Judy – Page 2 – Judy Campbell-Smith

Interview & Giveaway with Tricia Torrible: Back Matter Break Down

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! I am excited to share the first poetry book that I am featuring on this blog! Today’s interview has some great behind-the-scenes details about creating back matter with a debut picture book author. And don’t forget to read all the way to the end so you can get details on our giveaway – you could win a 30 minute AMA! Let’s go!

Book: Torrible Puns: A Collection of Punny Poems

Author: Tricia Torrible

Illustrator: Robert Dunn

Publisher / Year: Gnome Road Publishing, 2025

Genre: Fiction

Topics: Poetry, Wordplay, Jokes & Humor

Blurb: Packed with witty humor, this clever mix of poetry and puns features everything from animals and beloved nursery rhyme characters to outer space and favorite sports. Each poem contains at least one word or phrase with a double meaning, which will not only make children (and adults!) laugh out loud, but also provides a fun lesson on homonyms. The short poems, the lovely art, and the groan-worthy punchlines will leave readers begging for “just one more.”

What is your manuscript word count? What is your back matter word count

Because it is a poetry collection, it is a bit longer than your average picture book. The manuscript itself has about 2,120 words, and the back matter word count is approximately 1,120.

At what phase of the drafting/revising/publishing process did you decide your book needed back matter? Did you always plan to have explanations for each of the puns in the book?

When I first started writing punny poems, my focus was on the poems themselves, so I wasn’t really thinking about back matter. However, as I continued to recite my poems to my own children, it quickly became clear that back matter could be very beneficial. The playful nature of the poems along with the beautiful illustrations make this book an excellent fit for elementary age children.

However, wordplay is still a developing skill during these years. My three kids currently range in grades from kindergarten to sixth grade, and sometimes they wouldn’t immediately “get” some of the puns in the poems. Fortunately, as soon as a pun was explained, the “AHA!” moment was seen in their eyes and they LOVED it! My eldest child immediately understood many more puns than my youngest, but my youngest seemed to enjoy the poems just as much once he was “let in on the joke”. In fact, with his newfound understanding, my youngest gained a lot of confidence in language and began pointing out different homophones in real life and coming up with his own puns. This would never have happened if some of the puns had not been explained. As a result, I decided to write back matter for readers to make sure that no “AHA!” moment was missed, and to encourage a love of language.

What was the earliest version of the back matter like?

I started writing the back matter before I ever sold the manuscript, and the earliest version was much longer. At the time, I was mentally preparing myself to self-publish (while still hoping and striving to get a book deal). I personally lacked the artistic skill to illustrate a full color picture book, so I was envisioning more of a black and white poetry chapbook. This meant that I wasn’t limited on space when it came to back matter. Therefore, my earliest version had longer explanations for each poem.

What changes and revisions (if any) came about after working with the editor/agent?

After receiving a book deal (woohoo!) and realizing that TORRIBLE PUNS was actually going to be a fully illustrated picture book (double woohoo!), it quickly became clear that my original back matter was too long. My editor and I both agreed that we wanted to include as many poems that we could comfortably fit in the book, so we knew we had to keep the back matter limited to one spread. Thus, we took on the task of condensing my original pun explanations without losing their original meanings.

What were some challenges (if any) that arose during the back matter publishing process?

When I was originally writing the back matter, my biggest challenge was deciding how much detail I wanted to include. At one point, I had considered labeling the puns based on different categories such as homonyms/homophones/homographs, idioms, recursive puns, compound puns, etc. However, while most of the puns fit nicely into main categories, there were some that didn’t (which led me down some long linguistic rabbit holes!). Furthermore, it also became clear that not all sources agree on the exact definitions of some of the considered categories. For these reasons, I decided it was best to focus on simply explaining the puns.

Once I got past the decision of what to include, I wouldn’t say there were any big challenges, just necessary editing. As mentioned earlier, my editor and I had to reduce my original, longer pun explanations to fit on one spread. It took a couple rounds of back and forths, but I feel we were able to capture the same level of information within the space constraints. I definitely learned how to be less “wordy” when needed :).

What do you hope readers will take away after reading your back matter content?

I hope they will gain a greater love of language and wordplay. I want every poem to bring laughter and joy, and I hope everyone walks away with a firm understanding of each pun. Understanding brings confidence, and confidence can lead to experimenting and having fun with language.

Reflecting on this process and what you learned, what tips can you offer picture book writers for writing back matter?

Ask yourself what information would make the book more understandable and enjoyable. I personally think the beauty of back matter is you can stretch your audience a little by including material in your book beyond what they initially know. There certainly needs to be a balance to this, but including a few unknown words or concepts can be a great opportunity for learning.

