Today we continue the series in which award-winning nonfiction
authors compare the joys and challenges of writing narrative nonfiction
and expository nonfiction with an essay by Roxie Munro.
Thank you, Roxie.
I find the expository writing style perfect
for the kinds of nonfiction books I write. It allows me to impart a lot of
information in an accessible, creative, and lively way.
Because I am an artist—a “visual thinker”—as
well as a writer, I often create my books first in images (a storyboard, a
dummy), and then write the text to coordinate with the art. Thinking visually
is a form of cognition. My books are dependent upon strong visual ideas. The art
dictates the sequence, the writing style, and even the content.
I wrap the content around a device—a conceit
or a construct. The mechanism I use is called “gamification.”
Studies show that engaging in games helps
children learn, concentrate, set goals, problem-solve, collaborate, persevere,
and celebrate achieving goals. Many games also help with decision-making and
critical thinking skills. They make kids think ahead and plan steps in advance,
sometimes teaching alternative ways to solve problems. Game ideas are
particularly suited to reluctant readers, boys, and special needs children.
People don’t always think of print books as being
interactive, or using games, but they are and they do. To engage children and
keep them interested, and to impart information in a compelling way, I create
books with mazes, guessing games, inside-outside concepts, search-n-find,
lift-the-flaps, ABCs and numbers, puzzles, size and scale relationships, hidden
objects, and more.
I often start with an introduction that gives
a general overview of the topic. I include fun facts, quirky questions, or instructions
to help navigate the game-like format. Here’s a sample from my book Slithery
Snakes:
Then comes the main content—the body of the
book. It’s usually presented in two-page illustrated spreads with expository text.
Here’re two spreads from Slithery Snakes, which
has a Q & A format. Children try to figure out what kind of snake it is
from the close-up scaly skin patterns and tantalizing facts about the critter.
Hatch! also has a Q &
A format. In this book, an egg or a clutch of eggs is shown and children try to
guess what kind of bird it is.
Market Maze teaches children where food comes from. There is a continuous maze
moving through the book. You follow specific trucks, starting at the sea coast
(where fish is caught) through apple orchards, egg and chicken farms, corn and
vegetable fields, sheep and cattle ranches, and wind up at the town
greenmarket.
The back matter gives the “answers” (there is
also a finding game), and more content on foods.
Sometimes my books have a big finale. Masterpiece Mix explains art genres and
ends with a large seek-n-find image of a modern scene in which the reader looks
for all the 37 classic paintings shown in the body of the book. The back matter
gives the “answers” (designated by numbered call-outs) and more
information on each painting.
As mentioned, my books often feature rich,
extensive back matter, which may include “answers” to gamified elements, schematic
illustrations, and maps as well as text with additional information about the
topic, a call to action, a glossary, bibliography, and index.
My newest book, Anteaters,
Bats, & Boas: The Amazon Rainforest from the Forest Floor to the Treetops, is a rainforest walk with creatures
drawn life size.
The back matter includes a schematic diagram showing
where all the animals live, in addition to information about rainforest layers
and the importance of preserving this special ecosystem. It is a sequel to my
recent coral reef book, Dive In: Swim
with Sea Creatures at Their Actual Size. Both ecosystem books have a giant
fold-out section in the middle.
All of my books are nonfiction with an expository writing
style and a format that encourages engagement and learning. In many cases, I
employ “gamification” techniques.
A great variety of writers and illustrators are creating nonfiction
books today. Regardless of writing style or format, the best have a unique
quality and a truth to them. It is content filtered through an individual human
consciousness.
Roxie Munro has written
and illustrated more than 45 award-winning nonfiction books, earning numerous
starred reviews, the NY Times Ten
Best Illustrated Award, NCSS-CBC and NSTA-CBS Outstanding Trade Book honors,
the Bank Street Cook Prize Silver Medal for STEM, Smithsonian’s Outstanding Science Book, and numerous Notables
and Best Book of the Year lists. She’s also created a dozen interactive book apps
and 14 New Yorker magazine covers.
www.roxiemunro.com
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7 Responses
So wonderful to work with such great authors and illustrators in the now-dynamic (much thanks to Melissa Stewart!) world of nonfiction writing for children.
Such wonderful, rich material here–both text and art. Thanks, Roxie, for sharing your process with us!
Roxie's work has added so much to the field!
Thanks so much, Teresa…I have fun doing these kind of books, and am lucky to have publishers go along with it.
Thanks, Jen! Very kind…
I never thought about a book as a game before. I love that comparison.
I especially like your mazes, Roxie. Very helpful post!