Narrative Nonfiction with Samantha Smith

September 1, 2021 Stefanie Hohl

We are so excited to have Samantha Smith join us today to share information about narrative nonfiction picture books!

Sam Smith is a freelance commercial writer and children’s book author. Her first picture book, CATE’S MAGIC GARDEN, celebrates the power of positivity. It was published by Two Hoots Press in 2017. Sam has served on the SCBWI PA WEST Leadership Team, participates in two writing critique groups, and loves the challenge of “saying it with flair.” She lives with her husband and their two sons in Fred Rogers’s neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Telling it With Flair: The Art of Narrative Nonfiction (for Kids)
When I first started as a copywriter in the advertising world, I was told to “say it square, then say it with flair.” These words have proven tremendously helpful over the years when I’m trying to bring a phrase to life. First, I state the facts. Then, I add the flourish.

I like to think of narrative nonfiction as a similar mix of art and science—a blend that brings nonfiction stories to life. We’ve been lucky in the last ten or so years to have seen an explosion in this genre, as kid lit embraces history, science and other more technical topics from the nonfiction realm with creativity and kid-friendly language, curiosity, and focus. It’s journalism that jumps off the page.

How Do You Make this Magic?
The secret behind narrative nonfiction is that it takes expository nonfiction one step further by telling a nonfiction story using fiction techniques, like different POVs, interesting dialogue, plot and character development, dramatic tensions, foreshadowing, and colorful language, including similes and metaphors. It’s done in a narrative fashion—first this happened, then that, then that. Also known as creative nonfiction or literary nonfiction, it is still always 100% true.

Many times this means walking in someone’s shoes, like a real character from history that moves through the story. Narrative nonfiction writers need to do double duty to pull this off, since it requires extensive research to first get the story right—and extensive creativity to tell it thoughtfully and make it more interesting. This is all done to put you in the story, dear reader. And it is a wonderful strategy that elevates the experience for all of us!

How Long are the Stories?
Typically, narrative nonfiction stories fall within the average ranges of word counts, although as you might imagine, they tend to land on the heavier side, since they’re covering a lot of ground. For pre-K through 2nd grade, narrative nonfiction picture books can weigh in between 400-900 words. As the topics get more sophisticated and the language follows, grades 3-8 may see books with 900-1,300 words.

What does Narrative Nonfiction Look Like on the Page?
Lucky for us, the world is teeming with great examples of narrative nonfiction, and here are a few noteworthy examples to tuck into:

Finding Winnie
Billed as “the true story of the world’s most famous bear,” Finding Winnie takes us to the story behind the story of Winnie-the-Pooh. This historically accurate tale was written by Lindsay Mattick and illustrated by Sophie Blackall. With illustrations echoing the soft pastels of Winnie-the-Pooh, the story unwinds much like a poetic Pooh story, “the train rolled right through dinner and over the sunset and around ten o’ clock and into a nap and out the next day….” It has a running dialogue with a young boy, who listens to his mom tell how a veterinarian from Winnipeg named Harry Colebourn rescued a bear cub “Winnie” on his way to war.

Winnie became a navigator and the Mascot of the Second Canadian Infantry Brigade as they trained in England during WWI. When he went to the front lines, Colebourn took her to the London Zoo to keep her safe, which is where she met a boy named Christopher Robin Milne. This might be sounding more familiar now. Christopher’s father was Alan Alexander Milne, who wrote the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. And the little boy in the picture book story? The great-great-grandson of the veterinarian. A happy surprise for him! This story showcases old photos and keepsakes, too, and it’s a moving tribute to the bear and the enduring stories she inspired. It brings history alive.

Sergeant Reckless
Another war-time tale, Sergeant Reckless is “the true story of the little horse who became a hero.” This engaging and strikingly illustrated book was written by the award-winning team of author Patricia McCormick and illustrator Iacopo Bruno. Set during the Korean War, it depicts the real life acts of bravery by a starving horse that U.S. Marines took in as a packhorse. They trained “Sergeant Reckless” to transport heavy ammunition through treacherous conditions for the critical Battle of Outpost Vegas.

This lovable horse will win your heart with her ravenous appetite and equally big will to help. For her efforts, she becomes the only animal to hold military rank and receive two Purple Hearts. Through careful characterization, plot building, foreshadowing, and a fun mix of vintage-y and comic book-inspired illustrations, her story bounds off the page. Photos of the real Sergeant Reckless bring a satisfying full circle ending to her incredible life.