Are there resources you can share that would be helpful for anyone wanting to learn more about back matter? Are there any picture books you’d recommend for their back matter?

Nonfiction picture books are often the go-to to find excellent back matter examples (though back matter is not limited to these!). One great example is DREAM SUBMARINE, written by Charlotte Gunnufson and illustrated by Cleonique Hilsaca. What I love most about this back matter is that it includes an “interactive map” that encourages readers to match the numbers on the map to information on the following pages. This way, readers can learn more about the places and creatures visited by the Dream Submarine.

Thank you, Tricia! It’s so interesting to read the journey you went on with your back matter, and how you arrived at this final version. It’s a good reminder for us all to think about how we might need to pivot in our approach at different phases of the process. Please support Tricia:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/triciatorriblewrites/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ttorrible.bsky.social

Twitter/X: https://x.com/TTorrible

Author Website: https://triciatorrible.com/

Book Website: https://torriblepuns.com/

Now for the giveaway! Tricia has generously offered a 30 minute Ask-Me-Anything zoom chat to one lucky winner! To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by April 1, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. For additional entries, leave a comment on my (Judy’s) BlueSky and/or Instagram posts for a maximum of 2 bonus entries. (Remember to check back on this blog post and social media to see if you are selected as a winner!)

Thank you for reading!

Don’t miss future posts! Subscribe to my blog:

Interview & Giveaway with Kobina Commeh: Back Matter Break Down

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! Today’s interview is with Kobina Commeh about his debut picture book, and I think you’re really going to enjoy the look behind the scenes that he gives us. This is a great interview to learn about how collaboration can lead to inspired and creative back matter. And don’t forget to scroll all the way to the bottom of the post so you don’t miss the giveaway! (Update: the giveaway is now closed) Let’s dive in!

Book: Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim

Author: Kobina Commeh

Illustrator: Bárbara Quintino

Publisher / Year: Barefoot Books, 2025

Genre: Fiction

Topics: Swimming, Ghanaian Culture, West African Legends, Black History

Blurb: Kwesi doesn’t know how to swim… and discovers his grandmother doesn’t either! Can they conquer their fear of water together with the help of the West African legend Mami Wata?

Book Word Count: 1,118 words

What is your back matter word count?

Approximately 500 words

At what phase of the drafting/revising/publishing process did you decide your book needed back matter?

I submitted the original manuscript for Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim with the glossary of names that people may not be familiar with. This included everything in the finished book. The addition was including the rest of the day names and not just ones of the characters in the book. Autumn Allen, the Senior Editor at Barefoot Books, recommended the complete list of day names.

Did you do any research for the back matter?

Yes! As I was learning how to swim at 40 years old, I realized that many Black and African American people did not know how to swim and so I delved into the history. I also brushed up on my knowledge of the meaning of Ghanaian day names. It was a total shock that my name, Kobina, was associated with the Ocean! What a happy coincidence. I did not want to use my own name as the character in the book. I chose Kwesi because it rhymes with “sea” and is also my father’s Ghanaian name.

Tell us about the back matter revision process. Why did changes occur? What changes and revisions came about after working with the editor?

It changed with the addition of the map, Adinkra symbols, and swim safety note. There was also the decision to have a separate section for the Ghanaian day names. Most of the changes occurred with the editor. The phonetics of the day names required a lot of work and tweaking.

Did you collaborate with the illustrator on the inclusion of Adinkra symbols in the illustrations and/or the note in the back matter to tell readers to hunt for them in the book?

Yes! The Adinkra symbols are integral as a way wisdom is passed down for generations. I sent a list to the illustrator (Bárbara) and she did a great job including them in the book. The idea to hunt for them in the back matter was from the Barefoot Books team.

Is there anything that you wanted to include in the back matter but didn’t make the cut?

There was no more room for the Fufu and peanut soup recipe. I’m glad to keep my mom’s family secret for now.

What was the most challenging part of process of the back matter publishing process?

Being creative with the material. I love how it turned out. The inclusion of the map and extensive day names enhances the experience of the story.

What do you hope readers will take away after reading your back matter content?

It’s actually what’s not in the back matter that I’m most proud of. We wanted to keep the bulk of the information about Black people’s swimming history being affected by segregation accessible to the child reader and in the main text. Typically, this is in the back matter. This took away from the back matter but allowed for extra information like the Adinkra symbol hunt.

I hope that readers learn, from the back matter, that names have special meanings that can have special outcomes. I was also moved by Bárbara being influenced by the story as she was illustrating it.

I hope that readers see my Author’s Note and read that it is never too late to learn a new skill. The best influences in your life can come in the most unexpected of packages, à la my daughters.

