Children's Genres
Picture Books : Children's books that provide a "visual experience" - telling a story with pictures. There may or may not be text with the book.
Fairy Tales : Also called "magic stories," these are filled with dreamlike possibility. Fairy tales feature magical and enchanted forces. They always have a "happily ever after" ending, where good is rewarded and evil is punished.
Myths : Myths portray themselves as representing a distant past. They contain common themes and characters, often "gods." Myths attempt to explain the beginning of the world, natural phenomena, the relationships between the gods and humans, and the origins of civilization.
Historical Fiction : These are stories that are written to portray a time period or convey information about a specific time period or an historical event.
Children's historical fiction features youth a playing an important, participatory role in history.
Modern Fantasy : This broad genre is probably easier to define by example or by what it is NOT. The stories may be based on animals that talk, elements of science fiction, supernatural or horror, or combinations of these elements. When written for young readers, these books are called chapter books - a format that breaks a story into sequential chapters that move towards a final resolution.
Realistic Fiction : Books that are written for today's youths, representing contemporary times, based on real-world situations are called realistic fictions. Similar to historical fiction, except these stories are based on current events. They feature children as their main characters and often allow young readers to "experience" different settings, cultures, and situations than what is the norm for their lifestyle.
Non-fiction Books that are designed to help readers learn more about real things.
Biography : A form of non-fiction that is based on the life of a person.
Poetry and Drama :Poems and drama are important genres that introduce children to verse, prose, rhythm, rhyme, writing styles, literary devices, symbolism, analogies, and metaphors.
Graphic novels: a collection of comics in book format, or a novel written in comic book style
Mystery & Detective : Stories that involve solving a crime or dealing with a mystery.
Fairy Tales : Also called "magic stories," these are filled with dreamlike possibility. Fairy tales feature magical and enchanted forces. They always have a "happily ever after" ending, where good is rewarded and evil is punished.
Myths : Myths portray themselves as representing a distant past. They contain common themes and characters, often "gods." Myths attempt to explain the beginning of the world, natural phenomena, the relationships between the gods and humans, and the origins of civilization.
Historical Fiction : These are stories that are written to portray a time period or convey information about a specific time period or an historical event.
Children's historical fiction features youth a playing an important, participatory role in history.
Modern Fantasy : This broad genre is probably easier to define by example or by what it is NOT. The stories may be based on animals that talk, elements of science fiction, supernatural or horror, or combinations of these elements. When written for young readers, these books are called chapter books - a format that breaks a story into sequential chapters that move towards a final resolution.
Realistic Fiction : Books that are written for today's youths, representing contemporary times, based on real-world situations are called realistic fictions. Similar to historical fiction, except these stories are based on current events. They feature children as their main characters and often allow young readers to "experience" different settings, cultures, and situations than what is the norm for their lifestyle.
Non-fiction Books that are designed to help readers learn more about real things.
Biography : A form of non-fiction that is based on the life of a person.
Poetry and Drama :Poems and drama are important genres that introduce children to verse, prose, rhythm, rhyme, writing styles, literary devices, symbolism, analogies, and metaphors.
Graphic novels: a collection of comics in book format, or a novel written in comic book style
Mystery & Detective : Stories that involve solving a crime or dealing with a mystery.