There are so many more excellent examples of narrative nonfiction! Check out Eye of the Storm by Amy Cherrix, which turns science into an adventure—or Grand Canyon by Jason Chin, which makes you, the Grand Canyon, and the life inhabiting it the main characters in a trip through the Grand Canyon and through time.

The possibilities for narrative nonfiction in kid lit are endless. There are also some great recommendations for K-6 readers on this Pinterest page by Ellen Mackey.

Trying Your Hand at Narrative Nonfiction
After experiencing these books, you might be moved to write some narrative nonfiction yourself. There are two great ways to approach a new genre, and the first is writing about what lights your fire. Does the topic of endangered animals make you want to send a missive to your senator? Are you really passionate about the history of your beloved vacation town? When it comes to writing, passion can tell the most amazing stories. And if you don’t have something in mind already, the second method would be to do your homework. There are always gaps in subjects, and certainly there are spots you can fill. This wide world is waiting for its stories to be told.

So what are you waiting for? Grab some narrative nonfiction or start your own. These stories, first told square and then with flair, are elevated versions of our history, scientific tales and more. They are one layer nonfiction, one layer creativity. 100% truth. Tell yours.

Thank you for joining us, Sam!

You can find Sam www.smithofwords.com, www.catesmagicgarden.com, or on twitter at @samsmithofwords.

The Joy of Writing (and Reading) Picture Book Poetry Collections with Sam Smith

March 1, 2021 Stefanie Hohl

We are so excited to have Sam Smith join us today to share the joy of writing (and reading) picture book poetry collections.

Sam Smith is a freelance commercial writer and children’s book author. Her first picture book, CATE’S MAGIC GARDEN, celebrates the power of positivity. It was published by Two Hoots Press in 2017. Sam has served on the SCBWI PA WEST Leadership Team, participates in two writing critique groups and loves writing poetry for people of all ages. She lives with her husband and their two sons in poetry-loving Pittsburgh.

Picture books are poetry to me. They’re usually sparely written with meaningful breaks and pauses, they feature word plays, metaphors, similes and even distilled dialogue — and when the stories are combined with art, there is real poetic magic in the marriage. Both picture books and poetry sometimes feature rhyme. Both beg to be read aloud. Both evoke emotions. And both tend to be brief — but powerful. That’s why there is such a natural fit for poetry inside picture books, whether the picture book itself is a poem or it houses a collection of poetry.

So How Do You Write a Collection of Poetry for Children?

Author Darcy Pattison provides excellent advice on how to start. She recommends that you:

Review poetry collections to familiarize yourself with what’s popular and then find the ideas that haven’t happened yet. You might mine curricula for fresh thoughts — or brainstorm ideas on your own.

Stick to about 15-30 poems on a topic so you’ll also be categorized as a poetry collection for classrooms as well, and teachers will be able to find your book easily.

Use different types of structures to keep the stories interesting. Or, you can stick with one genre but cover different topics.

Mix rhyming and prose, structured haiku and iambic pentameter; concrete (shaped) or mask (from the POV of an animal, object or person that is not you); or play with a rhyme scheme all your own.

The best part about writing poetry for children is that there are no real rules, but creativity rules it all!

Get Inspired with Shel Silverstein

Poetry collections abound! One of the most well-known writers of poetry collections for children is Shel Silverstein. He definitely inspired me to become a poet when I was younger! Although Silverstein didn’t initially plan on writing poetry for children, his style is irresistibly child-friendly. His poetry is clever and features stories about children and animals that are often silly, outlandish and just plain fun — and brought to greater life with charming pen and ink drawings. Silverstein’s poetry often rhymes but does not always have a standard — or discernable meter. That’s part of the magic.

Here is a sampling of his books you must try:

Where the Sidewalk Ends
“If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer,
A wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er,
A magic bean buyer …

Come in! You’ll enter directly into a child’s imagination, where you’ll find a girl who eats a whale one bite-at-a-time, a boy who turns into a TV set and a place where you can plant diamond gardens. It’s greatly entertaining and limitless in possibility.

Everything On It

If you’re game for another wild ride, this poetry collection lives up to its title. It espouses the joys of growing down, getting tongue-tied with Stick-a-Tongue-Out-Sid and what happens when you get a case of the Lovetobutcants.

