What is a
Literary Genre?
Definition:
• categories used to group different
types of literary work, such as nonfiction, fiction and poetry.
• A literary composition
characterized by a particular style,
form, or content.
Can you name some genres types? Turn and tell your neighbor what they are.
1
All categories of books or stories can be called either
fiction or non-fiction. Within those categories are
individual GENRES
Fiction
Non-Fiction
• a made up
story
• can tell
about things
that could
happen
• is read for fun
• characters
may be like
real people
or imaginary
• has facts that
can be
checked and
proven
• the author is
an expert on
this
information
• it IS TRUE!
2
The Genres of Children’s Literature
• The most commonly identified
genres of Children’s Literature are:
picture books
traditional literature
historical fiction
science fiction
realistic fiction
mystery
fantasy
contemporary realistic fiction
non-fiction or informational books
biography
poetry
3
Our Genre List for the IMC
We will be learning about
several different types of
literary genres. It is important
to remember that this list does
not include all types of genres
found in literary works.
4
Non-Fiction
books are shelved in the Dewey Decimal Area
• Books that
discuss facts,
deal with real or
historical
characters,
circumstances
or events.
• Examples:
science, sports,
drawing, math
animals, or
transportation
5
Newspapers/Magazines are informational
and are considered
non-fiction
• Newspapers and magazines
contain articles relating to
current events, new
discoveries, and important
people.
6
Biographies
• True stories about a person’s life or
parts of his/her life
• Some are collective biographies
with many biographies groups
together.
TITLE EXAMPLES
• Tiger Woods: An American Master
• The Homerun Kings: Babe Ruth
and Henry Aaron
• Clara Barton, a Red Cross Pioneer
• Sacagawea
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Autobiographies
• Autobiographies
are where people
write about their
own life.
• You can find them
in the 920/921
section of the IMC
8
What are some other categories of
non fiction materials?
9
Remember non-fiction books are Informational
They are books that give true facts on a variety of
subjects such as: People, places, and things..animals,
minerals and vegetable too!
10
Informational Books
•
•
•
•
Tells facts that can be looked-up or proven
tells about real events
characters have really lived
may have maps, diagrams and illustrations
to explain the facts
• author is an expert on the subject
TITLE EXAMPLES
•
•
•
•
•
Dirt Bikes
Flying Animals
Danger! Earthquakes
World Book Encyclopedia
Artists of the Renaissance
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More non-fiction
Traditional Literature
Folk Tales, Fables, Myths, Fairy Tales
and Legends
• tells about the great deeds of a person
who may have lived
• may exaggerate a person’s bravery or
powers
• probably a long ago setting-oral tradition
• story may be considered a part of the
history and culture of a group of people
• magic may be used to solve a problem
• a lesson can be learned from the story
12
Slide 13 is missing I am slide 14! READ
ME AND ANSWER QUESTION FOR 14
Fables, Myths and Folklore:
•Fables: These stories usually have a moral that is being
taught. It often uses animals that speak and act like
humans. (PERSONIFICATION)
•Myths: a story or group of stories that form part of the
traditional knowledge of a society. Myths often use
imaginative plots and characters to explain how the
world began and why nature and people behave the
way they do.
•Folklore: stories that people told one another over the
years. Later the stories were written down.
Examples
• Aesop’s Fables
•Beauty and the Beast
•Cinderella
•John Henry
•The Talking Eggs
•The Tortoise and the Hare
14
Poetry
Poetry is verse written to inspire thoughts and
feelings in the reader. It often uses rhyme and
rhythm, or it can be written in free verse.
Read me only and go on to slide 15
Poetry
• page format may look different than
other books
• may have rhythm (beat)
• May rhyme
• Imaginative and creative
• uses describing or exciting words
• tells a story in verse
Title examples
Where the Sidewalk Ends
New Kid on the Block
Chocolate Dreams: Poems
Memorabilia
A Pizza the Size of the Sun
Love That Dog
15
Fiction
In this type of work, the author can make up the
whole entire story. Authors can also choose to include
factual information in a made-up story. The author
can have wizards
creating magic spells , or it can be
about a 12 year old girl who has a
secret crush and even stories about
finding out about who your are.
There is a wide variety of sub genre
areas in FICTION…..
Titles
Rescue Josh McGuire
Stranger With My Face
Hatchet
What is your favorite fiction book?
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Mystery
Mysteries are stories that have a real setting and a
problem or a crime to be solved that includes clues,
distractions, and an answer to the problem. There is
usually a great deal of suspense and intrigue
abounds.
Title Examples
The House of Dies Drear
Never Say Die
The Tree house Mystery
Mystery of the Midnight Message
Encyclopedia Brown Series
Boxcar Children Mysteries
17
Fantasy is fiction that has elements
that are not real. Sometimes this
Includes talking animals, and gods
and goddesses. or characters with magical
powers. There’s usually a conflict between good
and evil. In this type of story, the author has
created a magical world
where anything
is possible.
