Nancy Alvarado

Elaine Visorde

Grecia Gonzalez

What is Information? Information books are to inform about particular subjects, issues, or

ideas.

“Certainly the basic purpose of nonfiction is to

inform, to instruct, hopefully to enlighten.”

Information books are infused with life and

create a world to engage readers.

Chapter 5 uses nonfiction because it is an

umbrella term.

Value of Nonfiction Information books are essential for children because they

want to know about the world around them. “Nonfiction books are wonderful resources for children seeking answers to genuine question.”

• Children have world knowledge• Children prefer nonfiction books• Reluctant readers have interest in informational books• Children become familiar with the structures of the genre • Children become familiar with expository texts • Informational books engage readers in critical thinking • Informational books prepare children for their future

beyond school because nonfiction is everywhere.

Topics addressed in nonfiction Topic PurposeHistory Children can glimpse people, places, and events of the past and better understand factors

that shapes the past.

People and Cultures

These books introduce children to people who come from particular cultures in the world. They help children understand the concept of culture and appreciate similarities and differences among around the world.

Nature These books, which explore the natural world, form a particularly large category of books for children. They lead children to discoveries about animals, plants, geology, geography, and the human body.

Arts This category of books explores different facets of art, music, drama, and dance and people engaged in these arts.

How Things Work

This category helps children discover answers to some of the questions they may have about topics

Sports, Recreation, and How-to Books

Books in this category address recreational interests

Categories of Informational (Nonfiction) Books

Informational books cover a wide variety of topics and take many different formats.

Common categories of nonfiction selections: Concept Books History People and Culture Nature The Arts How Things Work Sports, Recreation, and How-to Books Series Books

Concept Books Concept books helps young readers understand the world around

them (physical, natural, and social aspects).

Information is portrayed through pictures and texts so that it is visually stimulating to young readers.

Examples of concept books: ABC books Counting books Books that describe colors and shapes Books that describe feelings and emotions

*Kente Colors by Debbie Chocolate

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History These books help readers learn about people, places, and events

of a different time in the past.

Provide a more in-depth look at U.S. history and highlight the role of the underrepresented groups and their contributions to our country Jerry Stanley’s Hurry Freedom: African Americans in Gold Rush

California Michael Cooper’s Remembering Manzanar: Life in a Japanese

Relocation Camp Penny Colman’s Girls: A History of Growing Up Female in America

People and Culture Informational books that deal with people and culture introduce

young readers to children like themselves who live in other parts of the world or other parts of the United States

Children learn to understand different cultures, appreciate similarities and differences among people around the world

Ann Moris (photographs) Weddings Teamwork Families

Nature Children are led to discover more about plants, animals, geology,

geography, and the human body.

Examples: Robert Burleigh’s Chocolate: Riches from the Rainforest Sy Montgomery’s Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the

Cloud Forest of New Guinea

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The Arts Books that celebrate art, drama, dance, and music help expose

children to the arts that enrich their lives.

Children learn to creatively express thought and feelings and how to tell stories through interpretive forms.

Examples: William Lach’s Baby Animals: Little Ones at Play in 20 Works of Art Caroline Desnoettes’ Look Closer: Art Masterpieces through the

Ages Patricia McMahon’s Dancing Wheels

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How Things Work Books that describe the process of how things work.

Children are naturally curious about the way things work such as machines and other inventions.

Examples David Macaulay’s The New Way Things Work Stephen M. Tomecek’s What a Great Idea!

Inventions that Changed the World Cheryl Willis Hudson’s Construction Zone

Sports, Recreation, & How-to Children can develop hobbies or learn more about existing hobbies

through informational books.

Sports is a high-interest category for many students.

Some informational books can engage children in play and recreation.

Examples Emeril Lagasse’s Emeril’s There’s a Chef in My World!

Recipes that Take You Places Cal Ripkin Jr.’s The Longest Season Walter Wick’s Can You See What I See? Once

Upon a Time

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Series Books Series books are made to provide works about related topics.

Books in a series will follow the same format.

Examples Lerner Publishing’s Count Your Way series

○ Highlights cultures around the world using a counting

format to convey information about the culture Harper Collins’ Let’s Read-and-Find-Out Science series

○ Includes books like Be a Friend to Trees by Patricia

Lauber and Willging Worms at Work by Wendy

Pfeffer and Steve Jenkins David Shannon’s David series

○ Follows the same format in which David, a young boy

makes mistakes and learns about what’s right and wrong.

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• Writers of informational books write books that have facts, concepts and ideas that are explained to the reader.

• The author’s biggest challenge is making it appealing.

• description• chronological sequencing• sequencing• explanation• comparison/contrasting• defining with examples• problem-solutions.

Good informational books have: humor, engage readers, pose questions, lots of imagery and show enthusiasm for the topic being presented.

Major Writers of Informational Books and Their Works

George Ancona writes about

culture and takes children to journeys like his book

•Carnaval (about a 5-day carnival in Olinda Brazil)•The First Thanksgiving Feast•Making a New Home in America•Monsters on WheelsThese 3 books focus on Yucatan and Mexican Heritage•Mayeros•Pablo Remembers: The Fiesta of the Day of Dead•The Piñata Maker/El Piñatero

Joanna Cole writes

science books

Gail Gibbons Ice Cream: The Full Scoop Spiders The Milk Makers (selected

by; Reading Rainbow) Sunken Treasure (selected

by; Reading Rainbow)

James Cross Giblin

The Truth About The Riddle of the

Santa Claus Rosetta Stone

Key to Ancient Egypt

Steve Jenkins

What Do You With a Tail Like This

Kathryn Lasky * The Weaver’s Gift *Sugar Time

Milton Meltzer The Amazing Potato:

A Story in which the Incas , Conquistadors, Maria Antoinette,Thomas

Patricia Lauber

Patricia has written more than 80 info books about science.

Jim Murphy * An American Plague

* Weird and Wacky Inventions

Laurence Pringle * Snakes! Strange and Wonderful

* Whales! Strange and Wonderful

Seymour Simon *Sharks

*Penguins

*Snakes

* Animals in the Field and Laboratory:

Projects in Animal Behavior Seymour has written more than 200 science info books.