From: APSayre at aol.com <APSayre>
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 09:24:13 EST

Christine, thanks for sharing those interesting reactions from kids. I think you've brought up some great points about how nonfiction books are received. But I'm a little puzzled that you think we disagree. The point in my original post was that an author's choice, to name or not to name an animal character, contributes to the reader's perception that the book is fiction or nonfiction.

When I read a picture book which has an animal that is given a name, I, too, generally assume it is a fictional story. But there are exceptions. In Katy Payne's book about elephants, she names the elephant because it is a real elephant, an elephant that she has photographed and studied. The photos are of real events in the elephant's life. So here is a story which has both the photographs readers love and a named main character. Once again, creative nonfiction has wide possibilities!

I also believe that there is a place for the use of poetic devices that make a wild animal the main character, yet never give it a name, like a pet.

April Pulley Sayre
Received on Thu 30 Nov 2000 08:24:13 AM CST