by Stef Wade

As a grown woman, I’m proud to say I’m a teacher’s pet. This was not the case as a young student, as seen by the multiple “tends to socialize and distract” comments on my old report cards. But I’ve changed my ways (for the most part). I turned the tables and owe it all to what I call…sneaky learning!

When my first picture book, A PLACE FOR PLUTO, illustrated by Melanie Demmer, debuted in 2018, it was the stardust that started my love for turning fact into fiction. What began as a story about Pluto being sad he wasn’t a planet anymore, ended up a multi-layered manuscript of friendship, belonging and a whole bunch of space facts.

Did you spot the fun facts woven in here?

I’ve applied similar tactics to all my books, including my last release, EVERY DAY’S A HOLIDAY, illustrated by Husna Aghniya, which I’m proud to say, was a product of Storystorm! In this story, I yearned to teach readers about the wild, silly, and serious holidays here in the U.S. I ended up using the “merge two stories” technique and paired it with a young girl who couldn’t wait for her birthday and bam! EVERY DAY’S A HOLIDAY was born.

 

I try not to smack my readers over the head with the learning stick. Instead, I work to create funny, relatable, and likable characters to love, that just so happen to teach readers something interesting during the story.

I call my work Teacher’s Pet Fiction (the teachers love adding these stories into their curriculum!), but it has become better known as Informational Fiction and I want you to try it out today!

You ready?

Step 1: Brainstorm a fact or subject that your reader might want to learn. This can be broad like space or very specific like butterflies taste with their feet. Pick something that is interesting to your reader, but more importantly, interesting to you! Think, read, Google, ask a kid what they learned in class today – anything to get the ideas flowing.

Step 2: Research your idea. Find as many facts about this idea as possible. Write the facts down, bookmark them on your phone or computer, highlight them in a book. Remember these facts can help create your characters and your story.

Step 3: Word bank as many words as you can. Think of all the words associated with your facts. Make a list. How many of these can you incorporate into a story? Which ones must be included and which are extra?

Step 4: Create a story. We may still be in the brainstorming phase during Storystorm, but as I tell all my students during visits, an idea isn’t a story. An idea blossoms into a story. Let’s take it a little further than the idea. Can you find a problem for your main character to solve? Maybe your butterfly’s feet are so stinky that nothing tastes good! How can your facts be woven into your problem?

Even if informational fiction isn’t your jam, I hope this exercise sparks some stardust in you!

Reach for the stars…and Happy National Peanut Butter Day!

Stef Wade is the award-winning author of A PLACE FOR PLUTO, THE VERY LAST LEAF, Q & U CALL IT QUITS, MOVING TO MARS and EVERY DAY’S A HOLIDAY. She’s the recipient of the 2019 LITA Golden Duck Notable Picture Book Award, honorable mention for the Tofte/Wright Children’s Literacy Award as well as a nominee and runner-up for multiple state book awards. Stef lives out her dream every day—writing books and presenting to children across the country to share learning, love, and laughter. Stay tuned for exciting book news for 2026! You can visit her on her website at StefWade.com and Instagram: @stef.wade.

Stef Wade is giving away 2 signed copies of EVERY DAY’S A HOLIDAY and one picture book manuscript critique to three separate winners.

You’re eligible to win if you’re a registered Storystorm 2025 participant and you have commented only once below.

Prizes will be distributed at the conclusion of Storystorm.