What tips can you offer picture book writers for writing back matter?

Include information that will enhance the reader’s experience. It’s also a good opportunity for the reader to get to know the author and illustrator.

Thank you, Kobina! It’s so interesting to see how your back matter came together as a result of collaboration between you, the illustrator, and the rest of your publishing team. And hopefully we can get that Fufu and peanut soup recipe in a future book!

Please support Kobina:

Kobina’s website: Kobinacommeh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobinacommeh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kobina.commeh

Twitter/X: https://x.com/kobinawrites

Now for the giveaway! Kobina has generously offered to give a SIGNED COPY OF KWESI AND NANA RUBY LEARN TO SWIM to one lucky winner!

To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by March 7, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. For additional entries, leave a comment on my (Judy’s) BlueSky and/or Instagram posts about this post for a maximum of 2 bonus entries. (Remember to check back on this blog post and social media to see if you are selected as a winner!)

Update: the giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Yan-Yin Choy, you are the winner!

Thank you for reading!

Don’t miss future posts! Subscribe to my blog:

Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Steena Hernandez

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! Today I’m excited to bring you an interview with a wonderful debut author, Steena Hernandez. She gives us a look into the process of writing and revising her back matter, and how she landed on mixing her personal story with some facts about dancers and ballet shoes. And don’t forget to scroll all the way to the bottom of the post so you don’t miss the giveaway! (Update: the giveaway is now closed) Let’s go!

Book: Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers

Author: Steena Hernandez

Illustrator: Melissa Castillo

Publisher / Year: Beaming Books, 2024

Genre: Fiction

Topics: Ballet, Dancers, Latine Stories, Race/Diversity

Blurb: Lupita’s big ballet recital is approaching. The music is perfect. Her ballet moves are strong. But her peachy pink ballet slippers don’t match her skin tone. Lupita searches for the right pair only to discover it will take hard work–and messy measures–in order for her shoes to dance with her.

What is your manuscript word count? What is your back matter word count?

My manuscript word count is 539. The back matter, including an Author’s Note and Ballet Is For Everyone section, has a word count of 458.

At what phase of the drafting/revising/publishing process did you decide your book needed back matter?

My very first draft had a small paragraph of back matter. I always knew I wanted to elaborate on ballet slippers specifically, but I needed to research and gather facts.

What kind of research did you do for the back matter?

I checked out books from my library about ballet and dancers like Misty Copeland. I searched many online sites and watched several videos.

What did the first draft of the back matter look like? Can you show us snippets?

This was my very first draft of my back matter. I shared it with my critique partners and received positive feedback and decided to leave it in the story.

Screenshot of Steena’s original back matter reads: AUTHOR’S NOTE: Freed of London, Ltd, often known as Freed, manufactures pointe shoes. Ballet slippers have long been known for their signature peachy pink color. Many dancers of multi-races used to “pancake” their slippers, where they painted their slippers with a matching make-up/foundation in order for the slippers to match their skin tone. The slipper should never stand out, and should be an extension of the leg to the tip of the toe. When the slipper is the same color as the dancer’s skin, it accentuates the lines of the dancer’s body, thus creating elegance the craft so ardently captures. In 2018, Freed of London became the first UK Company to create Pointe shoes for Black, Asia, Hispanic, and mixed race dancers. The colors in the collection are called Ballet Brown, and Ballet Bronze.

Tell us about the back matter revision process. Why did changes occur? What changes and revisions came about after working with the editor/agent?

*This was before I had an agent. 🙂 My back matter changed during my Las Musas mentorship, when my mentor suggested I include information about my own dance journey and professional dancers of color.

Are there any other dancers or information that you wanted to include in the back matter but didn’t make the cut?

No, not really. My editor liked the back matter, and the order of the information was the only major change made.

Did you have kid readers or adult readers in mind when working on your back matter? What do you hope readers will take away after reading your back matter content?

As I was sharing my story, I was surprised to hear how many adults had never heard of “pancaking” ballet slippers. That made me want to include more information about the process, where dancers of darker skin tones apply a matching foundation/makeup to their traditional pink slippers, giving them elongated lines. Not until around 2018 did ballet companies begin creating ballet pointe shoes for dancers of color. I hope readers, kids and adults, will have a better understanding of some of the challenges dancers of color have faced and the importance of inclusion.

Reflecting on this process and what you learned, what tips (if any) can you offer picture book writers for writing back matter?

I look forward to reading the back matter in picture books. My favorite part is an Author’s Note that gives more information about their connection to the story. If your story is a personal one, try to expand on why you wrote the story and share memories and examples that may not be included in the story.

