Ep. 21 What Belongs in Back Matter? A Nonfiction Author Breaks It Down

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 #ChildrensBooks #NonfictionWriting #WritingCraft #KidLitCommunity #BookWriting #WritingTips #NonfictionPictureBooks #AnnetteWhipple #KirstenWLarson

0:00 Introduction: What Is Back Matter?

1:11 Meet Annette Whipple, Queen of Back Matter

2:08 The Real Job of Back Matter in Nonfiction Picture Books

3:08 How Annette's Thinking About Back Matter Has Evolved

3:53 Who Is Back Matter Really For? (Kids, Teachers & Parents) 5:21 A Deep Dive into Flick: The Truth About Lizards

6:20 Scaly Superstars: Featuring 12 Lizard Species

7:00 The Terrific Tongue Test: Adding STEM Activities

9:43 Planning Back Matter During Drafting (Not After)

11:07 Annette's Writing Hack: Saving Deleted Content for Back Matter

13:00 Sponsored Message: Reimagine Insiders Community

13:00 Collaborating with Editors on Back Matter Decisions

15:32 How Annette's Back Matter Created a Full-Size Foldout Poster

18:22 Classroom Connections: How Back Matter Extends Lessons 19:44 Thinking Cross-Curricular: STEM, SEL, and More

23:12 Why Strong Back Matter Makes Your Book More Marketable

27:53 Common Back Matter Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

29:26 Annette's Checklist: Questions to Evaluate Your Back Matter

31:36 The Big Poster Reveal! Hardcover Foldout Explained

33:20 What's Next for Annette Whipple

34:02 Wrap-Up and Call to Action