[lauren-ward Posts: 12 Status: Offline A positive mind creates a positive life!]

Hello, All!

I am wanting to write a series of PB About various unique animals. NF is new to me (outside of teaching my 8th graders to write research and expository papers) and I curious to learn how it works. How would I cite the source where I found the data on the various animals?

Thank you for your help! I am really looking forward to learning more about NF and see where it takes me.

[marla-lesage Posts: 371 Status: Offline Write. Illustrate. Revise.]

You would write the manuscript as any other, but also a bibliography/reference page where you list all resources.

[dinalapomy101 Posts: 1,822 Status: Offline Happy writing to all! WWW]

I would also suggest finding comparable books on the shelves (in style, voice, length, etc., not necessarily topic) and using them as a model. Have fun!

[kwlarson Posts: 175 Status: Offline Books for curious kids WWW]

Melissa Stewart's Celebrate Science blog is a wealth of nonfiction resources. She's done studies of nonfiction style, voice, and structure that will probably be helpful to you.

http://celebratescience.blogspot.com/

All the best!

Kirsten

[Vijaya Posts: 6,661 Status: Offline BEAUTY WWW]

Lauren, you've rec'd great advice. Animal books are a staple for kids' nonfiction, so read to see how the others are done but also if you can make yours different. You can check Amazon to get current titles and then head to your library. Good luck! NF is fun to research and write.

[HaroldU Posts: 724 Status: Offline WWW]

"Anatomy of Nonfiction" by Marge Facklam and Peggy Thomas is a great comprehensive resource for anyone writing nonfiction for children, and will answer your question and many others. I recommend it as a useful how-to to NF writers. Here's my review of it: http://underdown.org/anatomy-of-nonfiction-review.htm

[Vijaya Posts: 6,661 Status: Offline BEAUTY WWW]

Love that book!

Another useful thread with resources for writing NF: https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?topic=84875.0

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 5,947 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

Word allows you to insert Footnotes into your text fairly easily. You click on Reference and then Add Footnote. This keeps you source with your info. A bibliography is also common as I understand it.

[zoraida-rivera Posts: 161 Status: Offline Focus, Publish WWW]

As a teacher you're familiar with standards.  Check out the curriculum standards for lower grades and keep them in mind when researching.  You may want to base your books on  a few standards.  This could help you market them.  As dinalapomy101 said, it's important to know what's out there to make yours different.

You might want to check out regional animals that may be unique to your area and you may have more experience or information on them.

[lauren-ward Posts: 12 Status: Offline A positive mind creates a positive life!]

As a teacher you're familiar with standards.  Check out the curriculum standards for lower grades and keep them in mind when researching.  You may want to base your books on  a few standards.  This could help you market them.  As dinalapomy101 said, it's important to know what's out there to make yours different.

You might want to check out regional animals that may be unique to your area and you may have more experience or information on them.

Thank you so much for your replies!

I love the idea of doing regional animals. It's actually considering that as well! I was thinking about researching and writing about animals that are uncommon. I got the idea when I took my daughter to the San Diego Zoo. There were huge lines at the "popular" animal exhibits like the lions, otters, and elephant exhibits; however, there were other animals who no one was looking at! My husband and I were thinking it would be fun to bring attention to the "forgotten" animals.

[zoraida-rivera Posts: 161 Status: Offline Focus, Publish WWW]

That's a great idea!  Kids love the unusual and discovering those unusual facts that many don't know.  Success! 

[lauren-ward Posts: 12 Status: Offline A positive mind creates a positive life!]

That's a great idea!  Kids love the unusual and discovering those unusual facts that many don't know.  Success! 

Thank you!! I can’t wait to see how it turns out! I feel like I’m learning a lot as I research the animals.

I was also toying around with the idea of having the narrator of the story be the animal the book is about. They would then share facts about their species! Then the kids could connect with the animal personally!