Also, if your story is nonfiction or based on true events, research online and visit your local library, collecting as much information about your topic as possible. You can organize your notes once you’ve researched and gathered your information.

Are there resources or comp titles you can share that would be helpful for writer’s wanting to learn more about back matter?

Annette Whipple has a great post on her website about back matter and frequently asked questions. She includes examples from her, The Truth About series, which all have wonderful back matter to reference.

https://www.annettewhipple.com/2022/01/writers-questions-about-back-matter.html

Other books I love with back matter:

–Ice Cream Everywhere: Sweet Stories from Around the World by Judy Campbell-Smith, illustrated by Lucy Semple (Includes an Author’s Note and What’s the Difference? of ice creams section.)

–Lola Out Loud: Inspired by the Childhood of Activist Dolores Huerta by Jennifer Torres, illustrated by Sara Palacios (Includes an Author’s Note about Dolores Huerta.)

–Tamales For Christmas by Stephen Briseño, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez (Includes and Author’s Note and a delicious recipe for tamales.)

–Enrö Rubik and His Magic Cube by Kerry Aradhya, illustrated by Kara Kramer (Includes The Magic Cube, By the Numbers, and Author’s Note sections.)

–Ladybug Launch: Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space by Melissa Trump and Natalia Ojeda, illustrated by Manuela Montoya. (Includes Author’s Note from Natalia and a Spanish to English Glossary.)

–Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens (Includes additional information about sharks and a timeline of Eugenie’s life.)

Thank you, Steena! I love hearing how you found a way to make your back matter both informative and personal at the same time! Plus, you’ve given us some excellent recommendations of books to add to our lists (and thank you for the shout-out for my book, Ice Cream Everywhere!). Please support Steena:

-Steen’a Picture Book: Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers

–Steena’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/steenahernandez?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZ0dz_vWBDng7HoAyWlZPStU1_rEnp5y-SL9q9SYQtLQvjcRyYkZ87Ys7o_aem_QZBTaBdpmq5FP7aFKpdmhQ

–Instagram: @steenahernandez

-Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/steenahernandez.bsky.social

–Website: www.steenahernandez.com

-Check out Steena’s critique services at My Critique Boutique: https://www.steenahernandez.com/critique-boutique

Now for the giveaway! Steena has generously offered a SIGNED COPY OF LUPITA’S BROWN BALLET SLIPPERS to one lucky winner!

To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by February 11, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. For additional entries, leave a comment on my (Judy’s) BlueSky and/or Instagram posts about this post for a maximum of 2 bonus entries. (Remember to check back on this blog post and social media to see if you are selected as a winner!)

Update: The giveaway is now closed! Congrats to Bri – you are the winner!

Thank you for reading!

Don’t miss future posts! Subscribe to my blog:

Back Matter Break Down: Evidence!: How Dr. John Snow Solved the Mystery of Cholera

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!

Don’t miss future posts! Subscribe to my blog:

Back Matter Break Down: The Reindeer Remainders

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! For my final blog post of the year, I must have Christmas and holidays on the brain which is why I gravitated towards this book featuring reindeer. But let’s be clear, this is NOT a Christmas book! Instead we have a autumnal color palette with a mix of math and lessons in inclusion, all wrapped up in a delightful rhyming package! The back matter is going to give us plenty of things to talk about too, so let’s dive in!

Book: The Reindeer Remainders

Author: Katey Howes

Illustrator: Marie Hermansson

Publisher / Year: Sourcebooks Explore, 2024

Genre: Fiction

Topics: Math Concepts, School, Inclusion, Belonging

Blurb: A class of a dozen reindeer is preparing for the big showcase night event when a new student arrives. This isn’t a big deal until it’s time to divide in groups, and there’s a leftover reindeer every single time. How will the class make sure everyone feels included? And what will they learn in the process?

Book Word Count: about 430 words

Back Matter Word Count: about 370 words

Back Matter Sections:

1. Remainders and Primes (about 120 words)

To kick off the back matter, author Katey Howes, spends a page giving readers more explanation about the math concepts that are demonstrated in the story. In an earlier spread, the idea of prime numbers is introduced with illustrations doing most the heavy lifting for readers. Here, Marie Hermansson’s illustrations and kid friendly diagrams are placed alongside Howe’s explanations of remainders and prime numbers to ensure that the meaning will be clear to a range of ages. The section ends with the question, “Can you name any other prime numbers?” and kids should be able to answer based on the images and information provided.

