Writing Tips – Judy Campbell-Smith

Interview & Giveaway with Carolyn Bennett Fraiser

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! Today’s interview is about back matter with a unique approach in the way it sends readers back to explore the pages of the book. I can’t wait for you to hear how the back matter came together! And don’t forget to scroll all the way to the bottom of the post to get the giveaway info! Let’s go!

Book: Moon Tree: The Story of One Extraordinary Tree

Author: Carolyn Bennett Fraiser

Illustrator: Simona Mulazzani

Publisher / Year: Reycraft Books, 2022

Genre: Non-Fiction

Topics: Trees, Space, Science, STEM, History

Blurb: One tree has a secret – it flew to the moon on Apollo 14. The problem is no one remembers, even NASA…until a curious third-grade girl uncovers its mystery about a boy who dreamed of flying, a trip to the moon, and the American bicentennial.

Book Word Count: 350

What is your back matter word count?

1,082 words

What was the earliest version of the back matter like?

My earliest version included much of the back matter in the text or in sidebars. The draft at that point was more than 1,500 words long! Too long for a picture book. As I revised, my text became shorter. Once I had the final version, I evaluated which extra details would help students and teacher take into a deeper dive into the history and science behind the trees and re-envisioned the back matter to work hand-in-hand with the primary text. I ended up choosing a detailed retelling of the story that took a deeper dive into each page of the primary text, a listing of moon tree locations across the US, and a glossary of terms.

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

Not much. I sold the book on my own before I signed with my first agent and my editor kept most of what I had submitted. We did have to cut the list of second-generation trees because there simply wasn’t enough room in the back of the book to name them all! So I ended up summing up what a second generation moon was at the bottom of the list of locations.

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

Oh yes! There were SO many fun and interesting stories that I wanted to include with the book, but not every detail or fun fact “fit” with the overall flow or made sense when I landed on the final version. I decided to cut quite a bit and save them for presentations after the book was published.

What were some challenges that arose during the back matter publishing process?

The main problem for me was that the listing of moon trees kept changing. Some trees died and others were discovered/confirmed during the publication process. By the time the book came out, the list of trees in the back of the book wasn’t the most current list. I updated the list after publication and sent it back to my editor so he could update the back matter list during the second printing.

I love how your back matter format encourages us to flip back and re-read the story again. Have you heard from any readers about how they are interacting with the back matter?

People LOVE the list of trees at the back of the book! When I introduce someone to the book, they automatically flip to back to see if a tree is listed in their state. If they find out, they usually mention that they will have to plan a visit to the tree. I love that it inspires people to go beyond the pages of the book to explore more.

You also have back matter in your new book, M is for Mason Jar. What was that process like?

It was a very different process. I had initially submitted two sections of back matter with the manuscript—a list of 26 activities (one for each letter) specifically for young children and a mason jar matching game. The game was completely cut. The artwork for this wasn’t included with the illustrator’s contract. Then the list of activities was shortened from 2 pages to 1 because there simply wasn’t room for another page once the artwork was final. However, this allows me to offer parents and teachers additional resources on my website and really make a classroom visits fresh and engaging with new material that is not in the book.

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 Fest is a blog event hosted by the Nonfiction Ninjas every February and offers a ton of information about writing nonfiction books of all kinds, and they always include some insightful articles on back matter. Anyone interested can search their website and read what they have posted in past years. It’s like a crash master’s course in writing back matter for kids!

So many authors do this well. I suggest browsing as many nonfiction picture books as possible to evaluate the different ways authors use back matter. Make a list. See what works best with your topic.

Thank you, Carolyn! I love how you connect your back matter process to creating materials and contents for school visits! It’s such a great way to use all those extra facts and activities that couldn’t fit into the book! Please support Carolyn:

Website: https://carolynbfraiser.com

Social Media handle: @CarolynBFraiser (Facebook, X, Instagram, BlueSky, Pinterest)

Moon Tree: https://www.benchmarkeducation.com/reycraftbooks/nl6135-moon-tree-the-story-of-one-extraordinary-tree-trade-book-hardcover.html

M is for Mason Jar: https://familius.com/book/m-is-for-mason-jar/

Now for the giveaway!

Carolyn has generously offered to one lucky winner a 20-minute brainstorming session with an author to come up with various possibilities for back matter on their topic or picture book!

To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by August 25, 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!)

Thank you for reading!

