A Sandpiper Alights: Poetic Techniques In Natural History Books For Children

Authors of some of the best natural history writing for children employ poetry and poetic technique to convey scientific information. Through point-of-view, vivid imagery, metaphoric language, rhythm and pattern, they not only educate readers, but engage them more deeply in the narrative. These authors realize that scientific accuracy is important, but that it isn’t enough. So they take children up close to their subject matter, out onto the sand to feel the sea spray, to hear the whir of wings as a sandpiper alights. In other words, they encourage children to think like scientists.