Episode
Ep. 21 What Belongs in Back Matter? A Nonfiction Author Breaks It Down
- Published
- Apr 3, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2072
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Summary
What if the back pages of your nonfiction book could transform a curious reader into a lifelong learner — and make your manuscript more attractive to publishers at the same time? In this episode, host Kirsten W. Larson sits down with award-winning children's nonfiction author Annette Whipple — author of nearly 40 books including Flick: The Truth About Lizards — to explore the craft and strategy behind back matter in nonfiction picture books. Whether you're a debut author wondering what to put after "The End," or a seasoned writer looking to level up your submissions, this conversation is packed with actionable ideas for making your back matter work harder for readers, educators, AND publishers. 🦎 What You'll Learn: • What back matter actually is — and why it matters more than most writers think • How back matter can function as the "rest of the meal" after your main text appetizer • Why Annette includes STEM activities (like a lizard tongue challenge!) in her books • How to plan back matter DURING drafting, not as an afterthought • Annette's genius trick: saving cut content in a separate document for potential back matter • The surprising way Annette's back matter inspired a full-size foldout poster in her hardcover editions • Common back matter mistakes — and how to avoid them • How strong back matter makes your book more marketable to editors • The difference between back matter and a teacher's guide — and why you need both 📚 Books Mentioned: • Flick: The Truth About Lizards by Annette Whipple • Who Knew? The Truth About Owls by Annette Whipple • The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion by Annette Whipple • Fire of the Stars by Kirsten W. Larson • Wood, Wire, Wings by Kirsten W. Larson ⏱ Chapters below ↓ #NonfictionKidLit #WritingForKids #PictureBooks #KidLit #BackMatter #…