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

Interview & Giveaway with Laura G. Lee: Back Matter Break Down

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! For today’s interview, I am excited to bring you a conversation with an amazing author-illustrator, Laura G. Lee! I was fascinated by her book from the moment I learned that she used actual soy sauce in the illustrations. Her experience putting together the back matter for this book is also super interesting, so I know you’re in for a good read. And don’t forget to scroll all the way to the end for this week’s author giveaway! Let’s go!

Book: Soy Sauce!

Author / Illustrator: Laura G. Lee

Publisher / Year: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2025

Genre: Non Fiction

Topics: Food, Cooking, Asian Cultures

Blurb: Salty, savory, rich, and even sweet, soy sauce is as fascinating to make as it is delicious to eat! Luan makes a classic Chinese soy sauce. Haru uses his own recipe at his family’s traditional Japanese brewery. And Yoo-mi’s Korean soy sauce features special ingredients to make it spicy and sweet. With unique ingredients that reflect different Asian cultures, and a brewing process that can take years, even decades, soy sauce holds deep meaning and flavorful history in every drop.

Book Word Count: 278 words

What is your back matter word count?

207 words

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

Probably in my early research–I knew there were a lot of cultural ingredients and scientific terms that readers may not catch. The story of soy sauce is so rich historically and culturally, the back matter gave me a chance to point readers to deeper explorations in how soy sauce is made, and the countries that make it.

What was the earliest version of the back matter like? Can you show us snippets?

My earlier version of back matter included a ‘production’ diagram of how soy sauce is made. As we got into it, we realized it was somewhat of a challenge to make a single diagram for all soy sauce production. It’s made in many different ways, in different places. Instead, we opted to highlight the differences in ingredients in the Glossary, and steer away from the ‘how to’ diagram. However, I do use that same diagram to explain in school visits the ‘basic process’, then go into more specifics. Below is the diagram that got cut from the final back matter. As you can see, it became a challenge to represent the soy sauce making process in a singular way- as there are variations in ingredients, and process throughout.

Sketch version of Making Soy Sauce chart, courtesy of Laura G. Lee

What changes and revisions (if any) came about after working with the editor/agent? Are there any other soy sauce facts that you wanted to include in the back matter but didn’t make the cut?

I think the essence of the original back matter was preserved, but became more visual as I worked with my editorial and art team. They suggested creating more of a visual glossary, with recognizable elements and characters from the book, to peak reader’s interest. I really wanted to include the Korean soybean block step, making meju, in the original story but because that was streamlined, I was able to still create an element for it in the back matter. While I am sure there are some cool aspects of soy sauce that didn’t make the cut, I like to think of back matter at a jumping off point to deeper questions and research–so I think we did hit all the big highlights.

At any point, did you consider including a recipe in the back matter?

I think we considered it early on, but veered away from it because there is no single recipe for soy sauce that could have been the perfect one. So we chose instead to represent its diversity and range, and share its cultural and historical context instead.

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

At some point I learned I might not be able to print the book in China because of the reference in the back matter to Taiwan. It was an unexpected surprise in the process, and my publishing team leaned on me to decide what to do–I chose to keep the elements of Taiwan in, because it was important to me and my family (my kids are half-Taiwanese, half-Korean). So we printed the book in Malaysia instead. And I’m happy we did! I give huge kudos to my publishing team at Hachette for supporting my decision.

I love the idea of a Visual Glossary like you have in your book. What tips (if any) can you offer to author-illustrators about designing creative back matter?

Hm…. good question. I think back matter adds to the story, it’s something that like the book, ideally, kids will return to. So think of them as jumping off points to deeper explorations. Ask yourself, what might readers relate to, and want to know more about? Is there anything particularly symbolic in your book that has a backstory? Then dive in. I like to think of back matter as the starting point to a conversation.

Thank you, Laura! It’s so helpful and interesting to get a look into your creative process in putting this book together, as well as how you navigated some unexpected challenges. You’ve given us some great things to think about! Please support Laura:

Book purchase: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/laura-g-lee/soy-sauce/9781523528387/?lens=little-brown-books-for-young-readers

Instagram: lauragleestudio

Laura’s Upcoming events:

– SOY SAUCE! Storytime and Signing at Water Street Books, Exeter, NH, on 5/3/25 at 1:15pm EST

– SOY SAUCE! Author Talk at the San Mateo Public Library, San Mateo, CA, on 5/10/25 at 11am PDT

– Bay Area Book Festival (Berkeley, CA) – Play with Your Food!, at Berkeley Public Library Children’s Nonfiction Area: Charlotte Cheng, Sara Fajardo, and Laura Lee emceed by Cinnamongirl Funmilayo on Saturday, May 31st at 3pm

Now for the giveaway!

