by Keila Dawson
I was stuck, like gum in my hair, kite in a tree, bumper to
bumper traffic stuck.
The opening to a narrative nonfiction picture book biography
I wrote lacked something.
So I turned to mentor texts for help. I read a dozen picture
book narrative nonfiction biographies and paid special attention to the beginnings.
While reading the opening, I kept in mind advice from Oscar
winning screenwriter Michael
Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine,
& Toy Story 3) in his Pixar video about beginnings. “Usually what you do when you’re introducing
your main character is that you show them doing what they love most. But then
your character needs one more thing. He needs a flaw. Now what’s key here is
that the character’s flaw actually comes out of her grand passion.”
The mentor texts below show how Arndt’s advice is applied to picture books. The main character is introduced,
the author shows what they loved…but… The character flaw in picture books is typically something the main character wants and whatever that is, it won't be easy to get. In this hero journey structure, the opening introduces
the story. That said, illustrations also play a large role because they do a lot of the heavy lifting. Titles too.
After reading each beginning I learned who the story was about, their conflict or something unique about the character that made me wonder. I wanted to turn the page to find
out what happens next. Did the character get to do what they loved? How? Even though readers know the main characters in picture books do typically get what they want in the end, writers must hook them in the beginning. And that starts with writing a stellar opening.
Character & Setting
Well, of course I am partial to
stories set in New Orleans. This beginning sets the tone not only about Mahalia, the main character, but draws us into her physical world. The lyrical language
is lovely. Musical.
Mahalia Jackson: Walking with Kings and Queens, written by Nina Nolan, Illustrated by John Holyfield. Amistad
People might say
little Mahalia Jackson was born with nothing, but she had something all right.
A voice that was bigger than she was.
It was New Orleans,
and music was everywhere. Blues spilling through windows. Jazz pouring out
doors.
But it was gospel that
Mahalia loved.
Character &
Conflict with Society/Others
Early in the story we learn Tie Sing wants to fit in to the
country he loves, but the society is filled with prejudice. The reader is
rooting for him from the start.
Mountain Chef – How One Man Lost His Groceries, Changed His Plans, and Helped Cook Up the National Park Service, written by Annette May Pimentel, illustrated by Rich
Lo. Charlesbridge Publishing
Tie Sing was a
frontier baby, born high in the mountains in Virginia City, Nevada. Growing up,
he breathed crisp Sierra air and scuffed through sagebrush. He learned to write
in both English and Chinese.
America was a tough place to be Chinese.
Bosses paid Chinese workers less than white workers. Townsfolk spit out Chinese
names like they’d swallowed river gravel. [text
cont.]
Character and Conflict with Self
On the first page we learn
a lot about Sandow, including who he became is not who he was at one time
in his life. How did he change?
Strong as Sandow: How Eugen Sandow Became the Strongest Man on Earth, written & illustrated
by Don Tate. Charlesbridge Publishing
In his day Eugen
Sandow was known as “the Strongest Man on Earth.” He could break metal chains
by expanding his broad chest. He could hoist a grand piano over his head. He
boasted that he once wrestled a five-hundred-pound lion.
No doubt Eugen Sandow
was the strongest of all strongmen.
But he wasn’t always
strong.
Character & Conflict with Circumstances/Situation
Here, the reader feels William’s
dreams will lead to something big despite his living conditions.
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, written by Kamkwanda and Bryan Mealer, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. Dial
Books for Young Readers/
In a small village in Malawi, where people had no money for
lights, nightfall came quickly and hurried poor farmers to bed. But for William,
the darkness was best for dreaming.
Now, about that ending...
Great post, Keila! I love studying pb biographies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tina! So much learned from these great books.
DeleteI especially appreciated the way you classified these PB bio openings. This is post I'll refer to again. TY, Keila.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Kathy. So glad it's helpful. :)
DeleteExcellent post! Thanks, Keila!
ReplyDeleteWelcome!
DeleteKeila, I LOVE this post! Thanks for a great reminder about beginnings and how to write great ones.
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks Kirsti!
DeleteThis is a fantatastic post! Thank you so much for showing (and providing great examples) us about beginnings! I shall be looking and waiting for the endings post. :)
ReplyDeleteHaha!
DeleteThank you for sharing this very insightful post.
ReplyDeleteWelcome!
DeleteGreat examples! Thank you Keila ❤️
ReplyDeleteGreat books!
DeleteIt is so helpful to classify the types of conflicts we see in different PB bios. I will be bookmarking this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a compliment!
DeleteWow! What a fantastic post. It has me rethinking some of my current WIPs. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteHappy it was helpful Debra. :)
DeleteThanks, Keila! You've just cracked a story open for me. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteWell nah...that's exciting! YAY!
DeleteThank you, Keila :) Your examples are gold!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteThese are some wonderful examples.
ReplyDeleteThanks David. Great mentor text are so helpful.
DeleteThis was excellent! Many thanks - struggling right now for a beginning.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you get unstuck soon Linda.
DeleteThis is extremely helpful. Thanks for your post, Keila!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Allison. :)
DeleteWhat a great way to "show not tell" us about great beginnings. I'm sure I read this many times over.
ReplyDeleteHi Angela! Happy you enjoyed it.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks to you posting this I rewrote my opening. It's much better. Thanks, Keila. Loved the examples.
ReplyDeleteSo happy it helped Kaye!
DeleteThanks for including Mountain Chef in such great company!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Annette. Stellar mentor text all around!
DeleteThanks for this awesome post, Keila. The beginnings are so fabulous! Great choice of texts to share.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Carol. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteYou are quite the teacher. Such a detail resource you've given us. The manner in which you illustrated in your outline of openings, how critical the purposeful use of the right words to engage a reader can and must be in NF. Sooooo, will there be a post on endings? haha
ReplyDelete