How Much Nonfiction Do You Need?

Just walk in to doors of any school library (think elementary and middle school here--only because that's my focus in these posts) and you'll find rows and rows of nonfiction books. Most libraries use the Dewey Classification System. You'll find nonfiction books on everything you can think of arranged by Dewey classification numbers.

But how much nonfiction do you need? The figures below represent the percentage of books recommended in each range based on an elementary school with about 500 students.

Dewey	Elementary	#      Books
000 Generalities	1%	90
100 Philosophy and psychology	1%	90
200 Religion	1%	90
300 Social sciences	5%	450
398.2 Folk Tales and Fairy Tales	6%	540
400 Language	1%	90
500 Natural sciences and mathematics	10%	900
600 Technology (Applied sciences)	7%	630
700 The arts Fine and decorative arts	6%	540
800 Literature and rhetoric	4%	360
900 Geography and history	6%	540
920-921 Biographies	4%	360
[REF] Reference	2%	180
[E] Easy Fiction 22% 1,980 [F] Fiction 24% 2,160 Fiction rounds out the list.for a total of about 9,000 books.

Over half the library should be nonfiction. This fits with the new Common Core Standards that will require 50% of all elementary reading be nonfiction.

In middle school, the recommended percentage of nonfiction jumps to 80%. Common Core standards require 75% of all reading in middle and high school be nonfiction.

The following table is from a middle school of about 700 students. It gives you an idea of the proportions media specialists work toward.

Dewey	Middle	# Books
[F] Fiction	20%	1,400
000 Generalities	2%	140
100 Philosophy & psychology	2%	140
200 Religion	1%	70
300 Social sciences	10%	700
400 Language	1%	70
500 Natural sciences & mathematics	12%	840
600 Technology (Applied sciences)	10%	700
700 The arts Fine and decorative arts	11%	770
800 Literature & rhetoric	3%	210
900 Geography & history	13%	910
920-921 Biographies	11%	770
[REF] Reference	4%	280
		7,000

If you're a writer in the educational market, this should give you food for thought.

Traveling with my Daddy

This past weekend I spoke to a group of children's writers in Cumming, Ga. The library is about half way between Atlanta and the north Georgia mountains, on Settingdown Road. My dad rode up with me, and since we didn't really know where we were going, we arrived early. I commented that I knew whoever named that road didn't pronounce it Settingdown Road. We drove around a bit thinking we might find a cup of coffee. Instead we found a yard sale, and I bought a bicycle for my grandson. My dad laughed and said we drove 200 miles to go to a yardsale and buy an $8 bike. But you always need an adventure, right?

On the way back, we passed a church named Settendown Road Church. Aha! I knew it. This is the South, after all.

My daddy is a funny man. I remember hearing his laughter often when I was growing up. He laughed with friends, with family, with strangers. He was always pulling practical jokes on my very gullible aunt. He can make you sit on the edge of your seat for the punch line to a joke you've heard a hundred times. The funniest things come out of his mouth. You just never know when to expect them.

Once at the end of a day, I asked if he was tired.
      "I sure am," he said. "I've been up and down those stairs so many times today, if they'd been sandpaper, my legs would be worn off down to my knees." And he never even cracked a smile, until I nearly fell off the sofa laughing.

We spent the rest of the weekend with my brother and his wife is Hiawassee. They were having a biker's convention at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds. The place was already pretty crowded by Saturday. Driving home to Columbus, we passed hundreds of bikers going north. To Hiawassee? My daddy said,
"There won't be a stick of ground big enough to park a motorcycle on when all these folks get up there. One of those farmers could make some money if he rented out his cow pasture."

At the GA 400, we figured about 25 people every ten seconds passed through the toll plaza, on a Sunday afternoon. That comes out to a lot of money. I'm thinking about who gets the money, who distributes it, and what do they do with it.

