Has Nonfiction Reached a Tipping Point?
While nonfiction and fiction have always received equal respect and recognition in the adult publishing world, the same hasn’t been true for children’s literature. During the 29 years I’ve worked in children’s publishing, first as an editor and now as a writer, nonfiction has been the underdog of the industry. Book reviewers and award committees […]
AASL Handout: 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
Many school librarians have worked hard to add award-winning narrative nonfiction to their collections, but studies show that 42 percent of elementary students prefer expository nonfiction. This session breaks down the five categories of nonfiction children’s books (four of which have an expository writing style), offers tips for updating book collections, and provides strategies for […]
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
In December 2017, I proposed a system for classifying children’s nonfiction that many writers and educators seem to find useful.* The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction divides the wide world of nonfiction into 5 distinct categories—active, browseable, traditional, expository literature, and narrative. Here are the main characteristics of each category: Click to enlarge At nErDcampMI in […]
MSLA Handout: 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Rethinking Your Book Collection
Most children’s literature enthusiasts are naturally drawn to stories and storytelling, including fiction and narrative nonfiction But up to 42 percent of elementary students prefer expository nonfiction. This session breaks down the five categories of nonfiction children’s books, offers tips for updating book collections, and provides strategies for integrating a variety of nonfiction texts into […]
Classifying Nonfiction: What Students Have to Say
Update June 24, 2024: My thinking about nonfiction classification has evolved since I wrote this post, but I’ve decided not to delete it because there’s value in looking back at my past ideas. For my current thinking, please see the book 5 Kinds of Nonfiction as well as information on my website.About a year ago, I introduced the […]
Expository Nonfiction: Use It as Mentor Texts
Today, I’m continuing the series of posts I’m writing with educator Marlene Correia. As you can see, the final item on the 5 Ways to Share Expository Nonfiction with Students infographic focuses on mentor texts for informational writing. All of the nonfiction children’s books being published today can be divided into five major categories, and […]
Rethinking Your Book Collection
Take a moment to evaluate your classroom or library book collection. Do you have enough nonfiction titles? Experts recommend a 50-50 mix of fiction and nonfiction. How diverse is your nonfiction section? Does it include a healthy selection of expository nonfiction? Experts recommend that at least 66 percent all nonfiction titles should have an expository […]
What Is Literary Nonfiction?
Updated June 25, 2024. And the answers is . . . it depends who you ask. But first, a little background. Both adult and children’s publishers divide fiction and nonfiction books into two broad categories—commercial and literary. Commercial fiction, written by such authors as Mary Higgins Clark, Gordon Korman, Stephen King, Mary Pope Osborne, James Patterson, […]
nErDcampMI Handout: 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Rethinking Your Book Collection
Most children’s literature enthusiasts are naturally drawn to stories and storytelling, including fiction and narrative nonfiction But up to 42 percent of elementary students prefer expository nonfiction. This session breaks down the five categories of nonfiction children’s books and provides tips for re-balancing school and classroom libraries and integrating expository nonfiction into lesson plans. Background […]
Classifying Nonfiction: A Fresh Look at Nonfiction Categories
Update June 24, 2024: My thinking about nonfiction classification has evolved since I wrote this post, but I’ve decided not to delete it because there’s value in looking back at my past ideas. For my current thinking, please see the book 5 Kinds of Nonfiction as well as information on my website. A couple of months ago, a […]