Lately, I keep hearing expository nonfiction described as “just the facts.” And I
have two reactions simultaneously.
First,
“Hooray!” It’s exciting that more and more people in the children’s literature
community using this term. For a long, long, time, narrative nonfiction
received all the attention.
But
second, “Darn!” It’s disappointing that many people don’t fully understand or
appreciate the incredible diversity of this writing style.”
To be sure,
there are expository nonfiction books that put facts front and center. Examples
include the Guinness Book of World Records, National Geographic’s
5,000 Awesome Facts, and Random House’s Totally Random Questions series.
Many kids love reading and sharing these browsable nonfiction books, but
they’re just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to expository
nonfiction—books that explain, describe, or inform in a clear accessible way.
Why is
that such good news? Well, for starters, fact-focused books aren’t for
everyone. Some readers find them overwhelming and overstimulating. That’s why it’s
so important to expose students to a wide range of nonfiction.
Some
expository nonfiction books provide a broad overview of a topic, while others
have a narrower focus. They describe an idea or concept with lots of supporting
details to help readers gain a thorough understanding. Still other books help
students learn a skill or engage in an activity.
The 5
Kinds of Nonfiction classification system can help students (and educators)
recognize the diverse assortment of books available today and understand how each
category is suited to different uses—early stages of research, later stages of
research, mentor texts for informational or procedural writing, etc. And of
course, depending on the child, any of these categories can be the perfect
choice for pleasure reading all summer long.
Let’s
celebrate the wide world of nonfiction and all it has to offer students. Have a great summer, Everyone!
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
10 STEM Picture Books
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
Topics