SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
    • What We Believe
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Announcements
    • Upcoming Presentations
    • Contact The Classroom Bookshelf
  • Book Lists
    • Awards
    • Best of Lists
    • Summer Reading
  • Fiction
    • Novels
    • Fiction Picture Books
    • Fiction Chapter Books
    • Fantasy
    • Comics & Graphic Novels
    • Historical Fiction
    • Traditional Literature
  • Nonfiction
    • Biography & Memoirs
    • Nonfiction Picture Books
    • Nonfiction Chapter Books
    • Fictionalized Biography
  • Poetry
    • Poetry Picture Books
  • Picture Books
    • Fiction Picture Books
    • Nonfiction Picture Books
    • Poetry Picture Books
  • Classroom & Curricular Ideas

August 27, 2012 by Mary Ann Cappiello

Nonfiction and The Classroom Bookshelf

August 27, 2012 by Mary Ann Cappiello   3 comments

These days it seems that everybody is talking about the Common Core State Standards and nonfiction literature for children and young adults. We couldn’t be more ecstatic about this trend! It’s a fascinating world that we live in, and there is an equally fascinating range of literature for children and young adults to explore it.

The teachers we work with have many questions: How do I learn about nonfiction books? How do I use a nonfiction picture book as a read aloud? Can my students really read a full-length nonfiction chapter book? Will they want to? Will I want to? The field of nonfiction literature, the term we prefer over “informational text,” has changed dramatically over the past decade. We find the nonfiction picture book to be a creative art form as well as a versatile teaching tool. Chapter-length nonfiction texts for the intermediate and middle grades are filled with wonderful models of engaging writing as well as models for conducting authentic research.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

To kick-off another year of blogging, we are straying from our usual format in this entry to discuss nonfiction more specifically with you, revisit some of the nonfiction entries we have posted on The Classroom Bookshelf, and share with you some of our favorite resources for identifying nonfiction for children. We hope these resources and previous entries will help you incorporate more nonfiction into your curriculum and daily classroom life in the 2012-2013 school year.

What are the Subgenres of Nonfiction?
If you are unfamiliar with nonfiction, you may not have a language to talk about the genre. Below, you will find a “primer” of sorts on the subgenres of nonfiction that we think are most important to understand for classroom exploration. Why do we think this is important? We think that different types of nonfiction can play different roles within curriculum. In addition, the subgenre itself conveys some basic understanding of how information is going to be addressed within the texts. Students benefit from understanding what type of nonfiction they are reading from the start, because understanding the purpose of a book is a clue to the content it contains. Next, you will find links to previous Classroom Bookshelf entries that fall under these subgenres.

Survey Book: Survey books are the most common form of nonfiction book published and most likely the largest number of titles in your school library. Survey books tend to focus on one broad topic and break it down into a variety of subtopics. They do not go very in-depth with any of these topics, but they give the reader a general introduction. Survey books often have a noun as the title (think: Sharks or The American Revolution). Think of the survey book as a pair of binoculars. Binoculars help you see a range of things at a distance more closely. Survey books bring a broad topic a little closer to your students. Within your curriculum, a survey book can be used in small groups or whole class instruction to introduce a topic that you will study in-depth. It is rare, but not out of the question, for a survey book to lend itself to literature circles or read alouds. Most, but not all survey books, do not have to be read from cover to cover, so they are useful for doing research. Avid nonfiction readers often love to read survey books. But if you are looking to hook students on nonfiction who are unaccustomed to it, a specialized book might be more appealing. Survey books are published in both picture and chapter book format.

Concept Book: Concept books can sometimes be confused with survey books, because they too, can serve as an introduction to a topic. However, a concept book goes more deeply into one concept, abstract idea, or explanation of a particular category. For instance, life cycle books are concept books, as are nonfiction A-B-C and counting books that focus on teaching the concepts of letters and numbers. There are some nonfiction survey books that adopt the structure of an alphabet book or a counting book as a way to convey information within a structure. How do you tell the difference between a survey book and a concept book? Sometimes it’s tricky. If a book focuses on explaining a system of classification and why, it is more likely a concept book. If it is to give you a little bit of information about the subtopics within a larger category of information, then it’s a survey book. This isn’t an exact science, and the conversation around the books, amongst  your teaching team and your students, is more important than the label. Concept books are more frequently written for babies, preschoolers and elementary grade students. For example, there are many board books for babies and toddlers that focus on introducing certain concepts or processes, like eating or going on a trip. There are science-related concept books for preschool and primary grade students, such as Vicki Cobb’s Science Play series, with titles like I Get Wet (2002) and I See Myself (2002). Concept books are a bit like microscopes. They magnify something very particular for specific exploration and study. They explore in-depth a single concept (or sometimes two or three), going “deep” rather than “broad.” Within your curriculum, concept books can be at the heart of exploration in science and sometimes social studies at well. While there are some chapter-length concept books, the majority seem to be published as picture books.

