tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post2686209058677876837..comments2024-03-24T07:39:07.530-04:00Comments on Celebrate Nonfiction: Behind the Books: Evolution of a GenreMelissa Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-72938976692565946472011-01-16T18:21:56.289-05:002011-01-16T18:21:56.289-05:00I think you're absolutely right, Melissa, on a...I think you're absolutely right, Melissa, on all counts! It just seems strange to me, I guess, because as a nonfiction writer as well as the mother of a boy reader, almost ALL of the books I buy are nonfiction. :) It is worth buying them and keeping them on hand, because I know we will go back to our nonfiction again and again for years. We tend to read fiction only once and move on, however, so I usually get my fiction from the library. I guess it's not the first time I've been outside the "mass market" mentality. ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-50363453591197558592011-01-14T07:25:43.200-05:002011-01-14T07:25:43.200-05:00Hi Laurie,
I think we were all a little spoiled b...Hi Laurie,<br /><br />I think we were all a little spoiled by last year's awards. 2010 was a superbly awesome year for nonfiction. I'd say this was a typical year. As Betsy Bird said on her blog, it all depends on how nonficiton friendly the awards committees are. <br /><br />I thought the Sibert choices made a lot of sense, and I was thrilled to see Dark Emporer receive a Newbery Honor. I'm also very pleased about Dave the Potter receiving a Caldecott Honor. <br /><br />In general, I think nonfiction for kids is beginning to receive more respect. The trouble is sales numbers affect what publishers are willing and able to publish. Teachers and librarians are behind nonficiton, but most parents still would rather buy a fiction title. That's why bookstores stock less and less nonficiton all the time. Nonficiton will never be seen as an equal until its sales figures are equal. And we have a long way to go before that happens.Melissa Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-59936536455119051752011-01-14T01:35:30.096-05:002011-01-14T01:35:30.096-05:00Great post, Melissa! It sure is different than the...Great post, Melissa! It sure is different than the nonfiction I remember reading when I was a kid. I love sharing today's nonfiction with my kids, and they love reading it as much, if not more, than fiction. <br /><br />Sadly, nonfiction seemed woefully absent from the awards this year, though. I wonder why? Any thoughts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-4055336690703158182011-01-12T09:38:26.610-05:002011-01-12T09:38:26.610-05:00Thanks for the comment, Carol.
Sometimes it just ...Thanks for the comment, Carol.<br /><br />Sometimes it just takes one perfect book recommendation to turn a reluctant reader into an avid reader. Kids will struggle to read when they are interested in the content. It's so satisfing when parents or teachers tell me that one of my books was that perfect match for a child.Melissa Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-91449389880696498792011-01-12T09:34:44.018-05:002011-01-12T09:34:44.018-05:00I think you're right, Tracey. I think we are g...I think you're right, Tracey. I think we are going to see a lot of innovative nonfiction for kids in the next few years. Authors are experimenting and pushing the limits and having a lot of fun.Melissa Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322048827106827307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-4884464689289149432011-01-12T09:15:22.074-05:002011-01-12T09:15:22.074-05:00What a difference I have seen in nonfiction for ch...What a difference I have seen in nonfiction for children since I was teaching in elementary school in the early 70's. The kids said NF was "boring" and many of the books were indeed boring---how I would have loved to be able to pass many of the books now available to my students, I often find myself thinking about how I would have paired specific books with specific students.Carol H Rascohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15129483986450326966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5488042654610511802.post-69286004431555852322011-01-12T08:47:56.162-05:002011-01-12T08:47:56.162-05:00There was a shift in adult reading many years ago ...There was a shift in adult reading many years ago of people demanding more nonfiction books, and I think it's happening in children's books now. Whether it's because everyone is looking for more informed and better-researched writing, or teachers and parents want to enhance what has become a test-based curriculum, I don't know. But it's a great time for nonfiction writers and readers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com