Home Up About Curriculum Resources Library Administration Calendar Schools

ICCSD Webpage

 

Types of Literature - Nonfiction

horizontal rule

[Printer Friendly Page]

The term nonfiction describes books of information and fact.  Nonfiction, or informational books, are distinguished from fiction by their emphasis. Both may tell a story and both may include fact.  In fiction, however, the story is uppermost, with facts sometimes used to support it; in nonfiction, the facts are uppermost, with storytelling perhaps used as an expressive technique. (see Literature and the Child by Bernice E. Cullinan and Lee Galda, Harcourt, 1998, avaailable in media centers).

Through the Eyes of a Child by Donna E. Norton ( Prentiss Hall, 1995) lists the following evaluative criteria for informational books:

bullet

all facts should be accurate

bullet

stereotypes should be eliminated

bullet

illustrations should clarify the text

bullet

analytical thinking should be encouraged

bullet

the organization should aid understanding

bullet

the style should stimulate interest.

Back to Top

horizontal rule

This page was last updated on January 25, 2006.