Many high-quality
expository titles, especially science-themed picture books, make skillful use
of layered text, which consists of a short, simple primary text that conveys
main ideas and a more substantial secondary text that provides supporting
details.
As you read books like When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature’s
Balance in Yellowstone by Dorothy Patent Hinshaw (Walker, 2008) and Pink
Is for Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfect Pink Animals by Jess Keating (Knopf, 2016), you will
notice that the primary text, which is set in larger type to let
children know that they should read it first, can stand on its own and provides
a general introduction to the topic. It whets the reader’s appetite, inspiring
children to continue reading, so they can find out more.
Balance in Yellowstone by Dorothy Patent Hinshaw (Walker, 2008) and Pink
Is for Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfect Pink Animals by Jess Keating (Knopf, 2016), you will
notice that the primary text, which is set in larger type to let
children know that they should read it first, can stand on its own and provides
a general introduction to the topic. It whets the reader’s appetite, inspiring
children to continue reading, so they can find out more.
The
rich, provokative primary text of
A Seed Is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston (Chronicle, 2007) and the surprising comparisons in my book Feathers:
Not Just for Flying (Charlesbridge, 2014) awaken a
child’s sense of wonder, while the playful, interactive quality of the primary text in How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly? by
Steve Jenkins & Robin Page (Houghton Mifflin, 2008) invites students to
read and explore and discover.
This engaging,
kid-friendly format allows a broad range of students to access the book. It
also helps students learn to differentiate between main ideas (the gist) and
supporting details, which is an important goal of the Common Core State
Standards.
kid-friendly format allows a broad range of students to access the book. It
also helps students learn to differentiate between main ideas (the gist) and
supporting details, which is an important goal of the Common Core State
Standards.
As a result of the
recent popularity of graphic novels, authors are experimenting with nonfiction
in a graphic format too. Many of these titles present information within the context
of a storyline, but a few notable exceptions are entirely expository. These
ground-breaking titles include Human Body
Theater by Maris Wicks (First Second, 2015), Look
Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate
(Candlewick, 2013), and How to
Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page (Houghton
Mifflin, 2013).
recent popularity of graphic novels, authors are experimenting with nonfiction
in a graphic format too. Many of these titles present information within the context
of a storyline, but a few notable exceptions are entirely expository. These
ground-breaking titles include Human Body
Theater by Maris Wicks (First Second, 2015), Look
Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate
(Candlewick, 2013), and How to
Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page (Houghton
Mifflin, 2013).
How can we encourage students to think critically about the text format of the expository literature they read and experiment with various formats in their own writing? I’ll provide a helpful activity on Friday.
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments
Topics
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
37 Comments
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
34 Comments
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
31 Comments
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
28 Comments
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
27 Comments
10 STEM Picture Books
25 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
22 Comments
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
19 Comments
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
19 Comments
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
18 Comments
2 Responses
At some point I'll learn to just open my library's catalog when I open your blog posts in my email. I just placed several more books on hold.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
So true! I love to use it in my own work as well. And I LOVE Blobfish–what a fun book!