Cover to Cover, Part II ~By Suzy Leopold

During the month of April, I shared a post, Cover to Cover, Part I. I began identifying the parts of a book beginning with the cover. The book jacket, followed by interesting endpapers were identified along with front matter elements. 

Let's proceed with Part II and continue identifying the parts of a published book. The featured book is: 

THE GIRL WHO DREW BUTTERFLIES: 

HOW MARIA MERIAN'S ART CHANGED 

SCIENCE 

by Joyce Sidman.

THE GIRL WHO DREW BUTTERFLIES

Book Jacket and End Papers

First, I'll begin with these thoughts . . . 

• Writers understand the importance of reading and studying picture books in the genre one writes. It is a sound idea. 
• Writers request stacks of books from the library to read and study. 
• Picture book writers visit local indie bookstore and inspect picture books from cover to cover. Writers examine recently published picture books. 
• Writers read to hone their craft . . . The craft of writing for children.

From cover to cover, there are various parts of a picture book. Picture book terminology various from book to book. As previously stated, not all picture books include all elements described in the previous post and today's post. Every book does not include the same parts. These variants are based on the topic or theme, the genre, and the audience the book is intended for. Writers choose elements that support the story being told, offering the reader additional information.

As an educator, a writer of children’s picture books, and a Story Teller Extraordinaire, I feel text features are essential parts of a nonfiction book. These story elements can even be included in the genre of fiction. Including various text features and back matter that’s done well are useful components that can support the main text of a well written story. 

I enjoy sharing books during story time at Afterwords Book Store on Tuesdays. Not only do I read books with the littles, I take time to include various book elements. The names of the author and illustrator are read. The front and back covers or book jacket are shown. Interesting end papers are featured. After the story is read, I may point out several components of the Back Matter based on the age group of the audience.

In Part I of Cover to Cover, many elements of Front matter. I left off with the gutter of a book.

Let's continue with another part of a picture book found on the verso [left hand page] and recto [right hand page] pages of a book.

Sidebars or Inset Boxes

Sidebars step away from the story to share additional facts throughout the main story. These could include quotes, definitions, and additional information to enhance the story. These informative inset boxes [sometimes called breakout boxes or fact boxes] are written on the same pages as the book's main text. This element provides a way to grab the reader's attention by presenting interesting ideas and concepts related to the main text. Sidebars are set off in a different font to stand apart. 

Nancy Sanders, author, explains the format of sidebars further on her blog Blogzone: Practical Tips to Help Your Writing Come True . . . 

Fellow GROGger, Marcie Flinchum Atkins, author wrote an excellent post about inset boxes with a catchy title, Sidebars: Not for Skipping.

Moving beyond the story . . . What can a reader discover in Back matter?

As an educator and a writer of children’s picture books, I feel back matter can be an essential part of a nonfiction book. It can be an excellent tool for the genre of fiction, too. Back matter that’s done well is a useful component that supports the story. 

Outstanding back matter not only supports the story, it improves the quality of the book. When back matter is included in a picture book, its like two stories in one.

Back matter supports literacy skills defined in Common Core Standards and the STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics] movement. It encourages critical thinking.

Back matter may include several or some of the following elements:

Index 

An index is a useful tool. An alphabetical list to help the reader find a page number with specific information. 

Index

Glossary

A glossary or key words is a list of important words to know. Students can read the definitions to understand an unknown word. The glossary or mini-dictionary may include specific history, science, or math related words to tie in Common Core Standards.

Glossary

Author's Note

Author's Note

Author & illustrator notes

These notes are often seen in nonfiction picture books. The purpose is to add a few facts that do not fit into the main text of the main text. These notes are compared to "footnotes" and are often personalized about the subject of the book.

Diagrams, Graphs, Maps, and Timeline

A great way to visually display facts and information about the story and topic. Using a timeline helps students connect the events of history and see the "big picture".

Timeline

Bibliography

A page with references and sources used.

Bibliography

Activities

This section may include crafts, experiments, recipes, and building ideas for the reader. Teachers and parents always appreciate these extended activities to build critical thinkers.

Epilogue
When considering an epilogue, ask this question: 
1. Is there anything else left to be said?
For additional information read this blog post by Hannah Gordon for more questions and information.

Afterword or Note from the Author

Additional facts and information.

Many picture books include Resources for further learning. Listed are my additional suggestions for more information.

Melissa Stewart Celebrate Science, Behind the Books: Three Melissas and Nonfiction Text Features.

Michelle J. Kelley and Nicki Clausen-Grace Reading Rockets, Guiding Students Through Expository Text with Text Feature Walks.

Valerie Peterson asks "What are the parts of a printed book?" Read her thoughts on this blog: The Parts of a Book.

From front matter to back matter, a writer chooses the parts of a book to best convey the message of the story and the facts of the main text. These elements are some of the basic parts of a published book. While you won't include every single element described, you may want to consider including those that enhance your story.

