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 a doer, and the idea of sitting down to read fiction wasn’t my idea of fun.
I liked to stay busy, to play soccer, bake cakes, wander in the woods, pick
strawberries, build forts.
When I decided to write my first
children’s book, I turned to my biggest childhood passion: Cooking! I received
a grant to travel around the world and collect recipes from kids, and wrote an
international cookbook, now called Cooking Class Global Feast. After
that, I worked for Scholastic and Disney’s FamilyFun magazine where I wrote
how-to articles on everything from crafts to birthday parties to hands-on math
and science activities.
Now, I’m a children’s book editor and author
at Storey Publishing (an imprint in the Workman family) and acquire and write
expository nonfiction about topics from nature and cooking to crafts and
science, including the best-selling series Backpack Explorer.
The goal of the children’s books I write and
acquire is to teach kids new skills, from learning how to care for a pet and
surviving in the wilderness to being a good person and making their own money. In
these active nonfiction titles,
the information is often communicated through step-by-step photography of kids or
inspiring illustrations. The books are successful because they are easy to
follow for kids at any reading level. They can simply look at the pictures and
figure out how to bake a cake or make a kindness rock!
To make my books fun, I also add bells and
whistles—stickers, dinner table conversation cards in a cookbook, number cards
in a preschool math book, and a mini magnifying glass in a nature book. I enjoy
coming up with creative visuals and extras as much as the writing.
When writing this type of nonfiction, I try to keep
the wording simple and conversational, so it is easy for a child to follow
along. I always pair the text with visuals, so I essentially write captions for
photos or illustrations.
Staying upbeat, clear, and encouraging helps
the young reader keep on cooking (or crafting or building or exploring). I also
like to include fun facts and sidebars (food history, the science behind the
art project, etc.). I call these the “candy” on the page because kids might
decide not to do the project, but they can still read the sidebar and learn
something new. They also may only read the captions, so I work closely with our
art directors to be sure there are several easy points of entry on the page for
all types of readers.
The book should be easy for children to dip into
at any page because they won’t necessarily be reading this type of book from
front to back. I’m less concerned about writing rich language, and more
concerned about a fun tone; clear, logical, succinct wording; and the overall
look and feel of the book. It should be easy to follow and inspire young
readers.
All in all, it is such a joy to write and
create expository nonfiction, skills-based books for children. I get to be a
doer, and try new things, then write about them, and inspire kids. When kids
send me photos of recipes or projects they’ve made following my directions, I
see the pride all over their faces. I feel good knowing they have learned
something new and had fun!
Deanna
F. Cook has
written dozens of award-winning children’s cookbooks for kids, including Baking
Class, Cooking Class, and Cooking Class Global Feast! She has been
the creative development director at FamilyFun and an editor at
Scholastic and Disney and is currently a children’s book and cookbook
acquisitions editor at Storey Publishing. She lives in western Massachusetts
and is online at deannafcook.com.
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