Laura G. Lee has generously offered a 30 min zoom AMA to one lucky winner! To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by April 22, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. For additional entries, leave a comment on 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!)

Thank you for reading!

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

Interview & Giveaway with Suhasini Gupta: Back Matter Break Down

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! I am excited for you to read today’s interview with a debut author who came to back matter task with so many creative ideas. It’s so great to see the journey that led to the final version. And don’t forget to scroll all the way to the end of the interview you so you can enter the giveaway! Okay, let’s begin!

Book: Kai Po Che: Mini’s Perfect Kite

Author: Suhasini Gupta

Illustrator: Devika Oza

Publisher / Year: Gnome Road Publishing, 2025

Genre: Fiction

Topics: Kites, Indian Festivals, Indian Culture, Crafts, Siblings

Blurb: It’s Makar Sankranti, the Indian festival of kites, and Mini wants to join in the fun. But her older brother insists that flying kites is not for little girls. Using her craft-making skills, Mini constructs her own not-so-perfect kite and learns to fly it with her brother’s help. But during Sankranti, it’s fair game to cut another kite’s string and keep it as your own! When a red kite comes along and causes a KITE-ASTROPHE, Mini decides it’s time to challenge the red kite to a battle in the sky. In the end, she discovers that her not-so-perfect kite is really her very own perfect diamond.

Book Word Count: The story is approximately 570 words.

What is your back matter word count?

The back matter ended up at 440 words.

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

I wanted to include back matter toward the end of my revision process because kite flying is more than just an outdoor activity—it encompasses science, math, craft, inspirational values, and a full celebration. The back matter serves as an invitation to spark curiosity and meaningful conversations between children and grown-ups.

Did you do any research for the back matter to include the STEM content?

Since my childhood memories inspired this story, I incorporated an author’s note to give readers a glimpse of my personal connection to kite flying. The STEM content included basic engineering concepts related to how kites function, such as their unique shape and how it differs from a diamond-shaped kite, as well as the forces that help balance a kite in the sky.
To ensure accuracy and make these concepts accessible to a young audience, I conducted additional research using reliable sources. Some of the resources include the American Kitefliers Association, which introduces people to the joy of kite flying, its rich history, the artistry of kite making, and how kites can be used as educational tools. Additionally, I explored kite-related educational content from NASA and PBS Learning Media which provide valuable insights into the science behind kite flight.

For further exploration, readers can visit:
American Kitefliers Association
NASA Learning Resources on Kites
PBS LearningMedia: Kites and STEM

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 already had a few key elements in mind for the back matter, such as STEM concepts, a kite-making craft, and possibly a recipe for an Indian snack or dessert—because no Indian celebration is complete without food! Additionally, while the book was in the illustration process, I wrote a rap song that I wanted to include. However, since we had only one page available for the back matter, we had to make choices about what to include. We ultimately prioritized STEM over crafting because STEM and craft go hand in hand—understanding the facts behind kite flying makes designing and building a kite easier.

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

Yes, crafting a kite didn’t make it into the book due to space constraints. We could only fit the author’s note and STEM content on one page. Fortunately, I was able to include a QR code for my rap song, “I’m Not SMALL, Am Dynamite,” written by me and sung by my daughter. Additionally, Gnome Road Publishing offers Bonus Material and extra Educator Resources on their website for each book, making the content available there.

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

The biggest challenge was working within the space constraints while ensuring the back matter remained engaging and informative for the young kids.

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

I hope kids feel inspired to explore more about kites, spark their curiosity, and create their own designs to soar high in the sky.

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

Here are a few tips in my opinion that could come handy.

1. Planning and Prioritizing Content – Think about your back matter in a way that connects to your story and theme, and be prepared to make tough choices about what to include if space is limited.

2. Keep It Engaging – Write in a way that sparks curiosity and encourages young readers to explore further, whether through fun facts, activities, or personal connections, while also offering value to parents and educators.

3. Be Flexible and Creative – If something doesn’t fit within the book, consider alternative ways to share it, such as through the publisher’s website, a QR code, or bonus materials.

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

Your blog is a great resource for checking out authors’ testimonies on back matter. The best approach to learn more is by visiting the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), where they offer workshops and articles on various aspects of writing, including how to craft back matter. Additionally, checking out books from local libraries on related topics and reaching out to author communities and online writer’s blogs for further tips can be incredibly helpful.