My daddy says, "You reckon where that money goes that people throw in those baskets. There's got to be a big hole in the ground to hold all those quarters. You'd have to have a dump truck to haul it all off. I'm glad I don't have to collect it at the end of the day."

Where do those quarters go?

 I love traveling with my daddy. So here's a poem I wrote for him.

The Mechanics of Sound

Sitting on the fender, I watched him

beneath the hood of his pickup truck.

Dissatisfied with the hum, he’d tinker,

searching for a recurring motif,

precise rhythms hidden in the pistons,

smooth clicks, pitched

counterpoint to the road-ready purr.

Then he’d sit me in his lap to race

Mr. Tom’s mule down the fence-row.

I’d smile and wave while I victory-lapped

around Johnson’s pond to the highway.

Then I’d slide off his leg, lean

against his shoulder, and keep time

to his whistling tune.

         --Doraine Bennett


Irene is hosting the roundup over at Live Your Poem.

What You Might Write for an Educational Publisher

As I said in the previous post, educational publishing runs the gamut from board books to college texts. Below you'll find a list of types of writing you might do at the very lowest levels in this market, with suggestions of a few publishers who market each type of product. The list is not exhaustive, but it should give you a starting point for finding materials and publishers that you might want to explore.


Board Books - Rourke, PowerKids, DK

• There has been a push for nonfiction board books in the last couple of years, especially with the Common Core Standards moving much of in-school reading to nonfiction texts. Nonfiction board books give even the youngest readers an introduction to informational reading. Take a look at Rourke's nonfiction board books, and their Little Birdie Board Books. 

Leveled Readers - Red Rocket Readers, Teacher Created Materials, Bellwether 

Many educational publishers have a line of leveled readers. A true leveled reader collection contains lots of books that allow readers to progress incrementally in their journey toward fluency. The goal of any leveled reader program is to develop word recognition, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency.   Look at Red Rocket Readers designed by Pam Holden, 30-year Reading Recovery teacher. These are out of New Zealand. Also see TCM's Time for Kids Readers. Rigby from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is also a big name in leveled readers. 

Bellwether books are similar in feel to leveled readers, but they are produced for the library market in library bound editions. 

Early Nonfiction - Heinemann (Acorn), Capstone (Pebble, Pebble Plus), ABDO (Sandcastle) 

You'll find many choices for early nonfiction among the educational publishers. The larger publishers have imprints that identify their early nonfiction.

Next week we'll look at some of the more traditional nonfiction publishers for elementary students.

Writing for the Educational Market

On Saturday, I presented at a workshop on Writing for the Educational Market at the Hampton Parks Library in Cumming, Ga. As usual, I never thought about photos.

This is from the library's website.

Heather Kolich, Southern Breeze local liason, set the meeting up and got the word out. I had a great time talking to this group of children's writers, all interested in writing for the educational market. They asked questions and participated and were just an all-around blast to interact with. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

My goal is to begin posting some notes on my experience in this market once or twice a week. In my day job, I'm a sales representative for Delaney Educational Enterprises. I spend two to four days a week in schools talking with media specialists and literacy coaches about their needs. I attend two conferences a year where publishers come and talk about their company and their new spring and fall line up of books.  Sometimes it's a publisher rep who presents this information, but sometimes it's the owner or editor of the company. There are anywhere from 30 to 50 Delaney reps in attendance and usually about 15 publishers--a small setting where conversation and mingling is encouraged. I get a chance to pick a lots of brains. So I have a perspective that is somewhat unusual for a children's writer.

I hope you'll come along for the ride. Feel free to ask questions. I'll answer everything that I can.


What is the Educational Market?


Writing for the educational market spans everything from alphabet books to college texts. It includes
flash cards, educational puzzles and games, subject related magazines for students, Weekly newspapers for students, testing materials, materials for teachers and librarians, education films, text books, and leveled readers.

It includes fiction, as well as the standard nonfiction most of us think of when we say "the educational market."

