Nonfiction

 Nonfiction literature can be compared to an umbrella for the reason there are many subgenres that fall under it.  They include narrative and expository, as well as biography, autobiography, and memoirs.  When evaluating nonfiction you should ask what qualifications does the author have, are the facts accurate, and the purpose of the text.  In addition, evaluate the organization of the book and how it helps the reader navigate through the book.  Finally, evaluate the role that the visuals play.

When a reader is reading nonfiction, there are a variety of questions or prompts you can ask the reader in order for them to apply critical thinking skills.  For example, have them tell about how the book would be different if it had been written fifty years earlier or later.  Another example is to have  the reader describe facts, theories, or incidences that they found interesting and explain why.

Historical Fiction

 Historical fiction is a type of literature that has taken place in the past.  Because students' sense of history can differ, historical fiction may be more of a challenge to read.  However, historical fiction allows the reader to live vicariously through the character’s experiences.  When evaluating historical fiction, you should think if the book tells a good story that effortlessly blends history.  It is also important to make sure the facts of the period are accurate.  Next, ask yourself if the values of the time are brought to life and if everything is consistent with the social milieu, such as clothing, architecture, or music.  Lastly, evaluate if the theme of the story relates to readers, or that it is universal in nature.

Realistic Fiction

 Realistic fiction is a believable story that takes place in contemporary or modern time.  It is consistent with the real world and has characters, a setting, and real events.  When evaluating realistic fiction, it is important to ask yourself if everything is consistent with the real world.  It is also important that the theme emerges naturally from the story.  Lastly, think about how the topic of the book relates to modern readers.  Is the topic something they can connect with?

Poetry

 Poetry is a form of literature that can take place in different genres.  Poetry tends to be neglected because people may have had bad experiences with it or may find it difficult.  Research shows that children favor narrative poetry, but dislike haiku and free verse.  Rhyme, rhythm, and sound devices were strong preferences.  Also, humorous and animal poems were found to be favorable, as well as poetry that allows the reader to create an image in their mind and to interact with the poem.  

There are six reasons to share poetry with children.  To begin, for enjoyment and because poetry provides knowledge of concepts.  Poetry also increases vocabulary.  Next it helps children to identify with people and situations, as well as understand their feelings and universal emotions.  When evaluating poetry, think about if the subject of the poem is something children will be familiar with.  Also, evaluate if the poem uses imagery and if it rhymes.  In addition, think about how the rhythm is used and what role the sound plays.  

Literary Elements

 allusion - is a reference to something else.  It’s when a writer mentions some other work, or refers to an earlier part of current work.

allegory - suggests a hidden meaning using metaphoric examples

archetype - a reference to a concept a person or an object that has served as a prototype of its kind and its original idea that has come to be used over and over again

deus ex machine - refers to the incidence where an implausible concept or character is brought into the story in order to make the conflict in the story resolve and to bring about a pleasing situation

hyperbole - the author uses specific words and phrases that exaggerate and overemphasize

imagery - the author uses words and phrases to create “mental images” for the reader

metaphor - when a comparison is drawn to show similarities and traits between two things

motif - any element, subject, idea, or concept that is constantly present through the entire body of language

point of view - the manner in which a story is narrated and who it is that tells the story

simile - draw comparisons between two unrelated things, people, beings, places, and concepts

symbolism - using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning

Literary Elements:

antagonist - opposite of the main character, usually the villain of some kind

character - a person, animal, being, creature, or thing in a story

conflict - the problem the character faces

mood and tone - the “feel” of a piece of writing

plot - the sequence of events that make up a story

protagonist - the main character

setting - the time and place of the story

theme - the central idea, topic, or point; what the character learns through solving a problem

Awards

 As a librarian, it is important to be knowledgeable of awards that books receive.  The American Library Association is responsible for many awards.  Some awards include the Newbery Medal.  The Newbery Medal honors the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.  The Caldecott Medal honors the artist of a picture book.  The Batchelder Award is given to an American publisher for a children’s book considered to be the most outstanding of these books originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the U.S.  There are also awards in which children and educators have a hand in selecting the winner.  For example, the Children’s Choice Award and the Teacher’s Choice Award.  The Texas Library Association also provides awards.  An example is the Texas Bluebonnet Award where Texas students in grades 3-6 are encouraged to read a list of books and are able to vote for their favorite.

How Do Adolescents Develop?

 When discussing how adolescents develop, its first important to look at physical development.  This is puberty.  Adolescents ask if they are normal and question their physical bodies.  Its an uneasy time of change which is important to remember when dealing with adolescents.  There are many books that deal with this issue, and our job as educators is to look for books that will help to ensure them they will get through it.

Adolescents also develop intellectualy.  Piaget discusses how we transition between a sensory motor stage to a concrete stage to a more formal operational stage.  In the past it was said kids begin the transition from concrete to abstract around age ten.  That has since changed to fourteen.  This should drive the kinds of questions that we ask kids.  Scaffolding may be needed.  Also think about the books that will be offered.  It is important to think where the kids are in terms of intellectual development. 

Adolescents also develop how they look at their morals.  Kolberg's theory says kids operate as a preconventional moral development where they work off rewards and punishments.  Convential is where we follow the rules.  Post-conventional is where we recognize the laws, but the humanity of an individual may be more important.  For example, the Civil Rights era.  This information should be used when looking for books that are developmentally appropriate for the students.  

It is important to look at the needs for kids.  Maslow's Needs Hierarchy shows that each need from the bottom of the pyramid needs to be met before reaching the needs at the top.  For example, we must take care of kids physiological and safety needs before we are able to meeet self actualization needs.  After safety needs, we must take care of the love and belonging needs, then the self esteem needs.  

When developing as readers, we may look at reading for unconscience delight or reading autobiographically.  Our classrooms or library should reflect diversity to meet the needs of all developing readers.