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•
•
•
•
•
•
Fantasy
Animal characters may act like people
characters may have special powers
characters may be imaginary beings
setting may be in another time (future)
usually has a good vs. evil conflict
may use scientific principles not yet available or
discovered
EXAMPLES
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Charlotte’s Web
The Wreck of the Zephyr
Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe
Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter Series
19
Modern Fantasy: The events
in modern fantasy are
outside the realm of
possibility. These stories
cannot happen in real life,
but even though we know
the events can’t happen,
they are very believable.
These stories allow us to live
in an imaginary world where
anything is possible.
The Spiderwick Chronicles is
an example
20
Realistic fiction
•
•
•
•
•
can be based on a real story
characters act like real people
character tries to solve a problem
story could happen in real life in modern times
some events are accurate with what is happening
today
• character’s feelings and behaviors are like real life
TITLE EXAMPLES
• Rescue of Josh McGuire
• Crash
• Hatchet
• Shiloh
• Summer of the Swans
• Freak the Mighty
21
Historical fiction is made up
of stories that take place in a
certain time and place in the
past. Real historical figures
and settings may be included
in a fiction story.
Historical Fiction
22
Historical Fiction
•
•
Literature with imaginary
characters
Based on events and facts
related to history
TITLE EXAMPLES
•
A Boy at War
•
Across Five Aprils
•
Ben and Me
•
The Butterfly
•
Charlie Skedaddle
•
Sign of the Beaver
•
Titanic Crossing
•
Dear America Series
23
Science Fiction: It explores scientific
fact and can pose ethical questions
about current scientific trends and
predictions. The author focuses on
the adventure of exploring the
unknown and the wonder of
discovering new ideas, worlds and
people.
24
Science Fiction
• Literature based on
actual or imaginary
developments or
discoveries in science
• Often futuristic or fantasy
TITLE EXAMPLES
•
•
•
•
•
Aliens for Breakfast
A Wrinkle in Time
My Best Friend is Invisible
Star Wars
The Time Machine
25
Picture books
and Picture
story books
• Picture book verses a Picture story book
In a Picture book there are only pictures and the pictures tells the story
In a Picture story book the pictures merely complement the story
• Picture Story book : one thing experts agree on is that the interplay
of narrative and illustration is fundamental to the book as a whole.
• Is a fusion of words and pictures
• Really good Pictures books seamlessly combine both components
• Examples include
• The Cat In The Hat
• Where The Wild Things Are
26
What category of fiction would
you put your favorite story in?
Why?
Realistic
Fiction
Science
Fiction
MYSTERY
NINE MORE SLIDES TO GO!
27
MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE
28
BEFORE
YOU
DIVERSITY
By READ
2020, demographers
predict
THE NEXT
minorities will account for
SET
OF
SLIDES
almost
½ of
school
age children
in the United States.
READ
THE
As our classrooms become more
diverse so does ourON
world.
DIRECTIONS
YOUR
WORKSHEET!
29
Why should students read
multicultural literature?
Through multicultural literature, students gain
a better understanding of the cultures and
beliefs of people around the world. They
better appreciate the diversity of our world.
They develop respect for the differences that
make each of us unique.
30
Quality Multicultural Literature
Shares Six Characteristics:
Accuracy
Non biased
Respect
Expertise
Purpose
Quality
31
No Difference
“…Red, black, or orange,
Yellow or white,
We all look the same
When we turn out the light.”
From No Difference
by Shel Silverstein
32
Multicultural Diversity in Literature
• Multicultural Diversity in Literature helps us
to become aware of different cultures.
This type of literature illustrates the
differences in human experiences,
inspirations, conflicts, value systems and
beliefs. This literature, which is written
about cultures different from your own,
helps us to appreciate the courage of
people from other cultures and to have a
sense of pride for our own culture.
33
more
• The term multicultural literature refers to
traditional folk tales, historical fiction and
nonfiction, and stories about contemporary
characters from minority cultures. In the
United States, multicultural children’s books
include those by and about groups with
deep roots in this country such as Native
Americans, African-Americans, Asian
Americans, and Latinos, and newer cultural
groups such as immigrants or refugees from
other countries.
34
And yet more
Multicultural books are a natural, respectful way to be
exposed to cultures other than your own. Multicultural
books can provide historical content, set the stage for
discussions about social conditions, and encourage
people to understand similarities and differences. They
allow people to define and connect with their own
culture and ethnicity while challenging them to learn
about new people, places, beliefs, values, and more.
For the best understanding of others
please do not read biased materials from
only one point of view, because their
views may be slanted and unsuitable
for truly learning about others.
35
Directions
• After reading slides 28 through 36 go back to page 3 on
your answer sheet and finish your answers for questions
1-6 on Multicultural Literature
• Make sure your name and class period are on your paper
before you turn it in to Ms. Schmirler
Now that you are done-visit one the following sites.—just
click..there may be a quiz on the site—take it. When done
with each site x out and you will come back to this slide to
select the next site to visit!
•
•
•
•
http://www.mikids.com/Genres/quiz1.htm
http://www.multiculturalchildrenslit.com/
http://www.ccsd.edu/link/lms/genre.htm
When done---time for fun
36