2. When Someone Is Left Out (about 250 words)

The second page of the back matter switches gears to focus on the book’s other important theme of inclusion and belonging. Here Howes talks directly to readers to help them identify the feelings that can arise in someone who feels left out, and provides some tools to deal with those feelings. There are helpful solutions for kids to use when they are the one feeling left out, but Howes doesn’t end it there. She also makes sure to help kids build empathy and take action to help when they observe someone else being left out. Within this text, we get more illustrations of the book’s reindeer characters demonstrating these emotions and connecting readers back to the events of the story.

Takeaways: The mix of illustrations and text in the math section are a great way to ensure that readers of different age levels will be able to grasp the concepts. And the section on inclusion, has great questions and tips that will engage kids or lead into important conversations with the adults reading with them. When I look at these two pages side-by-side, it occurs to me that either one could have been decent back matter for this book on its own. But put them together, and you have back matter that is twice as good and lends itself to re-readability. Readers have choice about what topic they want to focus on and both can lead to interesting conversations with kids.

Tips: Try to make room in the back matter to cover all of different themes contained in your book! This will add to your re-readability factor and will be an extra selling point, especially if you are able to hit different disciplines.

Thank you for reading! Leave a comment to keep the conversation going or to suggest a book for future blog posts!

Don’t miss future posts! Subscribe to my blog:

World Read Aloud Day 2025 – Zoom with a Self-Published Author or Illustrator

It’s time to get ready for World Read Aloud Day 2025! The list of self-published volunteers is live! Keep reading for all the details:

If you’re new here, I’m Judy Campbell-Smith. I am the author of AJ’s Neighborhood, a picture book I self-published in 2022, and Ice Cream Everywhere: Sweet Stories from Around the World, released by Sleeping Bear Press in March 2024. A few years ago, I discovered that the amazing Kate Messner was organizing volunteers for World Read Aloud Day, but she was focusing on traditionally published authors and illustrators. So I decided to step up so that self-published authors and illustrators could also participate in this wonderful celebration of reading and literacy.

World Read Aloud Day is February 5, 2025! If you are an educator or librarian, you can contact a volunteer to zoom with your group on this day.

WRAD virtual visits are not elaborate or time-consuming to plan. Your presentation should last 10-15 and should go something like this:

1-2 minutes: Author gives a quick introduction & talks a little about their books.
3-5 minutes: Author reads aloud a short picture book, or a short excerpt from a chapter book/novel
5-10 minutes: Author answers a few questions from students about reading/writing
1-2 minutes: Author book-talks a couple books they love (but didn’t write!) as recommendations

To set up a WRAD 2025 visit:

Take a look at this list of self-published volunteers and check out their books to see who will be a good fit for your group/schedule.
Use the contact info listed to get in touch with the volunteer directly to request a visit. In your message, be sure to include:
- Your name and what grade(s) you work with
- Your city and time zone (this is important for scheduling!)
- Possible times to connect on February 5th. Please note authors’ availability and time zones. Adjust accordingly if yours is different!
- Your preferred platform (Zoom, Google Meet, etc.)
- A phone number where you can be reached on that day in case of technical issues

A note for educators and librarians: please honor your commitments and plan accordingly. Please do not double book or cancel unless there is an emergency. Also, if you’re looking for traditionally published authors and illustrators, check out Kate Messner’s list of traditionally published authors and illustrators.

A note for self-published volunteers: please remember to let me know when your schedule is full so that I can remove your name from the list! If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time to join in the fun! Use this link and fill out the form: WRAD 2025 – Call for Self-Published Volunteers

For more info, visit the WRAD website: https://www.litworld.org/learn-more-about-wrad

Don’t miss future posts! Subscribe to my blog:

World Read Aloud Day 2025 – Call for Self-Published Volunteers

I’m so excited for this: World Read Aloud Day is back! For those unfamiliar, World Read Aloud Day was founded by an organization called LitWorld to “celebrate the power of reading aloud to create community and amplify new stories, and to advocate for literacy as a foundational human right.”

This year WRAD will be on February 5, 2025!

I love WRAD because it’s a wonderful chance for authors and illustrators to celebrate the love of reading with children around the world by providing free virtual to teachers and librarians. This will by my third year organizing the self-published /non-traditionally published volunteers who want to participate!

IF YOU ARE A SELF-PUBLISHED AUTHOR or ILLUSTRATOR, I hope you will sign up to participate in WRAD 2025! Last year we had more self-pub participants than the year before, and I hope this year is even bigger!

