Writing books can be dirty work. At least, it is when you are April Pulley Sayre and Anthony Fredericks. Both of these authors write books for young people who are curious about the natural world. And both authors believe in going out, getting muddy, and getting close to your subject!
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You probably have some ideas about your story now. Look at your field notes and the rest of your research. What in the world can you write about? For more information on April Pulley Sayre's books...
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The spadefoot toad is the focus of the story, so she is the main character. As the story progresses, we meet other characters such as a woodpecker, a scorpion, and a kangaroo rat. The desert is the...
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Here is an example of how April turned her facts and notes into a story... Dig, Wait, Listen: A Desert Toad's Tale begins with the line, "Deep in the desert, under the sand, the spadefoot toad waits...
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Have you answered your question? After April and Anthony are satisfied with their answers, they finally sit down to write. Like other stories, a story based on facts can have a main character, a...
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To answer your inquiry, you will have to find more information. Here are some ways to do more research. Visit the area you observed earlier and study it a little closer. Now that you have your...
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Now sit down in a quiet place and look over your notes. Do you have any questions? Your question can be based on any of your observations. Why did the butterfly go to one flower and not another? Why...
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What will you write in your field journal?
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These are some of the things authors and scientists who study the natural world do. You can do the same! Note the time, place and date of your field research. Observe the size, shape, color, texture...
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Look for an interesting spot to begin your research. It might be a place where you see lots of activity -- a pond, a garden, or a bunch of flowers, for example. Or it might be a place that needs to be...
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You may want to bring a magnifying glass and a ruler to help you study things up close and in detail.