Chapter 6: Modern Fantasy

Modern Fantasy is a relatively new genre to me. I knew what a fantasy was but it took the help of my textbook to understand the meaning of Modern Fantasy. It turns out I am actually a fan of this genre. A little over a year ago I discovered The Hunger Games, my first and my favorite modern fantasy. These book were highly recommended to me by a local principal. It took me a few short weeks to read the whole trilogy and I wish there were more!

Fantasy can be so attractive to children because of magic and mystery of what they know can never really be. These writers blend reality with the fantasy to pull at our emotions, dreams, and fears. Writers make these fantasies seem believable by providing vivid descriptions of the characters and settings. They also engage the reader with grounding plots that involve real human condition like humor, joy, pride, shame, and hope. The stories maintain consistency by following the rules of the fantasy world.

There are two different levels of modern fantasy, high fantasy, and low fantasy. In low fantasy the story takes place in the real would with only one element of fantasy, like animals talking. You can consider Chalet’s Webb and example of low fancy. The only part that could not take place is the human characteristics of the farm animals, similar to the Mouse and the Motorcycle. The other type, high fantasy, the book takes place in a while new world very different from what we know to be real. This is usually aimed to older readers in middle school or high. Books in this section include Lion Which in the Wardrobe, or the Lord of the rings collection.

When reading fantasy with children it is important to discuss the truths, use literacy devices, and use visualization. These strategies will further the reader’s comprehension of the text and improve their reading skills. Such strategies like visualization are prefect with fantasy text. Authors generally give great details in these books which are great starters for visualization.

Popular fantasy book for young readers can be found at:
Library Thing
Good Reads
Polk Library

Chapter 8: Historical Fiction

 

Historical fiction is one of my preferred genres. My favorite historical fiction book is Number the Stars by Louis Lowry. It is a classic that I have read it many times. I strongly recommend it to any reader 10 and up, it is a great introduction to the Holocaust especially for young readers.

 Historical Fiction books to read:

Good Reads Popular Historical Fiction

Amazon Historical Fiction Best Sellers

Historical fiction is the combination of historical facts and imagination. This genre is my favorite way to get children excited and interested in history. Books in this genre all have an element of realism. This is done with narrative format like journals or diary entries. Authors also use authentic settings and dialog of the given time period. 

When evaluating and selecting historical fiction for children, students, or yourself you want to find something interesting and engaging. Look for a story with strong character development and a credible engaging plot. You also want to make sure the writing style is effective for the reader. It is beneficial when the theme is relevant and the setting is detailed and believable.

Have your reader display their historical knowledge by writing their own historical fiction story with help from: How to write Historical Fiction 

Chapter 10: Nonfiction

When I was a young reader, Nonfiction books like biographies and informational text were not my favorite, I preferred historical fiction, realistic fiction, or modern fantasy. In the past nonfiction texts were not utilized in literacy instruction nearly enough. Now in the age of Common Core State Standards, young readers are being exposed to Nonfiction texts early and often. This use of nonfiction is a part of the goal to better prepare students for college and career. 

When selecting text for young readers, as teachers and parents we need to not fear the nonfiction. If you find the right text it will be interesting and fun to read. Nonfiction texts come in many verities. There are authentic biographies, autobiographies, and memories that can focus on discovery and exploration, political leaders, social activists, artists and authors, or people who have persevered. There are also informational books that can be about nature, people and cultures, history, discoveries and how things work, or hobbies, crafts, creative arts, how to books, sports, and recreation.

Do NOT be confused by common misconceptions about nonfiction books. Some myths includes: that they are all boring, only found in textbooks, or that children prefer fiction. Today that quality of nonfiction texts is a work of art, enjoyable for any reader. There are also several trade books available that are up-to-date, contain less overwhelming vocabulary, and provide more focus on the topic. Children of all ages prefer nonfiction books when given the opportunity to explore a topic they are interested in. Boys in particular enjoy nonfiction texts.

As teachers or parents it is part of our role to introduce and utilize this genre whenever possible. I have learned to appreciate nonfiction stories and I think all young readers can too. Look for stories like My Seasons with Penguins below. You will also find links on the left side bar to five different websites that recommend many recent nonfiction texts for children. Enjoy!

 

Chapter 7: Realistic Fiction

Realistic fiction is one of the most relatable genres for young readers. The stories are made up of plausible settings, characters and events. The story remains fiction because it didn’t actually happen. Realistic fiction can be broken into categories like adventure, mystery, humor, animals, sports, family, and growing up.

Reading realistic fiction books has many benefits for young readers. Because of the reality of the story line children can gain a more in-depth understanding of problems and relationships. They also help children face their problems because they know their problem is not unique to them and they are not alone in the world. These books can even extend a frame of reference and allow children to see the world from different perspectives.

Another use of realistic fiction is to address, explain, or introduce controversial issues. When death or divorce take place in a child’s family the child might not understand what’s happening or how to feel. Reading a story about a character dealing with the same problem can help the child get through that difficult time. Appropriate stories can also assist is discussions about moral choice, challenges, abuse, homelessness, poverty, sexism, and sexuality. 

Realistic fiction can also be used cross curriculum in the classroom. A great way to introduce or add to a lesson is with some literature. This can be done in math, science, or social studies. Many realistic fictions children’s books can relate to those topics and be incorporated into a lesson or used in a read aloud to increase student back ground knowledge, or review past content. Intertwining subject areas is beneficial all learners and often suggested by administration.

Notable authors in children’s realistic fiction include: Louis Sachar, Judy Blume, Katherine Paterson, Cynthia Rylant, and Julius Lester.