Narrative. The word
has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Expository? Not so
much.
much.
Rhymes with gory,
purgatory, derogatory, lavatory. Gesh, it’s no wonder authors cringe when
someone uses the word to describe their work. And yet, plenty of great nonfiction
for kids is expository. Its main purpose is to explain, describe, or inform.
purgatory, derogatory, lavatory. Gesh, it’s no wonder authors cringe when
someone uses the word to describe their work. And yet, plenty of great nonfiction
for kids is expository. Its main purpose is to explain, describe, or inform.
Why are authors so
sensitive? Because narrative nonfiction is the new kid on the block, and it’s
getting lots of attention right now. But here’s a little ditty that’s worth
remembering:
sensitive? Because narrative nonfiction is the new kid on the block, and it’s
getting lots of attention right now. But here’s a little ditty that’s worth
remembering:
Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
and the other’s gold.
As far as I’m
concerned, this is a golden moment for expository nonfiction because, in recent
years, it’s gone through an exciting transformation. Once upon a time, it was
boring and stodgy and matter-of-fact, but today’s nonfiction books MUST delight as well
as inform young readers, and nonfiction authors have risen to the challenge.
The books they’re creating feature engaging text, often with a strong voice, as
well as dynamic art and design.
concerned, this is a golden moment for expository nonfiction because, in recent
years, it’s gone through an exciting transformation. Once upon a time, it was
boring and stodgy and matter-of-fact, but today’s nonfiction books MUST delight as well
as inform young readers, and nonfiction authors have risen to the challenge.
The books they’re creating feature engaging text, often with a strong voice, as
well as dynamic art and design.
The problem is that not everyone is aware of
these dramatic changes. And that’s why we have to work hard to get terrific expository
books into the hands of as many educators as possible.
these dramatic changes. And that’s why we have to work hard to get terrific expository
books into the hands of as many educators as possible.
Here’s a list of ten examples (more are
available on my pinterest pages):
available on my pinterest pages):
A Black Hole Is Not a Hole
by
Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano
Bugged: How Insects Changed the World by
Sarah Albee
by
Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano
Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents by Lita Judge
Bugged: How Insects Changed the World by
Sarah Albee
Feathers:
Not Just for Flying
by Melissa Stewart
Not Just for Flying
by Melissa Stewart
Frogs by Nic Bishop
Just
One Bite by
Lola Schaefer
One Bite by
Lola Schaefer
Look
Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Up! Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Neo Leo by Gene Barretta
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by Nicola Davies
What Do
You Do with a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
You Do with a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page
There is also a second kind of expository
nonfiction books. Marc Aronson and his Uncommon Corps colleagues call them data books. I prefer to call them fast-fact
books to distinguish them from the facts-plus books listed above.
Facts-plus books focus on facts as well as
overarching ideas. In other words, they present facts and explain them.
Fast-fact books focus on sharing cool facts. Period. They inform, and that’s
all. Examples include The Guinness Book
of World Records, Time for Kids Big
Book of Why, and Eyewitness Books. These are the concise, fact-filled books
that groups of boys love to read together and discuss.
overarching ideas. In other words, they present facts and explain them.
Fast-fact books focus on sharing cool facts. Period. They inform, and that’s
all. Examples include The Guinness Book
of World Records, Time for Kids Big
Book of Why, and Eyewitness Books. These are the concise, fact-filled books
that groups of boys love to read together and discuss.
Some people don’t have a very high opinion of
fast-fact books, and to be sure, they don’t build reading stamina or critical
thinking skills, but they do motivate many reluctant readers to pick up a book, and IMHO that alone makes them worthwhile.
fast-fact books, and to be sure, they don’t build reading stamina or critical
thinking skills, but they do motivate many reluctant readers to pick up a book, and IMHO that alone makes them worthwhile.
Why do students need to be
exposed to a diverse array of expository texts? Because it’s the style of nonfiction
they’ll be asked to write most frequently throughout their school careers and in their future jobs.
Whether they’re working on a report, a thesis, a business proposal, or even a
company newsletter, they’ll need to know how to summarize information and
synthesize ideas in a way that is clear, logical, and interesting to their
readers. Today’s expository children’s literature makes ideal mentor texts for
modeling these skills.
exposed to a diverse array of expository texts? Because it’s the style of nonfiction
they’ll be asked to write most frequently throughout their school careers and in their future jobs.
Whether they’re working on a report, a thesis, a business proposal, or even a
company newsletter, they’ll need to know how to summarize information and
synthesize ideas in a way that is clear, logical, and interesting to their
readers. Today’s expository children’s literature makes ideal mentor texts for
modeling these skills.
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4 Responses
Well said!
So many great expository books out there…and the Fast Fact books were some of the most popular titles in the library.
I'm loving this series, Melissa. It's making me think more deeply about my own writing. Thank you.
I love expository texts. I also am wondering where essay fits in…
Mary Ann,
An essay could be narrative or expository. It depend son how it is written. Essay is a Category of nonfiction. I'll be blogging more about categories in the fall. Stay tuned.