Genres and literature
When you speak about genre and literature, genre means
a category, or kind of story.
All categories of books or stories can be called
either fiction or non-fiction.
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!
Realistic Fiction
Realistic fiction is a story using made-up
characters that could happen in real life.
Examples of Realistic Fiction
Because of Winn Dixie
Crash
Owl Moon
Shiloh
Summer of the Swans
Babysitter Club series
Historical Fiction
Historical fiction is a fictional story that takes place
in a particular time period in the past. Often the
setting is real, but the characters are made up from
the author’s imagination.
Examples of Historical Fiction
A Boy at War
Across Five Aprils
Ben and Me
The Butterfly
Charlie Skedaddle
Sign of the Beaver
Titanic Crossing
Dear America Series
Traditional Literature
Traditional Literature:
Stories that are passed down from
one group to another in history.
This includes folktales, lengends
fables, fairy tales, tall tales, and
myths from different cultures.
Examples of Traditional Literature
Beauty and the Beast
The Bunyans
Cinderella
John Henry
The Talking Eggs
The Tortoise and the Hare
Fantasy
Fantasy is a story including elements that are
impossible such as talking animals or magical
powers. Make-believe is what this genre is all
about.
Examples of Fantasy
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
Mystery
Mysteries: A suspenseful story
about a puzzling event that is not
solved until the end of the story.
Examples of Mystery
The House of Dies Drear
Never Say Die
The Treehouse Mystery
Mystery of the Midnight Message
Encyclopedia Brown Series
Boxcar Children Mysteries
Science Fiction
Science Fiction is a type of fantasy that uses
science and technology (robots, time machines,
etc…).
Examples of Science Fiction
Aliens for Breakfast
A Wrinkle in Time
My Best Friend is Invisible
Star Wars
The Time Machine
Poetry
Poetry is a verse written to create a response of
thought and feeling from the reader. It often
uses rhythm and rhyme to help convey its
meaning.
Examples of Poetry
Where the Sidewalk Ends
New Kid on the Block
Chocolate Dreams: Poems
Mammalabilia
A Pizza the Size of the Sun
Love That Dog
Informational
Informational: Texts that provide facts about a variety
of topics (sports, animals, science, history, careers,
travel, space, weather).
Examples of Informational
Writing
Dirt Bikes
Flying Animals
Danger! Earthquakes
Newspapers
Encyclopedias
Biography
A biography is the true story of a
real person’s life from the past or
present.
Examples of Biography
Tiger Woods: An American Master
The HomerunKings: BabeRuth and
Henry Aaron
Clara Barton, a Red Cross Pioneer
Sacagawea
Autobiography
 Autobiography: The story of a real person’s life that
is written by that person.