Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! The book we’ll look at today is one of my favorite non-fiction picture books from thelast year. I’ve always been a fan of Deborah Hopkinson’s work, and this is one of her best. My 7-year old son also gives this book a ringing endorsement, and I loved the back matter. So let’s go!
Book: Evidence!: How Dr. John Snow Solved the Mystery of Cholera
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Illustrator: Nik Henderson
Publisher / Year: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2024
Genre: Non-Fiction / Biography
Topics: Diseases, History, Medical Mystery, Science, Biography
Blurb: In 19th century London, the spread of cholera was as unstoppable as it was deadly. Dr. Snow was determined to stop it, but he had a problem: His best theory of how the disease was spread flew in the face of popular opinion. He needed evidence, and he needed to find it fast, before more lives were lost. Taking on the role of detective as well as doctor, Dr. Snow knocked on doors, asked questions and mapped out the data he’d collected. What he discovered would come to define the way we think about public health to this day.
Book Word Count: about 1100 words
Back Matter Word Count: about 730 words plus resources lists
Back Matter Sections:
1. The Case Against the Broad Street Pump (about 200 words)
Deborah Hopkinson provides the reader with a little bit more back story into the history of the Broad Street pump, which is the focal point of the book’s narrative. Instead of re-hashing the book’s events, thought, she tells us about the aftermath of the case and the impact on those involved.
2. Dr. John Snow (1813-1858) (about 180 words)
Here we get brief biography of the book’s main character, Dr. John Snow. Many of the details included in this section are briefly mentioned or alluded to in Hopkinson’s text, but now get a more thorough explanation and learn about his lasting impact on the medical field.
3. Major Infectious Diseases and Their Causes (about 350 words)
In keeping with the book’s theme and title, this section lists eight different infectious diseases and what we know about them due to research and evidence. A few diseases that are listed are Covid-19, HIV, and polio. Each disease is listed with its scientific name or name variations, along with short description of the disease, and the ways that scientists have developed to treat or even cure the disease. All this information is covered in just a few sentences per disease!
4. Internet Resources
This is short section listing two URLs that link to more information about Dr. John Snow.
5. Books About Dr. John Snow
Hopkinson lists two books written for adults in MLA formatting about Dr. John Snow.
6. Books for Young Readers About Epidemics
Hopkinson lists five non-fiction books written for kids or youth in MLA formatting about diseases and historical outbreaks.
Takeaways: Hopkinson’s back matter manages to do a lot with an economy of words. She doesn’t re-hash the events covered in her book, but gives the curious readers a bit more information, and sources where they can continue to feed their curiosity depending on what topic in the book fascinated them most. The back matter also nicely carries the book’s main theme of evidence and uses that as a framework for presenting all of the extra text in the back matter.
Tips: What ideas, topics and concepts in your picture book text will inspire curiosity in your readers? Whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction, you back matter can be a chance to lean into curiosity and give readers more opportunities to discover new facts or ideas. What is your book’s strongest theme? Find a way to use that theme as a unique framing device for the information or format of the back matter.
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 