Making a Book

Above: One of the many pages I filled with notes about lakes and ponds.

Researching and Taking Notes

"After I decide what the topic of my story will be, I need to learn all about it. That's because I write books about science. If I was writing fictional stories about talking snails who go to the beach, I wouldn't have to do all this extra homework. But teachers sometimes use my books in their classrooms when they are studying the rainforest or the ocean, so my facts have to be correct. I don't want to have a bunch of students in Nebraska thinking that iguanas can fly just because I didn't bother to check up on the facts.

First, I read about the ecosystem I will be covering in my book. This is especially important if I am not very familiar with the subject. Next, I learn about each animal and plant that will be included in the book. I make a database on my computer where I store all these facts. Then it is easy to refer to it when I am writing the manuscript. Usually I try to read a mixture of thick science books, nature guides, and children's picture books on the topic of my new book."

~Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini, author/illustrator