Montana Book Festival 2019

These days nonfiction for young readers has become increasingly important in schools, homes, and in public discourse. The question then arises—how does an author write differently for a young audience than for an adult audience? If you are an expert on a subject, how can you simplify and condense the information while making it intriguing and inviting to young readers?
As the author of many books for readers of all ages, Dorothy has lots of experience in this process, including sometimes writing about the same subject matter for different age levels. She will discuss her experiences over time with interesting examples of some of her struggles in the process.
Doug Emlen has written an award-winning book for adults on animal weapons, and his book on the same subject for young readers 8-12 will be published late this year. He will discuss how he and his editor worked to frame his topic effectively for children.
Beverly Chin is Chair of the English Department at UM, and specializes in teaching literature for young readers, including nonfiction. She provides feedback to teachers, librarians, and students and can speak about how she evaluates the books.
After we have given our takes on the subject, we'll open the floor for questions.
This panel is of interest to a wide audience--teachers, librarians, parents, and authors can learn from hearing about the experiences and perspectives of the panelists.