WRAD virtual visits are not elaborate or time-consuming to plan. Your presentation should last 10-15 and should go something like this:

Any self-published author or illustrator who would like to volunteer to do free virtual visits for World Read Aloud Day (February 5, 2025) please click this link and fill out the form:

WRAD 2025 – Call for Self-Published Volunteers

Traditionally published folks, you are also welcome to volunteer! As always, Kate Messner is organizing a sign up list for traditionally published authors & illustrators who would like to participate, so please visit her list to sign up: https://forms.gle/H8QNw9rL1qdh9rrt6https://forms.gle/H8QNw9rL1qdh9rrt6

TEACHERS & LIBRARIANS: In a few weeks, the list of volunteers will be made public for you to see who is available to join your group. Check back soon!

For more info, visit the WRAD website: https://www.litworld.org/learn-more-about-wrad

Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Helen Kampion & Reneé Critcher Lyons

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! This week we have a fantastic interview with a dynamic duo behind a new PB bio! I’m so glad these two have decided to let us see behind the scenes into what their process was to put together the back matter in their book. And make sure you make it to the end of the post so you can enter the giveaway for a free book! Let’s dive in!

Book: Rollin’ on Down the Line: Lady Bird Johnson’s 1964 Whistle-Stop Tour for Civil Rights

Authors: Helen Kampion and Reneé Critcher Lyons

Illustrator: Erin McGuire

Publisher / Year: Sleeping Bear Press, 2024

Topics: Biography, US History, Civil Rights, Politics

Blurb: The late summer and early fall of 1964 was a turbulent time in America. After years of racial struggle, in July President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. This law, declaring that all citizens were equal, outlawed racial segregation. Many Americans cheered this legislation; yet some did not. Many Southerners despised it and worried about what it meant for their traditions and way of life. With the upcoming November presidential election, President Johnson was advised not to campaign in the South due to the threats of violence since the signing of the new law. But someone needed to visit the citizens in the South and explain why the new law was necessary and good for the entire country.

Born in Texas, First Lady Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson was from the South and understood its people and customs. Despite her fear of public speaking and threats to her own safety, Lady Bird undertook a train tour to reach out to her fellow citizens and Southerners. This is the true story of her historic Whistle-Stop journey, making almost fifty stops through eight Southern states in four days.

What is your manuscript word count? What is your back matter word count?

The main manuscript word count is approximately 1700 words and the back matter with bibliography and source notes is 950 words.

At what phase of the drafting/revising/publishing process did you decide your book needed back matter?

As the book is non-fiction, we knew it would need back matter from the very beginning of our work. Since it is a “slice” of Lady Bird’s life, we understood children reading the book would want to learn more about this iconic First Lady.

What did the first draft of the back matter look like?

The first draft of the back matter was mostly additional facts about the train trip, author’s notes, and also included a “read more” list. The draft constituted 1,500 words, lengthier than the finished product, and also included Lady Bird’s pecan pie recipe (as fed to dignitaries on the trip).

Fifteen source notes are found in the final publication, whereas the first draft held nineteen. The bibliography in the first draft included eight entries, however, the final product referenced six sources.

Tell us about the back matter revision process. Why did changes occur? What changes and revisions came about after working with the editor/agent?

The revision process proved amicable. Changes occurred due to our editor’s suggestions. The editor wanted to cut down our facts about the train ride itself, and place more emphasis on Lady Bird’s legacy, her contributions to our society, lasting into the current day. As the main text targets the train trip extensively, we were happy to emphasize Lady Bird’s political work in the back matter.

How did you choose the photos that appear in the back matter? Were you involved in getting permission to include the photos?

The editor reached out to us about photos to use in the back matter. Since we had been in touch with the LBJ Presidential Library and the First Ladies Library and Museum while researching the book, we passed on our contact information. The editor contacted the library and museum, decided on the photos, and we were delighted with the choices.

What was the most challenging part of the back matter publishing process?

Many of the quotes in the back matter were ones we had “lovingly” selected. The editor, nonetheless, wanted to paraphrase one or two of these. While we did so, it was a challenging edit. Also, we included many train trip details in the original text, such as her daughters’ contributions to the tour, the manner in which Lady Bird reached out to Southern governors, and Lady Bird’s favorite pecan pie recipe, served on the train. These were all eventually not included in the final back matter.

Is your back matter aimed for kid readers or adults? What do you hope readers will take away after reading your back matter content?

The back matter is geared toward kids, but serves as an engaging read for adults as well. We want readers to further understand the extent of Lady Bird’s almost “super-human” bravery and courage. During the train tour, she was threatened, jeered, and endured sniper threats and a bomb scare. We also want readers to remember her important legacy of caring for and preserving natural areas.

Reflecting on this process and what you learned, what tips (if any) can you offer picture book writers for writing back matter?