Cover to Cover, Part I ~By Suzy Leopold

Can you name and identify the numerous parts of a picture book? I bet you’re thinking, “Of course I can.” 

Writers are readers and readers are writers. It’s a reciprocal process. Therefore, many writers know the importance of being a critical reader when reading picture books as mentor texts. Reading and analyzing currently published picture books includes examining what works for the book and why it is successful.

Studying and recognizing the various parts of a picture book and knowing picture book terminology can help to inform your writing, too. It’s useful to know the terminology used for publication. What parts of a book are included in a published book? Understanding the purpose for the creation and construction of a book can make you a stronger writer. 

While picture book parts vary widely based on the genre, the age of the audience, and the subject matter, they all share several common features of a book. Some have more parts than others.

Let’s see how many parts of a published book you are familiar with. You are sure to recognize many.

back cover
MAMA BUILT A LITTLE NEST
by Jennifer Ward

Let’s begin with the cover—This is the part that everyone recognizes and sees first. Often children and adults, too, look at the cover to determine if its a book of interest and “Judge a book by its cover.” Dig deeper and go beyond the cover. Don't forget to look at the back cover.

front cover
MAMA BUILT A LITTLE NEST
by Jennifer Ward

Most hardcover children’s books come with a book jacket or dust cover to protect a book, making it durable. Open a book to find the book jacket folds into a flap wrapping around the inside of the cover. The front flap shares a brief summary of the book along with superlatives. Biographical information about the author and illustrator are noted on the back flap.

Tom B. at Building a Library is not quite certain about the purpose of book jackets. He asks, “What exactly is the value of dust jackets on kids’ books?” Even his daughter has an opinion and always demands, “Take the wrapper off, Daddy! I don’t like the wrapper!” You can read more in this this post.

Slow down and look at the front matter because “front matter matters,”  

Megan Down Lambert

Open the cover of a picture book and you’ll note endpapers. These are found after the final pages, too. Most often endpapers are left blank. The color may compliment the cover. Some endpapers are illustrated and add to a story. These endpapers may contain additional information, drawings, diagrams, and maps. Sometimes a story begins here and ends here. 

end papers and book jacket flap
MAMA BUILT A LITTLE NEST
by Jennifer Ward

For more information about Jennifer Ward and the books she's written, read a previous post here that I wrote.

More Front Matter  . . . 

Title page--Title, author, illustrator, and publisher are located here. Most often the title page is included in the front matter. Some publishing companies indicate this information in the Back Matter [more on this in a second post].

1. Dedication page--A special message written by the author and illustrator. This is usually a message of gratitude or dedication written to a loved one, family member, or a mentor who supported the creation of the book. Along with a name, the author and illustrator may include a reason why the book is dedicated to this individual.

Copyright page--This page features copyright and publication information--the publisher and year of publication. The Library of Congress cataloging data is included. Sometimes the copyright information is located in the Back matter.

Table of contents--Many nonfiction books include a table of contents listing chapter titles and page numbers.

Table of Contents
READING PICTURE BOOKS WITH CHILDREN
by Megan Dowd Lambert

Preface--A preface may include an author and illustrator's note about the creation. Sometimes a note to parents indicates the content of the book supporting the parents decision to select the title for their child.

Foreword--A forward is a brief introduction usually written by an expert in the field supporting the content of the author's facts and information. The forward gives credibility to the author. The message supports the writer and publisher during the level of marketing and shares a "stamp of approval".

Introduction--An introduction explains why the book was written. It is an opportunity to grab the reader's attention. It may be written by the author or another individual.

Keep in mind, not all picture books include all of these elements.

Now onto the book proper . . . 

Leaves--pages of a book

1. Verso is the left hand page.

2. Recto is the right hand page.

Verso
READING PICTURE BOOKS WITH CHILDREN
by Megan Dowd Lambert

RectoREADING PICTURE BOOKS WITH CHILDREN
by Megan Dowd Lambert

Gatefolds--is an oversized page that is folded into a book. It is typically located in the center of the book and is often called a centerfold. The gatefold encourages the reader to unfold the page to find more information and artwork.

Gutter--The vertical seam between the recto and the verso pages that connects each page to the binding.

"The gutter helps the reader progress toward, 

or resist the pull of, the page turns."

Megan Dowd Lambert

Gutter
BOWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE?
by Eric Carle
READING PICTURE BOOKS WITH CHILDREN
by Megan Dowd Lambert

How did you do? Were you able to identify all parts of a book, most or some? Can you think of additional important parts of a picture book?

There are many more. This is a two part blog post. Look for Part II on June 6th when I'll share more picture book terminology, including the various parts of back matter.

Sources:

Lambert, Megan Dowd, READING PICTURE BOOKS WITH TO CHILDREN: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking About What They See, Charlesbridge Publishing, 2015.

For a SLJ post, read more about Megan Dowd Lambert in this interview.