Anything and everything written or designed for use to help educate students. For our purposes, I’m limiting the discussion to materials written specifically to meet the needs of teachers and students in the elementary or middle school market. I will touch a bit on high school books for struggling readers, but those are written at lower reading levels, and are more in line with elementary/middle school guidelines.

These materials are sold directly into schools. You will rarely see them in a book store with the trade publishers, although there are a few who cross over--Lerner, Scholastic, Penguin, -- and Capstone recently announced a trade line. They are sold by a publisher’s sales rep or by what’s called a book distributer, commonly known in the industry as a book jobber. This is a company that represents multiple publishers. I am a sales rep for Delaney Educational Enterprises, and we deal with over 150 publishers. I also have access to trade publishers through Ingram's iPage.

 Why write for the Educational Market? 

Nancy I. Sanders in her book, Yes! You Can Learn How to Write Children’s Books, Get them Published and Build a Successful Writing Career, talks about the reasons we write. We write because we love it, because we want to see our name in print, and because we want to make money. So often we try to make one manuscript fill all those desires. Nancy offers some excellent hints on how to divide your writing time and energy. My novel took years to complete, and it still has no home, but I wrote it because I loved the story. I have short articles published in both children’s and adult magazines, most of them didn’t pay much money, but my name is on them. The place I have made money, while waiting for the novel project to see the light of day (or die quietly), is in the educational market. 

If you know you're a fiction writer and that all you ever want to do, that's fine. You just have to realize that it may be years before you see your name in print or deposit a check in your account.

Most projects in this market are work-for-hire. The writer is paid a flat fee for the manuscript, no royalties. The publisher retains the copyright on the book. Most projects are nonfiction, but not all. It’s still hard work. You are still expected to develop your craft. You often have short deadlines, and you’d better be able to meet them or you won’t have work the next time assignments are passed out. 

Can you earn a living at it? I wouldn't give up your day job, but if you work at it, you can earn decent money here. I have one friend who put her son through college with work for hire projects. It's less competitive than the trade market and offers a way to get published work onto your resume. You're always learning something new. 

Is it worth it? Absolutely. 

I hope I can help you find your way into this arena in the children's publishing world. 

Sonnets in the Strangest Places

This crossed my facebook page this week from a friend and professor Cornell University and I thought I'd share. I'm not very active on Twitter, just haven't found a way to factor it into my schedule. But Tweets in iambic pentameter? That's something worth checking out. Here's the article on Weird Internets. Here's the rotating collection of fourteen twitter sonnets at Pentametron.





Pentametron uses an algorithm to find and retweet rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter.

And here's a sample:

Pentametron
With algorithms subtle and discrete
I seek iambic writings to retweet.

Im never going finish this essay!

i had the best mcdonalds tea today .

Done with the social networks for tonight

But hey, whatever happens, happens right?

Still gotta pay the consequences though.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall with the bro :)

To think the Rockets drafted Rudy Gay... ��

I wish the weekend had a extra day

Your just an angel with a broken wing.

Wow. This exploded from the smallest thing.

Feels like a roller coaster everyday

Tá super legal o panico k

We're drifting slow into the so unknown

I hope Dakota didn't break a bone.

Happy Poetry Friday! Elaine hosts the round up at Wild Rose Reader.

Kitchen Appliances for Writers

I'm an experimental cook. Meaning I wait until the last minute because I'm caught up in some writing project and completely forget it's time to eat, and then I go in search of something to throw together. So most meals are experiments in creativity. Isn't that what writers do?

I have an old stove. 

For an old one, it's still reliable and mostly accurate. I use it to cook eggs for breakfast, store pots and pans (lots of storage in this thing), and occasionally cook pasta. Sometimes I'll stir fry. Every now and again, I'll roast potatoes or veggies in the oven. I cook most of my meat and many of my veggies on the gas grill outside. No cleanup. Just turn up the gas and turn on a timer. I have forgotten the time before and end up with no gas.