Thank you, Suhasini! I love how you had so many fun and engaging ideas in your head for the back matter. Even though they didn’t all make it into the book, it’s fun that you have great content that you are now using elsewhere. Please support Suhasini:

Reach out on Instagram/Twitter/Bluesky/Youtube– @thesusankam
Website- www.thesusankam.com

KAI PO CHE: MINI’S PERFECT KITE can be purchased anywhere books are sold. Online, it’s available at Amazon and Barnes&Noble, or directly from the Publisher. You can check your local Indie book store.

Now for the giveaway! Suhasini Gupta has generously offered a 20-min AMA or a PB critique (non-rhyming, 600 words or less) to one lucky winner! To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by April 8 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 Ginger B, you are the 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!

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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!

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Back Matter Break Down: The Very True Legend of the Mongolian Death Worms

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! The book we’ll be looking at today is very charming and I just love the illustrations. The back matter is also very fun and takes an interesting approach to myth. This feels different than some of the other books I have reviewed lately, so I’m excited to dive in!

Book: The Very True Legend of the Mongolian Death Worms

Author / Illustrator: Sandra Fay

Publisher / Year: Godwin Books (Henry Holt and Company), 2022

Genre: Fiction

Topics: Animals/Insects, Humor, Legends/Folklore

Blurb: Like the ongoing search for Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster, scientists have searched the Gobi Desert for these giant worms. Reported sightings claim that their skin is blood red; their fangs razor sharp. The worms are supposedly poisonous and electrifying . . . or are they?

In this funny story, we meet the Mongolian Death Worm family: Beverly, Trevor, Neville and Kevin. In spite of their deadly reputation, they’re determined to make nice and win over the other animals. Their overtures of friendship are . . . not reciprocated. But when disaster strikes, it’s the Mongolian Death Worm family to the rescue!

Book Word Count: about 650

Back Matter Word Count: about 250 plus references

Back Matter: The Truth Behind the Mongolian Death Worm Legend

Back Matter Sections:

1. Are Mongolian Death Worms Real? Well, Maybe! (45 words)

In this brief introduction to the back matter, author Fay explains the origin of the legendary creatures that she depicted as the main characters in her story.

2. Here’s What People Believe To Be True About the Real-Life Mongolian Death Worm (75 words)

While the Mongolian Death Worm’s in Fay’s story, are anthropomorphized and wear clothes, here Fay illustrates in her signature style what the “real” creatures would look like based on the legends and tales. She includes text descriptions of what their alleged behavior and main characteristics.

3. The Scientific Search for The Mongolian Death Worms (140 words)

Fay spends some time giving the history of this legend, revealing that there have been many attempts to confirm the Mongolian death worm’s existence. Readers are also treated to a re-telling of a more recent sighting of the creatures. Fay summarizes a 2011 eyewitness account in which a woman has an encounter with the the death worms and is so terrified, that she and her family moved away right afterwards.

4. Sources:

Fay includes three resources related to research on the Mongolian death worm. These are presented in much smaller text at the bottom of the page, and seem to be in MLA style formatting.

Takeaways: Fay’s back matter, like the introduction to her story, make it clear that the Mongolian Death Worms are legendary creatures. But I think it’s fun that the back matter treats readers to information that helps them imagine clearly what the Death worms would be like in real life. While a little Wikipedia searching by me revealed that scientist strongly suspect that these creatures do not exist, Fay leaves readers with a story that leans to the other side of the argument. In the case of this myth, rather than debunking it, Fay’s back matter leaves us curious and wondering, and I think this adds to overall fun and playful tone of her book.

Tips: If your book deals with real life mysteries, disputed facts, or myths, consider using your back matter to explore the possibilities. Think about leaving your readers with questions they can continue to explore instead of removing all uncertainty. This is also a great opportunity to show young readers that there are still amazing discoveries to be made in the world.

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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Back Matter Break Down: Impossible Moon

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! I stepped away from the blog over the summer, but I’m back at it again and excited to look at the back matter from a lovely, lyrical book. Let’s dive in!

Book: Impossible Moon

Author: Breanna J. McDaniel

Illustrator: Tonya Engel

Publisher / Year: Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022

Genre: Fiction

Topics: Stars, Constellations, Black History, Mythology

Blurb: Grana used to tell the best stories, and Mable used to long to soar through the heavens. Nowadays, Grana mostly lies in bed and Mable stays close to home. But one day, Grana asks, “If we can touch the moon, then what is impossible?”