We suggest:

View the back matter as a means of providing a broader scope of the book’s subject matter;
Use back matter to address any areas not covered in the story, but which assist with additional inquiry;
Consider back matter as a way readers can enhance internalization of the story itself, providing details that don’t “fit” into the non-fiction narrative;
Write back matter in an engaging way as well – don’t give up after the narrative text is finished;
You will find tons of facts about your subject and be overwhelmed as to the extent! Use the most important or poignant facts you find outside of the storyline.

Are there resources or comp titles you can share that would be helpful for writer’s wanting to learn more about back matter?

Children’s Books That Connect the Past to the Present with Back Matter

Use these books as examples of the “differing” types of children’s non-fiction, paying particular attention to the back matter:

Night Owl, Night by Susan Edwards Richmond (narrative non-fiction)

Seashells, More Than A Home by Melissa Stewart (traditional non-fiction)

The Leaf Detective by Heather Lang (biographical)

Thank you, Helen and Reneé! It’s so helpful for us all to see how the editing process happened and how you landed on the final version we see in the book.

Please support Helen and Reneé!

Purchase Rollin’ on Down the Line at these sellers:

LBJ Library Bookstore

Bookshop

Amazon

Learn more about Rollin’ on Down the Line:

Jr. Library Guild distinction

Read With A Ranger: First Ladies National Historic Site

The Children’s Bookshelf

Kathy Temean highlight

Vivian Kirkfield

Kirkus Review

Follow Helen and Reneé on social media:

@helenkampion

@reneelyonsMFA

Visit Helen and Reneé’s websites:

Helen Kampion

Renee’ Lyons

Now for a giveaway! Helen and Reneé have generously offered to give one lucky person a free copy of Rollin’ on Down the Line: Lady Bird Johnson’s 1964 Whistle-Stop Tour for Civil Rights! To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by October 8, 2024 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. Leave a comment on my Twitter/X, BlueSky, and/or Instagram posts a bout this blog for a maximum of 3 bonus entries. (Remember to check back on this blog post and social media to see if you are selected as a winner!)

Thank you for reading!

Don’t miss future posts! Subscribe to my blog:

Back Matter FAQs: Submitting Back Matter

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down, my blog series all about back matter in picture books! I wanted to try something new with post and answer a common question I have encountered from picture book authors who are working on manuscripts with back matter. It’s a question I also had when I first started writing, so hopefully some of you find this post helpful.

Should I include back matter when submitting my picture book manuscript to agents / editors?

The short answer is YES.

Here’s the long answer: Generally, speaking, if you want to include any kinds of back matter text, you should write, revise, and submit it along with your manuscript when you’re querying agents or editors. By text, I am referring to author’s notes, glossaries, recipes, additional biographies for PB bios, bibliographies and references, etc. These are all the types of things that you can write up yourself, so you should go ahead and include it in your submission so agents and editors can see it with your manuscript.

There may be graphic elements that you’d like to include in your backmatter, like photos, maps, graphs, or diagrams. Unless you’re an author-illustrator, I suggest leaving a note in your back matter section with the heading “Suggested Back Matter” or “Proposed Back Matter” and then list out the graphic elements you’d hope to include. Your book’s illustrator and design team will then create those elements with your help, but it’s great to show agents and editors that you’ve at least thought of these things.

I hope that helps!

Do you agree with my answer? Have tips for authors about submitting back matter? Leave a comment!

And if you have any other questions about back matter, please drop a comment and maybe I’ll answer it in a future FAQ blog post!

Don’t miss future posts! Subscribe to my blog:

Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Rachel Funez

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! I am excited for today’s interview and giveaway with Rachel Funez! The back matter for her picture book reaches both kid and adult readers and carries on the super-hero theme of the main text. So much fun and good info here, and don’t forget to read all the way to the end of the interview for a chance at a PB critique by Rachel! Let’s dive in!

Book: Sonia and the Super-Duper Disaster

Author: Rachel Funez

Illustrator: Kelly Kennedy

Publisher / Year: Free Spirit Publishing, 2024

Topics: Anxiety, Super Heroes, ADHD, Social Emotional Learning

Blurb: When Sonia forgets Mom’s birthday, she’s determined to whip up a super surprise and become Mom’s hero. But her ADHD foils her best-laid plans, and her anxiety multiplies as the chaos grows. Sonia has to use all her coping skills to find a new recipe for success and become her own superhero.

What is your manuscript word count?

Final manuscript word count: 507

What is your back matter word count?

Back Matter Word count: approx. 1424

At what phase of the drafting/revising/publishing process did you decide your book needed back matter?

It was toward the end of the revision process. The book had been through many iterations before I decided to make the ADHD and anxiety components more explicit. I added coping strategies that Sonia uses to help her calm down and focus. When I did that, I decided it needed back matter to give readers more insight into these “worry-fighting gadgets” and how to use them.