Recently I have added a couple of appliances that make my life so much easier. Bear with me. I know it's Poetry Friday and there is a poem coming.

This is my Ninja!

It is the most amazing blender ever invented. The motor sits on top. Absolutely no mess, no dials, just a punch button to make it go. The blades are super sharp, so be careful. Perfect for a smoothy snack. Or a smoothy lunch if that meal snuck up on you. The smaller bowl is additional, with it's own blades for chopping things.

My most recent addition is the cool rice cooker. I'd heard of rice cookers before. My daughter has one, but as I don't cook much rice, I never really thought much about one. A few weeks ago, my nephew, the one who keeps me organized and dressed fashionably, took me shopping. "You need a rice cooker," he said. So, we bought a rice cooker. I love it. I've looked at a couple of other since I bought this one, and I like mine the best of any I've seen. Rice cooks in the bottom while anything from fish to green beans or both, steams in the basket above it. Fantabulous! Now I can put dinner on before I sit down and start that project. I doesn't overcook or burn if I forget it. And I always have leftover rice for rice pudding. It's good for  breakfast. I throw the rice pudding together and let it cook while eating dinner. Cool it, stick it in the fridge, and pull it out for breakfast. East cold or reheat in the microwave. (That other appliance I'd find it hard to live without.)

So there you have it, my commercial on this Poetry Friday.

Now poetry. Rice Pudding poetry, of course.


Rice Pudding

by A.A. Milne

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She’s crying with all her might and main,
And she won’t eat her dinner—rice pudding again—
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
I’ve promised her dolls and a daisy-chain,
And a book about animals—all in vain—
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She’s perfectly well, and she hasn’t a pain;
But, look at her, now she’s beginning again!
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
I’ve promised her sweets and a ride in the train,
And I’ve begged her to stop for a bit and explain—
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She’s perfectly well, and she hasn’t a pain,
And it’s lovely rice pudding for dinner again!—
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

Tabatha Yeats hosts more Poetry Friday at The Opposite of Indifference. 

Never tried rice pudding? Here's a quick, easy recipe. I cut the sugar by half because I don't like it so sweet. I have used honey before, too. And my rice is usually not short grain. The long grain works just fine.

Honored

That's pretty much how I'm feeling today.

I had an email from Allan Wolf who said my post on The Watch that Ends the Night made him feel like a rock star. That's so cool. In my book, he is a rock star. I am honored by his pleasure.

Just being asked to be a guest at Jama's Poetry Potluck is amazing. When I look at the line up of poets, I can't help wondering how I managed to get on that list. Honored. That's how I feel.

Last night I received an award from Columbus State University, College of Letters and Science, as the 2012 Outstanding Alumni in the area of Humanities. I'm honored.

David Lenoue, Dean of the College of Letters and Science, Barbara Hunt, Chairman of the English Department, and me

When I think back on my return to school in 2000, I have so many good memories.

The paper I wrote on the Embryonic Development of a Lizard's Eye. It was for a technical writing class. My professor, Dr. Joe McCallus (who nominated me for the award), came around with slips of paper with general topics. My unlucky choice was biology. Then he assigned an audience. Mine was a ninth grade biology student. Okay. So I picked the lizard's eye, but the requirement was to take something complicated and write so that my audience would get it. Fun? As a matter of fact, it was.

The day Robert Pinsky, visiting poet, refused to answer my question because he assumed I couldn't possibly be a student (at my age! or maybe I just looked teacherly that day). I very graciously shut my mouth, but I still don't read much Pinsky.

Working with Dr. Nick Norwood, an excellent poet, and my first published poem in CSU's literary magazine, The Arden. Now that was something for my eyes to behold.

The wonderful, supportive faculty, some of whom are still good friends today.

There are many more, but that's enough for now.

I'm still feeling honored.