Nonfiction

Definition (Kiefer & Tyson, 2014)

• Used to be referred to as informational books (where

people think mostly of encyclopedias and textbooks)

• The relatively more recent term nonfiction is used to refer

to the body of literature representing a wider variety of

books--biographies, history, true adventures, science,

sports, photographic essays, memoirs, etc.– that are

available and accessible for children and young adults

• Can be as compelling, engaging and beautifully written as

fiction

Awards for Nonfiction

• Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children (awarded by the National Council of Teacher’s of English)

2015 winner is “The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia” by Candace Fleming

• Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award (awarded by the American Library Association)

2015 winner is “The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus” by Jen Bryant

Evaluating Nonfiction Books

• Accuracy and Authenticity

• Content and Perspective

• Style

• Organization

• Illustrations and Format

Evaluation Criteria

1. Accuracy and authenticity

• Is the author qualified to write about this topic?

• Are the facts accurate according to other sources?

• Is the information up-to-date?

• Are all the significant facts included?

2. Content and perspective

• For what purpose was the book designed?

• Is the book within the comprehension and interest range of its intended audience?

• Is the subject adequately covered? Are different viewpoints presented?

Evaluation Criteria (cont.)

3. Style

• Is information presented clearly and directly?

• Is the text appropriate for the intended audience?

• Does the style create the feeling of reader involvement?

• Is the language vivid and interesting?

4. Organization

• Is the information structured clearly, with appropriate subheadings?

• Does the book have reference aids that are clear and easy to use, such as table of contents, index, bibliography, glossary, appendix?

Evaluation Criteria (cont.)

5. Illustrations and format

• Do illustrations clarify and extend the text or speak plainly for themselves?

• Are size relationships made clear?

• Are media suitable to the purposes for which they are used?

• Are illustrations explained by captions or labels where needed?

• Does the total format contribute to the clarity and attractiveness of the book?

Types of Nonfiction

• Concept Books

• Craft and How-to Books

• Documents and Journals

• Experiment and Activity Books

• Identification Books

• Life-Cycle Books

• Nonfiction Picturebooks

• Photographic Essays

• Specialized Books

• Survey Books

Access Features Found in

Nonfiction Books (Kerper,

2003)

• Access features of books are different ways of providing

readers the access to ideas and images in order for them

to enjoy and use the literature for selective purposes

(Kerper, 2003)

• Access features are important in the creation of an

engaging, informative and useful book

Access Features Found in

Nonfiction Books (cont.)

Access Features Include:

• Table of Contents and Index

• Glossary

• Sidebars

• Inserted Information

• Author’s and Illustrator’s Notes

Visual Displays Found in

Nonfiction Books

Some nonfiction authors convey information through

iconographic/visual displays. Some displays are

representational while some are highly stylized abstractions.

Visual Displays Include:

• Photography

• Diagrams

• Maps

• Tables/Charts

Some Award-winning

Nonfiction Titles

Title Author Description

Electric Ben: The

Amazing Life and

Times of Benjamin

Franklin

Robert Byrd 2013 Robert F. Sibert

Informational Honor

Book; 2013 NCTE

Orbis Pictus Honor

Book for Outstanding

Nonfiction for Children

Spiders Nic Bishop 2008 NCTE Orbis

Pictus Honor Book for

Outstanding Nonfiction

for Children

Some Award-winning

Nonfiction Titles (cont.)

Title Author/Illustrator Description

Mosquito Bite Alexandra Siy/ Dennis

Kunkel

2006 NCTE Orbis Pictus

Honor Book for

Outstanding Nonfiction

for Children

Balloons Over

Broadway: The True

Story of the Puppeteer of

Macy’s Parade

Melissa Sweet 2012 Robert F. Sibert

Informational Book

Medal