WRITING A NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK: LEARNING THE RULES

By Rebecca E. Hirsch 

Writing a nonfiction picture book is fun, but tricky. It's tricky because picture books follow
peculiar rules.

 
Many beginning writers don't understand these rules. They think that because picture books are easy to read, they must be easy to write.
 
Wrong.
 
In truth, knowing the rules is necessary for writing any kind of nonfiction book. But it's particularly important for picture books.
 
There are rules for writing an opening line, creating a narrative arc, and crafting a satisfying ending. There are rules for how to let an illustrator tell half the story.
 
It was only after I began to not only read, but seriously study, picture books that I began to understand these rules.
 
Eventually, with plenty of study—and plenty of writing practice—I could put these rules into practice. And then my ability to write nonfiction picture books took off.
 
For more than a decade now, I have undertaken a yearly intensive study of picture books. This regular study is vital if I want to keep writing picture books. Here's how I do it.
 
Step one: Keep track
 
Every year, I set a goal to study 100 picture books. I buy a 3-ring binder and fill it with blank lined paper. This becomes Command Central for my picture book study.
 
You might prefer to use a blank notebook, or a spreadsheet, or a Microsoft Word document, or a Scrivener file. Whatever works.
 
Step two: Collect books
 
I head to the library. Sometimes I browse the shelves for nonfiction picture books that look interesting. Other times I bring along a list of picture books that have won a particular award. (Whenever I come across a list of recommended books that I'd like to check out, I print the list and add it to my binder.)
 
I mostly choose expository science and nature nonfiction, because that's what I write. And mostly I choose books published in the last five years.
 
But I do include older books, some of which are gems. Reading older books deepens my understanding of what makes a book stand the test of time.
 
Sometimes I include a fiction book with a nature theme. Or maybe a historical nonfiction book that's been winning a lot of awards.
 
Sometimes I'm studying a particular author, so I'll pull every book of theirs I can find.
 
Step three: Read
 
At home, I pour myself a cup of coffee or tea. I settle into a comfy chair, select a book from my stack, and read. Slowly. Out loud. (My dog is a good listener.)
 
When I finish the book, I open my binder and write the date. Then I write the title, author, publisher, and publication year of the book I just read. This becomes a running list of the year's books.
 
Step four: Analyze
 
Next, I dig into the book critically. Sometimes I simply write a one-paragraph summary of the book, noting strengths and weaknesses and why I think an editor bought this book.
 
But I find worksheets to be even more helpful. A worksheet helps me focus on specific areas of writing craft, like how to write a compelling first page. Here is a worksheet I like. 

PB WORKSHEET

 
Step four: Copy
 
When I come across a book that I utterly adore, I type it word for word, in manuscript form.
 
Typing the book helps me see how the manuscript looked when an acquiring editor saw it for the first time. I notice things like:
 
• How many words are on each page? Does this change throughout the book?
• How does the author use line breaks?
• How does the author use page turns?
• Does the author repeat lines? If so, where and how often do those repeated lines appear?
• How much of the story did the author tell versus the illustrator?
 
I print out the typed manuscript and add it to my binder. As those typed manuscripts pile up, I can see the kinds of stories, and the styles of writing, I'm drawn to.
 
Those typed manuscripts, along with my running book list, become sources of future mentor texts. They become models I can turn to when I'm struggling to write my own stories.
 
Analyzing books this way is slow. It might take me a month to work through my stack of books.
 
Step five: Repeat
 
When I've gotten to the bottom of my stack, I grab my binder and return to the library to check out another stack of books.
 
Give it a try. Decide how you will keep track of what you're reading. Go to the library, pick out books, read them, study them.
 
Once you've analyzed a few books, pull out one of your works–in–progress. Can you identify ways to revise it using some of the rules you are learning?
 
 

About the Author:
 
Rebecca E. Hirsch writes science and nature books for children of all ages. Her books have received numerous starred reviews and Junior Library Guild designations. Her picture books include PLANTS CAN'T SIT STILL  and RISE TO THE SKY, both illustrated by Mia Posada; and NIGHT CREATURES, illustrated by Sonia Possentini. She has more picture books on the way, including WONDER WINGS: GUESS WHO'S FLYING, illustrated by Sally Soweol Han, forthcoming in 2025. She offers resources for children's writers at https://rebeccahirsch.com/writers.