tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post687153223958984575..comments2024-03-24T07:39:07.530-04:00Comments on Celebrate Nonfiction: Behind the Books: My New, Improved Nonfiction Family TreeMelissa Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-18270537093496237212012-12-03T16:57:18.981-05:002012-12-03T16:57:18.981-05:00Those are good questions. I'm not sure that an...Those are good questions. I'm not sure that anyone has data one way or the other, but I'd love to hear anecdotal reports from media specialists. Melissa Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-53827048338234730342012-11-29T11:01:28.034-05:002012-11-29T11:01:28.034-05:00Does narrative nonfiction help "sell" bo...Does narrative nonfiction help "sell" books about field science to only the fiction reader? Would a good story, as the teacher-librarian hopes, get the hunter-explorer to search wider?Book Kvetchhttp://bookkvetch.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-68822320835730473582012-11-29T09:19:50.134-05:002012-11-29T09:19:50.134-05:00IMHO, Book Kvetch, that's the million dollar q...IMHO, Book Kvetch, that's the million dollar question. And I think the answer is "no."<br /><br />The audience I target with many of my books are the gr. 2-5 analytical thinkers. Teh future scientists. These are the kids that love collecting facts and pour over the Guiness BWR. I honestly don't think they value rich story per se. They are hunters, explorers. They want to understand the world and learn more about the thinsg that interest them. They want lively, engaging text, to be sure, and dynamic design and art, but compelling narrative isn't necessarily a top priority. I think it's award committees (made up of adults) that value the more literary aspects of narrative nonficiton. <br /><br />But I do think there is a place--an important place--for gateway books, books that bridge the gap between browsable, just-the-fact book and the more substantive MG NF titles, especially those that emphasize what is now being called "literature of inquiry." Melissa Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-75738601290776474712012-11-29T08:51:04.245-05:002012-11-29T08:51:04.245-05:00The possibilities in the story arc of a narrative ...The possibilities in the story arc of a narrative nonfiction book tend to draw me in as an adult reader. <br /><br />Is it the same for younger readers, who love trains, textiles, topography, pets, planets, photography, crafts, cooking, calligraphy, and appreciate how an author would, too?Book Kvetchhttp://bookkvetch.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-41579927743139008102012-11-28T20:16:37.000-05:002012-11-28T20:16:37.000-05:00I do think different kinds of elementary readers w...I do think different kinds of elementary readers will be drawn to different kinds of MG NF. I hope to see more writers doing Sheinkin-like books in the future. I also think HMH's Scientists in the Field books and Marc's Stonehenge book (probably Skull too, but I haven't read it yet), are right for another group of readers, but librarians tell me they have to "sell" those books to kids. What kinds of MG NF will kids pick up on their own? As my question marks indicate, I think there are other kinds of NF that will emerge as the kidlit community embraces NF and takes it in exciting directions we can't even imagine yet. I can't wait. Melissa Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-83597587554353266002012-11-28T19:39:31.223-05:002012-11-28T19:39:31.223-05:00I discussed the gateway question with my MLIS stud...I discussed the gateway question with my MLIS students today and one made the good point that different readers will need different gateways. The reader who likes the books of records may be drawn to the forensic/detective story aspect of Bone Hunters or Sally Walker's books, while the fiction reader who wants a fast paced story might be drawn to Steve Sheinkin. This is just one example of how little attention we have paid to NF -- we know a great deal about how to match readers and books in fiction, but much less about NF, which has too often been seen as a school assignment, not a reader's pleasure. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14032364072326167382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-2284089813780386342012-11-28T11:32:46.808-05:002012-11-28T11:32:46.808-05:00I'm intrigued by the concept of gateway nonfic...I'm intrigued by the concept of gateway nonfiction. I see what the panel was getting at, and I agree we need more books like that, but I'm not sure what some good examples of it might be. Maybe the Basher Science books? Sarah Albee's Poop Happened? Georgia Bragg's How They Croaked? Americapedia? Can anyone think of others that might go in this category? <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-24800828010495125012012-11-28T09:42:22.137-05:002012-11-28T09:42:22.137-05:00Great Tree. Great subject.
As a book reviewer ...Great Tree. Great subject. <br /><br />As a book reviewer I'm going to use your concept to help moms/dads/others to understand better what sort of science book they're choosing. <br /><br />https://www.blogger.com/profile/01246673871167186207noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-1245030914773200002012-11-28T07:44:51.118-05:002012-11-28T07:44:51.118-05:00this looks really interesting, please go on, might...this looks really interesting, please go on, might want to add some thoughts of my ownAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14032364072326167382noreply@blogger.com