Welcome to another Back Matter Break Down, where I examine back matter in picture books! Today I want to look at one of my favorite ABC books filled with amazing artwork, but also a bit of a surprise for readers in the back matter. Let’s take a look!
Book: WORK: AN OCCUPATIONAL ABC
Author/Illustrator: Kellen Hatanaka
Publisher / Year: Groundwood Books, 2014
Genre: Non-Fiction
Topics: Alphabet, Occupations, Concept Book
Blurb: An alphabetical tour through the coolest jobs you can imagine―and some you might never have heard of! With a sophisticated, minimalist design and visual jokes to interpret on every page, Work: An Occupational ABC introduces children both to the alphabet and to a range of alternative careers.
The ideal reader for this book is the child (or adult) who is interested in exploring all manner of professions through original and inspired illustrations. Must be open to adventure. Knowledge of the alphabet is desirable but not required, since successful applicants will receive training from A to Z.
Book Word Count: ~33
Back Matter Word Count: ~400
Back Matter Sections:
1. “Want Ads” – a 2-page spread glossary of the terms featured in the book
After the fun and surprising occupations listed in this ABC book, author-illustrator Kellen Hatanaka keeps the fun going in the back matter. Each term is listed as if it were a classifieds ad for the job described. The descriptions are only a sentence or two, but are filled with puns and jokes that lend even more humor to the section for older readers. At the same time, younger readers will still get more information about the terms that they’ve encountered in the book. Here are some of my favorite examples from the glossary:
“RINGMASTER: From organizing clowns to announcing acrobats, this job is a real balancing act.”
“UMPIRE: If you’re the type of person who likes to have the final say, being an umpire might fit like a glove.”
See! So fun!
Another cool detail about the glossary is that the color of the listed word matches the color used for the letter in the book. It’s a subtle detail that reinforces the connection between the back matter and the main text.
Takeaways: With humor and a cohesive design aesthetic, readers won’t skip the glossary in Work: An Occupational ABC. Clearly not an afterthought, author-illustrator Kellen Hatanaka turns what could have been simple list of definitions into bonus content that readers of all ages can enjoy.
Tips: If you’re considering adding a glossary to your back matter, think about adding some humor! Whether it’s puns or jokes, present your information in fun way that makes readers want to dig in. And think about how design elements can be used in the back matter that can act as call-backs to your main text.
Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment to add to the conversation or suggest a book for a future blog post!
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Judy Campbell-Smith 
That was awesome. Thanks for sharing. Such an interesting book.
Yes, such an interesting book! Thank you for reading!