Nonfiction+Informational

Nonfictional Informational - explains a subject

There is a huge variety of informational text out there for children and this area is growing, growing, growing! It is very important that children have experiences with expository text (nonfiction). Nonfiction is written differently. There is no plot or conflict. There are no fictional characters. Everything in a nonfiction book is real and did happen. Exposing children to nonfiction early in their school careers will help them as they grow and go to middle school, high school, and beyond when the majority of reading that students do is nonfiction.

Interesting tidbit: We analyzed the reading comprehension tests for ITBS in the middle school. On the 6th grade reading comprehension test, there was one selection of fiction (poetry), the others were nonfiction. In 7th and 8th grade, all reading selections on the reading comprehension test were nonfiction.

Authors: Gail Gibbons - author/illustrator of picture information books. Seymour Simon - photojournalist - books written as a picture book, but use photos. Stephen Biesty; David Macauly - detailed illustrators and authors, particularly of historical buildings

Publishers: Eyewitness Books Dorling-Kindersly Usborne

General Information: The Popcorn Book - Tomie de Paola Tough Trucks

Social Studies/History

The National Anthem - Elaine Landau - A True Book - great for early elementary. America the Beautiful series - profiles all 50 states - 3rd edition printed by Scholastic Candy Bomber - Michael Tunnell (The Story of the Berlin Airlift's Chocolate Pilot) Travel Through India - Elaine Jackson (Teacher Created Resources) The Union Soldier - Renee Rebman (We the People series) The Confederate Soldier - Jennifer Gillis (We the People series) Ancient Egypt - Eyewitness Books Knights and Castles - Avery Hart & Paul Mantell Look What came from Switzerland - Miles Harvey Welcome to Switzerland Mosque - David Macaulay

Art/Music How to Draw Dinosaurs Hot Jazz Special - Jonny Hannah Illuminations - Jonathan Hunt

Science:

Life in a Lake - Melissa Stewart (Ecosystems in Action series) Informania Sharks - Christopher Maynard The Autumn Leaf - Carl Emerson (Science Read It readers) An American Plague - Jim Murphy (Newbery Honor) Monster Bones - Jacqui Bailey (Science Works series) Elephants of Africa - Gail Gibbons Bones, Brains, and DNA - Ian Tattersall & Rob DeSalle Pond and River - Eyewitness Books

Sports: Snowboarding (Dorling Kindersly) Cheerleading (First Sports - beginning reader) Wrestling (First Sports - beginning reader)