5 Pro-tips on Back Matter
by Kim Tomsic
What is Back Matter:
Readers love back matter (so do
editors)! Back matter is the information you find after the final page of the
story (after "the end"). It’s something that teachers often use as a
teacher's guide, and readers use when they are craving more information. Back
matter is most often found in nonfiction; however, you can find it in fiction
and concept books, too.
Why Have Back Matter:
You’ll likely find backmatter in nonfiction
picture books or picture books that are based on a true story, because it’s
impossible to pack all aspects of a true story into one picture book. Wise
authors know that it serves picture book readers best to focus on a key aspect
of the story experience rather than cover everything. The back matter is a space
for the additional gems and nuggets that didn’t have a proper spot in the storytelling.
Five pro-tips that might help you when consider including back matter:
1.
Back matter helps reviewers appreciate your story
on a deeper level. For example, if your story takes place on the continent of
Africa, you might include back matter to identify the country and/or uniqueness
of the region as well as its biome.
2.
Back matter is not part of your word count when
you submit.
3.
EasyBib is a wonderful website where you
can create a properly formatted running bibliography while writing a nonfiction
book.
4.
Back matter provides another reason for schools
and libraries to want your book. Teachers and librarians use back matter material
for additional activities and/or book displays.
5.
Some Examples of back matter that you might choose
to include:
o Glossaries Room for Everyone by Naaz Khan and Merce Lopez
o Author
note/artist note - see Watercress by Andrea
Wang and Jason Chin
o "More
About ___(subject matter) see Up in the Garden and Down inthe
Dirt by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal (check out the entire series - it's wonderful!)
o Afterword" Magic
Ramen by Andrea Wang and Kana Urbanowicz
o Timelines - see The
Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem by Colleen
Paeff and Nancy Carpenter. Based on my school visits and questions from
children, kids LOVE timelines!
o Recipes - see Cooler Than Lemonade by Harshita Jerath & Chloe Burgett
o Bibliography
- A Mind of Her Own: The Story of Mystery Writer
Agatha Christie by Robyn McGrath and Liz Wong
o List of personal interviews and site visits -The People's Painter:
How Ben Shahn Fought for Justice with Art by Cynthia Levinson and Evan Turk
o Further
reading suggestions Josephine by
Patricia Hruby Powell and Christian Robinson
o Pronunciation
guide Magic Ramen by Andrea Wang and Kana
Urbanowicz).
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