excited to soak up ideas and information
about the world. The linear progression helps young fact-loving minds digest and remember the
content, so they can quickly and easily share the tantalizing tidbits with
their family and friends—something
many kids love to do.
This way of presenting the material seems natural to me. It appeals strongly
to my analytical mind. But thanks to a growing body of research, I recognize that this approach may not be right for every child.
to my analytical mind. But thanks to a growing body of research, I recognize that this approach may not be right for every child.
Some children are narrative lovers who prefer stories and storytelling. Luckily,
Candace Fleming has created a wonderful book that’s perfect for these kids.
And that’s why we’ll be taking an in-depth look at Honeybee on
Wednesday.
Candace Fleming has created a wonderful book that’s perfect for these kids.
And that’s why we’ll be taking an in-depth look at Honeybee on
Wednesday.
What I think you’ll ultimately realize is that, to reach the greatest number
of kids, teachers should recognize the range of readers in their classroom and pair passages with different characteristics. This strategy gives all
children access to text they can connect with AND text that helps them stretch and grow as readers.
of kids, teachers should recognize the range of readers in their classroom and pair passages with different characteristics. This strategy gives all
children access to text they can connect with AND text that helps them stretch and grow as readers.
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7 Responses
Thank you for this post. I'm reading it with interest as a writer….as a reader I simply enjoy the words. Thank you.
This is so interesting! Is there any way you can show us how this looks on your manuscript? Do you use bullet points or illustration notes?
I'm looking forward to Wednesday's post.
Hi Claire,
My manuscript had a numbered list, just like what you see above.
You might be interested in this post, which includes sample manuscript pages showing the editorial process I went through with my editor for this book:
https://teachersbooksreaders.com/2020/05/16/ick-delightfully-disgusting-animal-dwellings-dinners-and-defenses-by-melissa-stewart/
Wonderful idea.
Then there are learners who enjoy reading the narrative and take in its emotional impact, but tend to remember more informational details when they're provided in a list or factoids paired with visuals. The brain is an interesting processor.
Indeed, it is.
Love HONEYBEE–such a great book!