And don’t miss his A Light in the Attic, Falling Up and The Missing Piece (not a collection, but a poem in itself), which are always wonderful companions with which to curl up.

Get Inspired with Jack Prelutsky

Our first Young People’s Poet Laureate (2006-08), Jack Prelutsky has authored more than 50 poetry collections and is a well-loved figure in the children’s poetry sphere. He says he hated poetry while growing up, but loved to draw imaginary turtles. Upon a friend’s prompting, he submitted the turtles to a publisher and at the last minute added some poetry. A star was born! He was amazed that they chose the poetry that took him two hours, but not the turtles that he had labored over for months….

Some of Prelutsky’s poetry collections include Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other Poems, The Swamps of Sleethe: Poems From Beyond the Solar System and Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face and Other Poems. He has also edited collections of poetry for children, including The 20th Century Children’s Poetry Treasury. Prelutsky wrote the book Pizza, Pigs and Poetry: How to Write a Poem for kids, but adults can find great advice for writing for kids here too.

Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face and Other Poems: Some of the Best of Jack Prelutsky

You’ll enter a magical world where ogres run wild, frogs wear red suspenders in a rainstorm of pigs and noodles and Scranimals gallivant under a pizza the size of the sun. Crazy rhymes and hilarious stories run rampant in Prelutsky’s most beloved tales!

Celebrate Diversity

Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me

Written by Eloise Greenfield and Illustrated by Ehsan Abdollahi

A new collection of poetry for kids from Coretta Scott King Book Award winner Eloise
Greenfield. In this book, even the puppy is a poet!

Words with Wings: A Treasury of African-American Poetry and Art

Compiled by Belinda Rochelle

This beautiful collection features African-American poetry and art from the the nineteenth century through the present, with twenty poems from distinguished African-American poets and twenty works of art by acclaimed African-American artists. Renowned poets and artists such as Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Rita Dove, Countee Cullen, Jacob Lawrence and Paul Lawrence Dunbar grace the pages.

The Poetry of Us: More than 200 Poems that Celebrate the People, Places, and Passions of the United States

Edited by J. Patrick Lewis

Former U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis chronicles the wonders of America’s people and places through 200+ inspiring poems and stunning photographs, contributed by Langston Hughes, Dorothy Parker, Robert Frost, Naomi Shihab Nye, Walt Whitman, and more.

Concentrate on One Genre or Subject

H Is For Haiku: A Treasury of Haiku from A to Z

Written by Sydell Rosenberg and Illustrated by Sawsan Chalabi

The late poet Sydell Rosenberg, a charter member of the Haiku Society of America and a New York City public school teacher — and illustrator Sawsan Chalabi have put together an A-Z collection of haiku that finds the fun and poetry in everyday moments.

Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World

Written by Susan Hood and Illustrated by Sophie Blackall, Emily Winfield Martin, Shadra Strickland, Melissa Sweet, LeUyen Pham, Oge Mora, Julie Morstad, Lisa Brown, Selina Alko, Hadley Hooper, Isabel Roxas, Erin Robinson, and Sara Palacios.

This collection of poetry honors the stories of women who changed the world, from a brave six-year old who helped to end segregation in the South to a 21-year old whose design for a war memorial won — yet she had to defend her right to create to Congress.

Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices

Written by Paul Fleischman and Illustrated by Eric Beddows

This book was written to be read aloud by two voices — sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous; these poems celebrate the insect world, from the short life of the mayfly to the love song of the book louse.

Let Your Imagination Loose

The Ice Cream Store

Written by Dennis Lee and Illustrated by David McPhail

Completely kid-focused, this light-hearted verse roams from digging holes to foreign lands to searching for the perfect pet.

Let Art Inspire You

World Make Way: New Poems Inspired by Art from The Metropolitan Museum

Edited By Lee Bennett Hopkins

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.”

—Leonardo da Vinci
Inspired by this simple statement, poets including Marilyn Singer, Alma Flor Alda, and Carole Boston Weatherford wrote new poems to pay homage to some of the most popular works in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Ready to Write?

There are many, many more collections to explore. And we are on the cusp of National Poetry Month, which kicks off in April. It’s the perfect time to get inspired and then try your hand at this genre of unlimited possibilities — to play with words and pictures until they are poetry to your ears. Enjoy the ride, and let us know how you fare!