So Mable decides to do just that, embarking on a journey through the stars where The Seven Sistahs, The Big Dipper, and other constellations help her on her quest and teach her about African mythology and African American history. With the support of her new companions, Mable reaches for her biggest dream yet: to make her sick grandma well again.

Book Word Count: about 679

Back Matter Word Count: about 1200

Back Matter Sections

1. Authors Note (about 600 words)

In author Breanna J. McDaniel’s note, she starts off by sharing how her own experience with her ailing grandmother became the initial spark for this story. She continues by detailing how her research led to see how Black characters and history were traditionally overlooked in presentations about stars and constellations. McDaniel notes that the movie Black Panther helped inspire her vision of the constellations as Black characters interacting with a young Black girl who loves astronomy. Finally, she shares her hope that Mable’s story will inspire young readers to love of science and keep dreaming in the impossible.

2. The Impossible Moon Sky (about 650 words)

In this section, McDaniel gives readers more information about astronomy and constellations that are presented in the story. She starts off with an introduction (about 200 words) that explains what constellations are. This section tells how constellations have been used by humans throughout history, including the fact that there are many stories that have been passed down about to constellations.

From there, the author highlights the seven constellations that she depicts in the book (about 450 words). She explains the origins of their names as well as some mythology that has traditionally been associated with the constellation. McDaniel also explains how she approached the depictions in the story as she highlighted the constellations importance to Black people throughout history. It’s extra insightful that she sometimes explains the symbolism behind her depictions that might not be immediately understood in a first reading by some.

Takeaways: Breanna J. McDaniel’s backmatter gives readers insight into her creative process as she was coming up with the themes and deeper meanings into this story. Readers who dive into her author note and explanations about the constellations will see the writer’s mind at work adding layers of meaning to her story. Especially for young readers, they may be surprised to learn of the symbolism and hidden meanings that McDaniel has infused into her story. This likely adds to the pleasure of re-reading the book as kids will be able to appreciate the story on another level while examining how Tonya Engel’s dreamy illustrations draw out these themes.

Tips: Let readers go behind-the-scenes on your creative process. As they understand what inspired your writing, how you pivoted to new ideas, or how research led you into surprising places, it will add to their appreciation of your story’s layers. If your story has symbolism, don’t shy away from explaining their meanings in your back matter. You will be equipping kids to understand how to analyze text at their own level, and I’m sure many educators will love to have such books to use as teaching examples for their students.

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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Back Matter Break Down: Interview & Giveaway with Darcie Naslund

Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! If you are interested in back matter in picture books, you have come to the right place. Today’s interview with Darcie Naslund is full of great behind the scenes info about she put together the back matter for her debut picture book. And don’t forget to read to the end for the giveaway! So much good stuff here, so let’s dive in!

Book: My Mom is NOT a Superhero!

Author: Darcie Naslund

Illustrator: Dania El Khatib

Publisher / Year: DC Canada Education Publishing, 2024

Topics: Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Illness, Mothers, Superheroes

Blurb: A little girl whose mother has Multiple Sclerosis discovers that some superheroes are fighting invisible battles. With the help of her cat and some X-ray glasses, she learns just how strong her mom is and how she can help her.

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

The manuscript I submitted was about 460 words, not including my illustration notes, which were around 100 words. Looking back now, I realize I didn’t need that many, but at the time, I thought they were necessary to explain the symptoms clearly as villains.

The back matter is about 500 words. It focuses on child readers or creating an adult-child conversation about Multiple Sclerosis and invisible illness.

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

My first draft wasn’t a story at all. It was more like a well-written advertisement for MS. It was loaded with descriptions and not exciting for kid readers. The first draft was written on its own without back matter. The author’s note came next, as it was a suggestion from my critique group. They may have suggested back matter, but I can’t remember. What I do remember is that I was very stuck in my way with this manuscript. I would take some pieces of advice on the line level but refused to accept any whole-picture type of advice.

It wasn’t until I received some brutally honest, whole-picture feedback that I realized I needed to make a change. After my daughter’s endless questions about my worsening MS, I had an epiphany. I needed to find a way to make the invisible visible. That’s where the X-ray glasses came in. I rewrote the entire manuscript, cut the descriptions, and turned them into back matter.

Did you need to do any research for the back matter?

Having MS gave me first-hand experience explaining it to children. That being said, I still did a lot of research and connected with the MS Society of Canada. They sent me a few resources for having conversations with children. I also collected resources from other MS organizations around the world.