Did you do any research for the back matter?

Initially, I didn’t do any research for the author’s note. I grew up with anxiety and ADHD, and the “worry-fighting gadgets” I incorporated into the story were ones that I have learned to use through the years. I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve been through a lot of therapy and read a lot of self-help and parenting books. I also grew up with two counselors and married one. So the author’s note was written from my personal experiences and things I have learned from others along the way. But I did run it by my parents and husband (the counselors in my life), as well as my critique partners.

When my editor asked me to add the “Guide for Caring Adults,” I did additional research for that section. I wanted to make sure the facts I cited were accurate, and the techniques were widely accepted and recommended.

What did the first draft of the back matter look like? Can you show us snippets?

Tell us about the back matter revision process. Why did changes occur? What changes and revisions came about after working with the editor/agent?

I was unagented when SONIA AND THE SUPER-DUPER DISASTER was acquired so it was just me and my critique partners at first. The first draft was just the author’s note. It’s actually pretty similar to the final version of the author’s note in a lot of ways. But I changed the “strategies” to “worry-fighting gadgets” and added the fun superhero themed names. (Thank you, critique partners, for that awesome suggestion!)
I also added “Stellar Self-talk” as a tool, because I thought it was a simple and kid friendly way to combat worry.
Once the book was acquired by Free Spirit Publishing, my editor and I went through several revisions of the back matter, and she made a lot of great suggestions. For example, “love” ended up being rephrased as “help” at the suggestion of my editor, which I loved, because even superheroes need help sometimes. She also suggested adding the section called “Guide for Caring Adults,” which ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book.

Is there more information or calming techniques that you wanted to include in the back matter but didn’t make the cut?

Yes. I initially had “planning ahead” in there. That’s a big strategy I use for both ADHD and anxiety. But it didn’t really fit well with the other “worry-fighting gadgets” and I cut the planning part of the story for pacing reasons. So I took it out of the back matter, too.

What was the most challenging part of the back matter publishing process?

I really enjoyed the publishing part of the process. My editor, Christine Zuchora-Walske, was wonderful to work with and had great suggestions.

I think the most difficult thing for me was a feeling of “imposter syndrome.” Since I’m not a professional counselor or psychologist, I felt like, who am I to tell people how to cope with these things? But ultimately none of that information was unique content I thought up on my own. It was all things I learned from people who are much smarter than I am, and have tried to put into practice in my own life with varying degrees of success or failure. I think that allowed me to write with humility and compassion, instead of talking down to the reader.

What do you hope readers will take away after reading your back matter content?
I hope that neurodivergent children and caregivers will feel seen and celebrated. And I hope all readers, whether neurodivergent or not, will walk away with tools they can put into practice to make some of the difficult moments just a little less challenging.

Have you heard from any readers about the back matter and if they have been putting the tips into practice?

I have! It’s so rewarding to hear from parents who are neurodivergent and/or raising neurodivergent children, and who found the back matter helpful. It makes my heart happy! One parent wrote, “I will not only make sure to teach my girls your tips and worry-fighting gadgets but I will also use them myself.”

Reflecting on this process and what you learned, what tips (if any) can you offer picture book writers for writing back matter?
I think if you have something important to say that doesn’t quite fit in the text of the picture book, go for it! I especially love author’s notes when they explain the author’s personal connection to the story.

Are there resources or comp titles you can share that would be helpful for writers wanting to learn more about back matter?
This website is perfect for learning more about back matter and finding comp titles!
If you’re looking at sending a book to a specific publisher, I also recommend looking at their website, pulling several of their books from your local library, and checking out the type of back matter they typically include.

Thank you, Rachel! I love hearing about how you overcame your imposter syndrome and drew from your own life to create your back matter!

Please support Rachel!

SONIA AND THE SUPER-DUPER DISASTER can be purchased anywhere books are sold, but please check with your local Indie. Online, it’s available at Amazon and Barnes&Noble, or directly from the Publisher.

Rachel’s website is www.rachelfunez.com

You can subscribe to her newsletter here.

Follow her on social media platforms: Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook.

Now for a giveaway! Rachel has generously offered to give one lucky person a free PB critique! To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by September 24, 2024 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. You may earn 1 bonus entry if you leave a comment on the Twitter/X and Instagram posts about this blog to let me know you commented here. (Please remember to check back on this blog post and Twitter/X to see if you are selected as a winner!)

Update: The giveaway is now closed! Congrats to Abby Mumford!

Thank you for reading!

Don’t miss future posts! Subscribe to my blog: