Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! Today’s post is looking at back matter that is so packed, there’s a little something for everyone! We have STEM info, biography, music and lyrics, and the most thorough bibliography I have ever seen in a picture book. Let’s check it out!
Book: Like a Diamond in the Sky: Jane Taylor’s Beloved Poem of Wonder and the Stars
Author: Elizabeth Brown
Illustrator: Becca Stadtlander
Publisher / Year: Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2022
Genre: Non-Fiction
Topics: Biography
Blurb: Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.
Did you ever wonder who wrote that famous verse? In the days when most girls were brought up to run a home, Jane Taylor had a different kind of education in the countryside, where she was inspired by nature and the stars, and dreamed of becoming a writer. But then, it was not considered proper for women to be writers. But Jane did write, and she never forgot her love for beauty of nature and the glow of stars, or her desire to write for children. Her published poetry became universally known for generations to come: Twinkle, twinkle little star.
Book Word Count: `about 1120
Back Matter Word Count: about 750, plus bibliography, timeline and sheet music
Back Matter Sections:
1. Author’s Note (about 130 words): This is a relatively short note that reflects on Jane Taylor’s lasting legacy as the author of the poem “The Star”, which was adapted to music as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” This is more of a personal reflection since author Elizabeth Brown will provide a more detailed biography of Jane Taylor in a later section of the back matter.
2. Do Stars Twinkle? (about 60 words): Author Elizabeth Brown gives a short explanation about the science behind why stars appear to twinkle. It’s a little bit of STEM content in a historical biography, but connects nicely to the subject’s most famous poem.
3. Jane Taylor, 1783-1824 (about 500 words): Here we get a more complete biography of of Jane Taylor and her work, moving through her life chronologically. When it comes to Taylor’s budding writing career, Brown gives further context about Jane Taylor’s poetry and her place within Romantic Era poetry as a writer and a woman.
4. Quotes and Sources: Elizabeth Brown incorporated nine quotes from Jane Taylor’s writings into the main text of the book. Each of these quotes is cited. Here is an example:
“contemplate the dark blue depths of the sky”
The Writings of Jane Taylor in Five Volumes, Isaac Taylor, ed., vol. I, Memoirs and Poetical Remains (Boston: Perkins and Marvin, 1832), 132-133.
5. Timeline of Selected Works by Jane Taylor: This is a timeline presented in text format of Jane Taylor’s writings. Brown notes at times where poems were published and what other authors were involved in published books. Here is an example of how the timeline is presented:
1803 Jane’s poem “The Beggar Boy” is accepted for publication by William Darnton
6. Bibliography: This list of sources covers a full spread of the back matter. It is further divided into 3 sections: Primary sources (10 sources listed), Secondary sources (14 sources listed), and Other sources (10 sources listed. The primary sources are mostly comprised of works by Jane Taylor herself. The secondary sources appear to be a mix of writings about Jane Taylor or her poetry, or sources that give background on Romantic Era poetry or children’s poetry. The other sources are mostly articles about Jane Taylor or the origins of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and likely were written using the primary or secondary sources for background. There are also a couple of academic articles about Romantic Era poetry or women’s roles during Jane Taylor’s lifetime. It is striking how thorough this bibliography is considering that bibliographies in picture books are often truncated to a shorter list of selected works. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full 2-page spread dedicated to bibliography in a picture book before.
7. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” (sheet music plus note of about 80 words): The note attached to the sheet music is a short explanation of the French song that became attached to Jane Taylor’s poem, “The Star.” The sheet music shows the single notes and lyrics to the song on the treble clef. It shows only the first line of the song, which is likely the only lyrics many of us know.
8. “The Star”: Opposite of the sheet music, we get to see the full poem by Jane Taylor. With the sheet music and poem together on a spread, a reader could sing or play through the entirety of the poem including the lesser-known verses.
Takeaways: With 4 full spreads dedicated to the backmatter, Elizabeth Brown has plenty of real estate to work with. She makes excellent use of it all by giving readers a variety of elements to engage with. The author’s note and biography of the subject are more typical in a PB bio, but the bit of STEM content in the back matter is an likely an extra selling point for many readers. With the quotes and sources, timeline and thorough bibliography, this picture book becomes a valuable source of information on Jane Taylor and can help lead interested readers to even more sources for study. In addition, for those interested in improving their research skills, the bibliography is a great example of how to organize sources and visual representation on primary verses secondary sources. Finally, the sheet music and full poem are an appealing addition to let readers engage with a familiar song in a new way. Elizabeth Brown has something for everyone in her back matter! It’s clear that she and her editorial team put a lot of thought into this part of the book to find ways to keep readers turning the pages past the main text of the story.
Tips: Let your imagination run wild as you brainstorm possible elements for your back matter? Could there be a map? Sheet music? STEM elements related to your book? Photos? Try to think of what would be unexpected for your genre. Perhaps you will be able to find something unique but still relevant to expand your book’s appeal and keep readers turning the page.
Thank you for reading! Leave a comment to keep the conversation going or to suggest a book for future blog posts!
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Judy Campbell-Smith 