The organization of the back matter was very important to me. I didn’t want it to be overwhelming for kids if they wanted to learn more. I checked out dozens of picture books with back matter from the library to compare and eventually decided on a plan.

How did you come up with the activities that kids can do to understand MS symptoms?

When I was looking for resources for families, I came across several activity books for kids. Some of them included crossword puzzles, questions and stories. They helped parents explain MS to young children. That’s when I realized the problem— explaining alone doesn’t always lead to understanding. As the old saying goes,

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I understand.”

I needed to put the readers in the shoes of someone with MS to even begin to understand. The analogies that I came up with were things I would say all the time to my family. “I feel like something is pulling my arms down.” Or “My legs feel like they are made of cement.” I have had times when I thought my glasses were dirty or smudged, but it was just my MS. I took all of my experiences and my little descriptions and included them in the backmatter. Even now that the book is published, I want to add or change something about the backmatter. For example, in the back matter, I suggest using ankle weights or socks full of sand to weigh your legs down. Now, I realize that wearing very big, heavy boots creates a similar effect. Although I can’t make that change now, I will still include it in my activities and book events.

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

The first draft didn’t look much different in regards to the organization. It had the symptoms list and the “Try This” section. I also had a “How to Fight MS” section that I later took out. It did, however, have a completely different analogy for MS. Finding the right analogy was probably the most difficult part of writing the back matter. I tried many different analogies— a computer and wire, a rough hiking trail, and even mail delivery. The computer analogy was what I submitted to DC Canada Education Publishing. It was later changed and explained using water flowing through a garden hose. This idea came from the wonderful team at DC Canada Education Publishing.

*Before

Draft of back matter text by Darcie Naslund

*After

Published back matter from My Mom is NOT a Superhero! by Darcie Naslund, Illustrated by Dania El Khatib

Dania El Khatib took my words and created back matter that was not only engaging but accessible. It is everything I dreamed it would be.

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 back matter was probably the most difficult part of the revision process with my editor. We went back and forth several times, creating every analogy we could to explain what MS is in a clear, accessible way. I have always described MS as if my brain was a computer and my nerves were wires connecting to the rest of the body. Although this analogy felt most accurate with some MS symptoms, we decided that it was not the safest route to go, as we did not want children thinking that it was okay to play with electrical wires.

I created several more analogies, and so did my editor. When we reviewed them together, we finally concluded that the garden hose analogy would be best. It was clear and did not create a potential risk like the previous version.

My editor mentioned that she was very excited to have received the manuscript with back matter already created. It made her job much easier. She was also the one who thought to include the engaging questions for the readers.

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

As I mentioned in the previous question, the most difficult part was creating a clear, concise analogy for what MS is. It was also the beginning of the back matter and set the tone for the rest of the information. This was the most important, difficult and tedious part of the process.

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

I would say the back matter is aimed mostly at kid readers. I also wanted it to create conversations between the children and an adult reader. My goal for the back matter was not only to explain what Multiple Sclerosis or MS is but to put them in the shoes and help readers understand. I also wanted readers to understand that many challenges and conditions are invisible, but it does not mean that they do not exist. There are superheroes fighting invisible battles all around us. With a little bit of kindness and understanding, even they can be superheroes.

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

My first piece of advice is to decide what your goal is for your back matter. Once you have your goal, start by studying other picture books (both fiction and nonfiction). I like to use them as a blueprint for organizing my information. I didn’t use one specific book as a guide, but pieces from several books. Studying what was already out there was very helpful to me.

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

To be honest, I don’t have any resources for this. I studied many different books with back matter, both fiction and non-fiction, as these tended to be very different. The idea of blueprinting came from one of author Ebony Lynn Mudd’s writing courses. I found her courses very useful and would recommend them to all picture book writers.

Thank you, Darcie! You’ve given us some great tips on how to plan for our back matter!

Please support Darcie! Find her website and all of her links on Linktr.ee: Darcie Naslund Linktr.ee

Purchase My Mom is NOT a Superhero!:

DC Canada Education Publishing

amazon.ca

amazon.com

Now for a giveaway! Update: the giveaway is now closed. Darcie has generously offered to give one lucky person a full manuscript critique that includes backmatter! To enter: leave one comment on this blog post by May 21, 2024 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. You may earn 1 bonus entry if you also comment on the Twitter/X post 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!)

Thank you for reading!

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