From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2002 09:49:58 -0600

Fairrosa, thanks for bringing science into our discussion of creative nonfiction.

Your mention of Walter Wick's excellent book, "A Drop of Water," brings another aspect to the forefront: that is, the innovative ways in which illustrations are often used to impart information in nonfiction for children. Wick's book, with its stunning photographs, is an excellent example of that, as are many of Bianca Lavies' science books (eg. "Compost Critters") that use microphotography.

What about books like "Yuck! A Big Book of Little Horrors" by Robert Snedden and "Yikes! Your Body Up Close" by Mike Janulewicz that combine science and photographs in a really playful way? To my mind these are examples of truly creative nonfiction in the classic sense. Both have a strong author's voice and point of view and both are designed to playfully elicit emotional responses on the part of the reader. But they are both totally dependent on illustrations (in this case microphotography) and design.

I'm fascinated by the nonfiction for children and teens today that pushes the envelope through the use of visual images. The Magic School Bus books by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen seem to be the true innovator in this area, and they certainly could not do what they do with words alone.

KT


Kathleen T. Horning (horning at education.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center University of Wisconsin-School of Education 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706 608&3930 FAX: 608&2I33 www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/
Received on Wed 03 Apr 2002 09:49:58 AM CST