Are you curious about how to make children’s nonfiction truly engaging for young readers? Or how to know when your manuscript has the “hook” it needs?
In a recent episode of Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations, I had the pleasure of talking with award-winning author Melissa Stewart (my idol!), who has written more than 200 science books for children. Melissa has also shaped the way we think about nonfiction through her Five Kinds of Nonfiction classification system and her advocacy for expository books.
We talked about everything from misconceptions about nonfiction to the role of heart and passion in our work. Melissa also shared behind-the-scenes details about her latest book, From BAM! to Burp!, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens, which follows a carbon atom across billions of years.
Here are the highlights from our conversation, along with direct links (click on the headers) so you can jump to the parts that interest you most.
📺 Watch the full interview here: Melissa Stewart: An Hour with Kirsten or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
The Five Kinds of Nonfiction
Melissa’s framework gives us a language for describing nonfiction beyond just “informational books.” She explains the five categories—traditional, browsable, narrative literature, expository literature, and active nonfiction—and how they differ.
- “Traditional nonfiction… has clear, informative language and covers a broad topic.” You can think of these as “all about” books.
- “Browsable books… let kids dip in and out, with luscious design and fun facts.” DK Eyewitness books were pioneers in this category.
- Narrative nonfiction tells a story or conveys an experience. Many picture picture book biographies fall into this category.
- “Expository literature has finely crafted text with rich verbs, strong voice, and beautiful illustrations.”
- Active nonfiction, Melissa notes, was born out of the maker movement. This are hands-on books like cookbooks and books for crocheting, coding, or conducting experiments.
Takeaway: Having clear categories helps teachers, librarians, and publishers connect the right books to the right kids.
How the Framework Is Changing Classrooms and Publishing
Teachers and librarians are embracing the system, using it in lessons and even hosting “book tastings” where kids can read samples of different types of nonfiction.
“Publishers are rethinking categories and increasingly blending elements,” Melissa said. Many expository or narrative books today often incorporate text features and visuals, much like browsable books. “We’re seeing creativity and innovation we hadn’t seen before.”
Takeaway: Nonfiction is becoming one of the most exciting, experimental corners of children’s publishing.
Breaking Misconceptions About Expository Nonfiction
Expository books often get overlooked in favor of narrative nonfiction, but Melissa points out that not all readers prefer stories. “Narrative nonfiction wins a lot of awards… but some kids gravitate toward facts and ideas. …There’s a continuum of reading preferences, and we need to serve both narrative and expository lovers.”
Takeaway: When we honor all reading styles, we create lifelong readers.
Heartfelt Nonfiction: Putting Yourself on the Page
Melissa emphasizes that nonfiction isn’t just facts—it’s deeply personal. Authors bring their lived experience, passions, and even vulnerabilities to their work. She captured this in the book she edited, Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep: 50 Award-Winning Children’s Book Authors Share the Secret of Engaging Writing. “Whatever it is you’re passionate about… that affects the lens you use to look at the world,” Melissa said, noting that often authors write about the same ideas and themes even when writing about different topics.
I shared that this is definitely true for me, as I almost always seem to write about underdogs, whether the topic is a woman in STEM, Wonder Woman, or an art curator during World War II.
Melissa shared a technique she uses with young children during writing workshops to help them find their lens. She tells them to do their research and then process the information in their body. “Put the information through your head and your heart,” she tells kids, to find their own unique lens.
Takeaway: Your perspective is what makes your nonfiction unique and compelling.
If There’s No Hook, There’s No Book
Hooks are essential, especially for expository nonfiction. Melissa calls them the expository equivalent of a through-line—a fresh, surprising lens that draws readers in. I shared my thoughts that the best hooks contain an element of surprise, a way of looking at things that the young reader has never mentioned before.
Melissa said the hook often is right there in the title, like Trout Are Made of Trees (April Pulley Sayre) or Melissa’s own Feathers Not Just for Flying.
Takeaway: A strong hook makes your book irresistible to readers, editors, and educators. First it draws them in; then the just have to keep reading.
Behind the Book: From BAM! to Burp!
Melissa’s newest book started with a question from a student: could an atom in our bodies once have been inside a dinosaur? That curiosity became the hook for a playful story about a carbon atom’s journey. In this instance, Melissa had the story’s hook right from the beginning. However, it often takes her years to arrive at the hook.
Compressing a story that covers billions of years into a picture book format was a challenge. Melissa also found she needed to turn the story into informational fiction, giving young readers a character, the carbon atom, they could follow. “We gave the carbon atom arms and a face—it’s informational fiction, and it works.”
Takeaway: You never know when your hook will come to you.
Trends, Tips, and What’s Next
Melissa sees innovation everywhere in nonfiction right now, even as the market tightens. Her advice for new writers: read widely, understand text structures, and know the rules before you bend them.
She also previewed her next book, Monarch and Morning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal, a creative collaboration blending poetry, sketches, journaling, and generous back matter.
Takeaway: Writers who bring passion, craft, and are willing to innovate can thrive even when the market is tough.
Final Thoughts
Melissa Stewart’s work reminds us that nonfiction can be as creative, emotional, and innovative as fiction. From finding your hook to honoring your passions, her advice is invaluable for anyone writing true stories for kids.
👉 Watch the full interview on YouTube: Ep. 15 with Melissa Stewart or listen wherever you get your podcasts
👉 Explore Melissa’s books and resources: melissa-stewart.com