Biography, Memoir, Autobiography: Biography is most likely the subgenre of nonfiction with which you and your students are most familiar. The range of biographies published today is quite exciting, from picture book to chapter book, photo essay to graphic nonfiction. Some biographies are partial, and focus on one particular event in someone’s life, or one particular theme that resonates through a life. Others are complete (“cradle-to-grave”) and cover the entirety of someone’s life. Biographies are ideal for genre study in language arts or for individual or small group research on a historic or contemporary figure. Picture book biographies in the intermediate and middle grades also serve as wonderful introductions to a time period or a scientific concept, particularly as read alouds.

Specialized Nonfiction: Specialized nonfiction, as the name suggests, focuses deeply on a very specific event, situation, problem, etc. Specialized nonfiction may be what you and your students are least familiar with, only because there is so much nonfiction being published today on topics never before represented in books for children or young adults. For instance, Tonya Lee Stone’s Sibert Award-winning middle grade nonfiction Almost Astronauts examines the evaluation process for female candidates for the US space program in the 1960s (who knew?). Many authors are also making their own research, or the research process of their subjects, more visible within the text of specialized books. For example, The Scientists in the Field series of middle grade nonfiction highlights cutting-edge scientific research being done at present under the sea, in the polar regions, in remote tropical jungles, and in caves beneath our feet. Within the classroom, specialized books make marvelous choices for independent reading, if students can select the books most interesting for them. Specialized nonfiction is ideal for student research, and also for small and whole class exploration within units of study in science, social studies, the arts, and language arts. Specialized nonfiction also makes for wonderful read alouds as part of content-based units of study, as a mentor text for student research and writing, and for community-building within the classroom. We also encourage parents and children to read specialized nonfiction aloud together, to explore topics of interest to the whole family.


Nonfiction Entries from The Classroom Bookshelf 
SURVEY BOOKS

The Beetle Book
Written and Illustrated by Steve Jenkins
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/03/beetle-book.html

O’ Christmas Tree, Its History and Holiday Traditions
Written by Jacqueline Farmer and Illustrated by Joanne Friar
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2010/12/o-christmas-tree.html

Poetrees
Written and Illustrated by Douglas Florian
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2010/10/poetrees.html

 
Heart and Soul
Written and Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/02/2012-coretta-scott-king-award-for.html
CONCEPT BOOKS

Swirl by Swirl
Written by Joyce Sidman and Illustrated by Beth Krommes
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/09/swirl-by-swirl.html

 
Built to Last
Written and Illustrated by David Macaulay
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/03/built-to-last.html

 
Just a Second
Written and Illustrated by Steve Jenkins
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/01/just-second.html
 
Bird Talk
Written and Illustrated by Lita Judge
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/05/bird-talk-what-birds-are-saying-and-why.html
 
All the Water in the World
Written by George Ella Lyon and Illustrated by Katherine Tillotson
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/12/all-water-in-world.html
Rah, Rah Radishes
Written and Illustrated by April Pulley Sayre
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/10/rah-rah-radishes-vegetable-chant.html
BIOGRAPHY, MEMOIR, AUTOBIOGRAPHY

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Dave the Potter, Poet, Artist, Slave
Written by Laban Carrick Hill and Illustrated by Bryan Collier
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/02/2011-ala-coretta-scott-king-illustrator.html

 
The Notorious Benedict Arnold
Written by Steven Sheinkin
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/02/2012-yalsa-award-for-excellence-in.htm
Balloons Over Broadway
Written and Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/03/2012-robert-f-sibert-informational-book.html
 
Life in the Ocean: The Story of Sylvia Earle
Written and Illustrated by Claire A. Nivola
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/05/life-in-ocean-story-of-oceanographer.html
 

Georgia in Hawaii

Written by Amy Novesky and Illustrated by Yuyi Morales
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2012/05/georgia-in-hawaii.html
 
Me, Jane and The Watcher
Written and Illustrated by Patrick McDonall; Written and Illustrated by Jeanette Winter http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/05/me-jane-watcher.html
 
