Huge thanks to Picture Book Builders for an opportunity to share THE PATRIOTS AND THE POX: GEORGE WASHINGTON’S BATTLE TO SAVE THE CONTINENTAL ARMY! Andrea invited me to write a bit about an aspect of the writing, so I’m going full nerd mode here with one of my favorite tools…imagery.
I admit it. I’m addicted to imagery.
Why? you might ask.
Using the power of word connotations and figurative language, imagery is a multipurposing superstar with benefits for both readers and writers! It can…
- connect the physical and emotional arcs,
- invite the use of figurative and sensory language,
- SHOW with vivid verbs,
- push a writer into more creative thinking,
- provide rich language and tone,
- deepen understanding by linking an unknown and a known,
- build readers’ critical thinking skills with abstract thinking and connections,
- engage the reader,
- and make a writing challenge fun!
When I decide to tackle a topic, I set up a spiral notebook to gather and organize research and the multitude of ideas that pop up. I always reserve a page for “Words/Imagery.” Here’s how that page looks for THE PATRIOTS AND THE POX.
When words or phrases hit as I research, I jot them down in case they end up building into something interesting for the story structure or angle. Some are patterns that might serve the story. Others become word banks for possible imagery. Exploring helps open up my thinking. And for this book, I was trying to solve the challenge of portraying an “invisible,” complex, nonhuman concept—smallpox.
You can see, I noted “out” and “un” prefixed words. These offered strong comparisons and emphasized disadvantages for Washington. Also I recorded the different terms used for smallpox. (I really liked “speckled monster.”) I knew I needed war words. I can’t remember exactly what I was going after with the “look” words—likely playing with the visible/invisible aspect. (I decided not to go all in on that as, technically, while the virus was invisible at that time, today it’s visible. Instead I used “unseen.”)
Since the arc of the story was George Washington vs. smallpox, I decided the most effective way to depict the disease was as another enemy, using war imagery to intensify that conflict. The choice was an easy one, especially because primary sources referred to smallpox as an enemy more deadly than the British. As I worked with it, I found it offered more than I had anticipated.
I introduced the extended metaphor/imagery with a direct comparison of the disease with the military enemy he faced over the first two spreads. In my mind, the enemy you can’t see is more terrifying than the one you can see—and I wanted the reader to feel that, too.
From there, I used some specific verbs and other war words to support the portrayal of smallpox as an enemy more dangerous than the British. Here are the main word choices I ended up using: battle, invaded, targets, defeat, defenseless, launched his offensive, surrender. Though I didn’t even use half the “war words” I’d listed, having that word bank helped the writing flow once I got started because that forethought “primed the pump.”
There’s also a spread where I used fire imagery for smallpox to give this enemy the qualities of fire as it blazed through crowded camps. Characterization with a few powerful verbs also invited the illustrator to play along! Ashley Yazdani’s art is perfect!
Portraying disease as an enemy in this story had several extra advantages. Set during the American Revolution and given all that’s packed into the word “enemy,” the imagery served as a sort of scaffold for the story, hand in hand with the plot. That imagery also helped me embed risk and stakes for science words that didn’t hold a lot of meaning for kids. When likened to dangers they know like enemies and fire, the inherent comparison allowed me to say more, in a more powerful way, with fewer words.
Ah! The magic of imagery, the multi-purposing superstar!
Beth, thank you so much for this fascinating and informative post! Readers, Beth is offering a giveaway of one copy of THE PATRIOTS AND THE POX. Please comment below by October 20, 2026 to enter. U.S. addresses only, please.
Beth Anderson is the award-winning author of more than ten picture books, including HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT, THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE, and LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT. A former educator, she strives for accidental learning in the midst of a great story and hopes to inspire kids to laugh, ponder, and question. Born and raised in Illinois, Beth now lives in Colorado. Visit https://bethandersonwriter.com or on IG @bandersonwriter.
Thank you, Beth, for showing how you used imagery to develop your book. I can imagine an SCBWI workshop or webinar. Congrats!
I think all the figurative language in all forms is what really hooked me as a child writer.
Specific verbs and themed vocabulary? YES! that’s a great NF picture book!
Thanks, Barb!
What a great idea to list words and use imagery. Congrats on your book Beth.
Thanks, Deb!
Very helpful and informative post, Beth! Thanks for sharing. Your book is wonderful, too!
Thanks, Kim!
Thank you for this peek into process! Such an art!
Thanks for stopping by!
Beth,
The way you categorized the words before/during writing would be especially relevant for teachers. There is an evidence-based practice for categorization of words in classroom settings. Vocabulary choice, topic knowledge, and craft choices that align with the author’s/text’s purpose and structure need to be explicitly taught. This simple notebook example is a perfect demo! In fact, I’d love to use this post (if permitted) as an example in upcoming professional development workshops that I develop and deliver. We access text more readily, when we know how it is built. Thanks!
Thanks for your note, Sherry, As a former teacher, I’m totally with you on this! 🙂 Feel free to share it as you see fit. And let me know if I can ever help in any way. On my blog I feature all kinds of posts on process from writers (and illustrators) and often think how useful they can be for educators. The spiral I use to gather and organize my ideas and research sprang from writers’ workshop in the classroom 😍 with its table of contents.
Love the power of a great word list and connected imagery!
YES! it primes the brain, too!
Beth- Your choice of words adds so much power to the story. Thank you for reminding us of the power of imagery! The book looks ( and sounds!) amazing!
Thank you, Sandra! I’m definitely a word nerd 🙂
Beth, you are a master wordsmith!
Thank you, Stefanie! The fun with words is what hooked me as a writer!
Thanks Stefanie! That’s where the fun is for me. (and the challenge!)
This is a very informative post and I think comparing the small pox to a dangerous enemy will make readers pay attention and understand the severe consequences of having this disease amongst the troops. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Danielle! Gotta love a powerful metaphor! 🙂
Beth, thank you for this helpful post, told with your usual incisiveness and clarity.
What a helpful post, thank you for sharing this part of your process! The book is unforgettable, congrats!