by Srividhya Venkat

How many of you read every word in a picture book? I mean EVERY word.

All picture books have a story or main text. Some picture books have an additional section at the back of the book. This is the Back Matter – information that either elaborates on the subject of the book, or provides additional relevant content. This section offers a treasure trove of information, a.k.a. ideas for potential future projects.

Back matter exists in all kinds of picture books, fiction and non-fiction, though it is more prevalent in the latter. It may include one or more of the following:

  • Author’s Note: a note from the author(s) about their personal connection with the subject and why they wrote the book.
  • Illustrator’s Note: a note from the illustrator(s) about their personal connection with the subject and why they illustrated the book.
  • Bibliography: a list of works referenced by the author to create the book.
  • Timeline: a chronological arrangement of events related to the subject of the book.
  • Glossary: a list of unusual words with their meanings
  • Further Reading: a list of books, videos, or other links that allow readers to learn more about the subject or related topics.
  • Maps, Activities (such as word games, puzzles, recipes), and Photographs: all related to the subject of the book.

So how does all this help Storystormers?

Let me explain… When I started out on my publishing journey over ten years ago, I was unmindful of the importance of the back matter in picture books. I studied picture books, but I was focused entirely on the main text. However, by 2020, things changed. Like many of us, I tried to find positivity and solace by reading and writing. A few of my fictional stories had been published and I was beginning to explore writing non-fiction, particularly picture book biographies. After attending a couple of webinars on writing this genre, I began to study picture book biographies, particularly observing elements such as hook, voice, lyricism, and emotional thread. I also finally began studying… the back matter!

It was a good thing I did because the back matter in one of those picture books led me to the subject of my first non-fiction work!

The picture book biography, MALALA: Activist for Girls’ Education (by Raphaële Frier and Aurélia Fronty, published by Charlesbridge), has an extensive back matter – timeline, information about Pakistan (Mala’s home country), background on girls’ education in Pakistan and the world, a note on leaders who inspired Malala, relevant quotes by Malala, and plenty of photographs. But one photograph in particular caught my eye!

It was the photo of Malala standing beside a man I didn’t recognize. The description read, “The crowd cheers for Nobel Peace Prize winners Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian activist who fights against child labor, in Oslo, Norway, after the award ceremony.”

I was taken by surprise when I read the words, “…Kailash Satyarthi, an Indian activist who fights against child labor, ….” I knew Malala, but I had never heard of Kailash Satyarthi who, like me, was from India. Who was Kailash and why hadn’t I heard of him before?

My curiosity drove me to do a quick online search. It later blossomed into several months of intensive research about the incredible work of the stalwart human being named Kailash Satyarthi. I had embarked on a journey to write my first non-fiction picture book biography of the man who stood beside Malala in that photo!

Four years later in July 2024, SEEKER OF TRUTH: KAILASH SATYARTHI’S FIGHT TO END CHILD LABOR (Illustrated by Danica da Silva Pereira) was published by Little Bee Books.

This is a picture book biography about Kailash Satyarthi, a child rights activist and social reformer from India, who has rescued over 100,000 children from exploitation and empowered them to be future leaders.

He has also helped raise awareness about child labor around the world while advocating international laws against child slavery. Kailash’s extraordinary efforts were recognized in 2014 when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Malala Yousafzai.

So Storystormers, the next time you read a picture book, look at the back matter closely. Does the Author’s/Illustrator’s Note inspire any thought-provoking story ideas? Could the Further Reading or Bibliography sections lead you to interesting topics to explore? What if the accompanying photographs give you some leads into future projects (as with me!)? You never know where that nugget of an idea, which inspires your next project, resides.

Never turn your back on back matter!

I wish you the very best in your writing journey!

Srividhya Venkat is a children’s writer, mom, and former early childhood educator. She has published several picture books, including Seeker of Truth (a 2025 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award finalist), Girls on Wheels (2024 RISE: A Feminist Project Booklist), and Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps (2022 South Asia Book Award). Having grown up in India and lived across three countries, Srividhya loves stories that are unique, yet universal. You can learn more about her at SrividhyaVenkat.com and follow her on Instagram @srividhyavenkat and BlueSky @srividhyavenkat.bsky.social.

Srividhya Venkat is giving away a 30-minute AMA video call or virtual school visit, winner’s choice.

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.