Night Flight and Amelia Lost 
Written by Robert Burleigh, Illustrated by Wendell Minor; Written by Candace Fleming
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/04/night-flight-and-amelia-lost.html
SPECIALIZED NONFICTION

Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom and Science
Written by Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2010/11/sugar-changed-world.html

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot

Written by Sy Montgomery Photography by Nic Bishop
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/02/2011-robert-f-sibert-award-for.html


Trapped
Written by Marc Aronson
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/10/trapped-how-world-rescued-33-miners.html
Meadowlands
Written and Illustrated by Tom Yezerski 
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/04/meadowlands-wetlands-survival-story.html
 
Online Resources To Help You Locate Nonfiction


Nonfiction Book Awards

National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children   
http://www.ncte.org/awards/orbispictus

American Library Association (ALA) Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/sibertmedal/index.cfm

American Library Association (ALA) YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/nonfiction/nonfiction.cfm

Boston Globe – Horn Book Award (Nonfiction as Category)
http://archive.hbook.com/bghb/

Valuable Book Lists with Nonfiction Included

National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)- Children’s Book Council (CBC) Outstanding Science Trade Books
http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/

National Council of Teachers of Social Studies (NCSS) – Children’s Book Council (CBC) Notable Trade Books  for Young People
http://www.socialstudies.org/resources/notable

Cooperative Children’s Book Center: Bibliographies (Nonfiction and Other Genres)
http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailLists.asp?idBookListCat=7

New School Library Journal Column: Nonfiction Booktalker
http://www.slj.com/category/opinion/nonfiction-booktalker/


Blogs About Nonfiction


Interesting Nonfiction for Kids (INK) Blog
http://inkrethink.blogspot.com/

The Uncommon Corps
http://www.nonfictionandthecommoncore.blogspot.com/

Filed under: Classroom & Curricular Ideas, Nonfiction

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
biographyconcept booksnonfictionspecialized bookssurvey books

About Mary Ann Cappiello

Mary Ann is a professor of language and literacy at Lesley University. A former public school language arts and humanities teacher, she is a passionate advocate for and commentator on children’s books. Mary Ann is the co-author of Teaching with Text Sets (2013) and Teaching to Complexity (2015) and Text Sets in Action: Pathways Through Content Area Literacy (Stenhouse, 2021). She has been a guest on public radio and a consultant to public television. From 2015-2018, Mary Ann was a member of the National Council of Teachers of English's Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction (K-8) Committee, serving two years as chair.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

January 2021

Teaching Ideas for a Democracy Under Assault

by Mary Ann Cappiello

March 2020

Using Online Museum Resources for Literacy Learning

by Mary Ann Cappiello

December 2012

Children's Books on Grief and Loss

by Mary Ann Cappiello

April 2022

One Woman's Legacy: Teaching Ideas for One Wish: Fatima al-Fihri and the World’s Oldest University

by Mary Ann Cappiello

March 2022

Beauty Abounds in Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas

by Mary Ann Cappiello

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Sydney Taylor Blog Tour: THE TOWER OF LIFE by Chana Stiefel and Susan Gal

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Who’s In Rabbit’s House by Verna Aardema, ill. Leo and Diane Dillon

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Kiss Number 8 | Review

by Johanna

Heavy Medal

What’s Coming in 2023, A Feedback Poll, and Goodbye for Now…

by Steven Engelfried

Teen Librarian Toolbox

I Spy Something Awkward, a guest post by James Ponti

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

For Us by Us: 16 Poetry Collections and Books by Black Poets for Black History Month and Beyond

Poetry & Prose: Nature Studies for Young Readers

Debut 'Star' Author Erica Martin on Poems of Injustice

"Ink Knows No Borders: Poems of the Immigrant and Refugee Experience" | An Interview

Well Versed | NCTE’S 2019 Notable Poetry

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauren G. says

    August 28, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    Hooray!! The school year must really be starting now, with a brand-new and excellent post on my favorite literature blog. Welcome back, everyone.

    I attended an incredibly informative conference on the Common Core this summer. The recommendations and information you've provided here is a terrific reinforcement of the great material I learned there.

    Looking forward to seeing you soon.

  2. Mary Ann Scheuer says

    November 4, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    Fantastic resources! Thank you so much.

    I'd also like to recommend another blog, The Nonfiction Detectives
    http://www.nonfictiondetectives.com/

    They review a wide range of interesting books for children

  3. Allen jeley says

    March 23, 2016 at 1:01 am

    nice

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023