Two big kinds of books
Every book you read is either fiction or nonfiction.
Fiction comes from the author’s imagination. The characters and events are made up. Even if a story seems like it could happen, the author invented it.
Nonfiction gives true information about real things. It is full of facts, which are things that are true and can be proven.
A quick memory trick: NONfiction is NOT made up.
Why it helps to tell them apart
Knowing which kind of book you are reading helps you:
- Understand it. You will not believe that pigs can really build houses.
- Read it the right way. You read fiction from start to finish. You can jump around in nonfiction to find the facts you need.
- Find books you want. Libraries keep fiction and nonfiction in different places.
The author’s purpose
Authors write for a reason, called their purpose.
- Fiction authors usually write to entertain, to tell a story you will enjoy.
- Nonfiction authors usually write to inform, to teach you something.
What fiction looks like
Fiction usually has:
- Characters (people or animals in the story)
- A setting (where and when)
- A plot with a beginning, middle and end
- A problem and a solution
- Illustrations (drawings)
- Sometimes things that could not happen in real life, like magic or talking animals
Kinds of fiction
A kind of writing is called a genre. Fiction genres include:
- Fairy tales: Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk
- Fables: short stories with a lesson, often with animals
- Fantasy: stories with magic or made-up worlds
- Realistic fiction: made-up stories that could happen, like a child starting at a new school
What nonfiction looks like
Nonfiction usually has:
- Facts about a real topic
- Real photographs
- Special text features to help you find information:
- Table of contents: a list of chapters at the front
- Headings: titles for each section
- Captions: sentences that explain a photo
- Labels: words that name parts of a picture
- Bold words: important words in dark print
- Glossary: a mini dictionary at the back
- Index: an ABC list of topics with page numbers
Kinds of nonfiction
- Informational books: all about sharks, volcanoes or planets
- How-to books: steps to make or do something
- Biography: the true story of a real person’s life
- Newspapers and magazines
How to read each kind
Reading fiction:
1. Look at the cover and title. Predict what might happen.
2. Meet the characters and the setting.
3. Look for the problem. Ask, “How will it be solved?”
4. At the end, retell the story and say what you liked.
Reading nonfiction:
1. Before you read, ask, “What do I already know about this topic? What do I want to learn?”
2. Use the table of contents to find the part you need.
3. Read the headings, photos and captions.
4. After reading, share one or two new facts you learned.
How to tell the difference
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is it about real things or made-up things?
- Are there characters with a problem? (fiction)
- Are there photos, headings and a glossary? (nonfiction)
- Is the author trying to entertain me or teach me?
- Could I check this fact in another book? (nonfiction)
Let’s try some examples
Example 1: Bella the bunny wanted to fly to the moon. She built a rocket out of carrots and zoomed into space.
Fiction. Bunnies cannot build rockets.
Example 2: Rabbits have long ears that help them hear danger. They can turn their ears in different directions.
Nonfiction. These are real facts.
Example 3: Max was nervous on his first day at a new school. At lunch, a girl named Rosa asked him to sit with her.
Fiction. It could really happen, but it is a made-up story. This genre is realistic fiction.
Example 4: A book called The Life of Terry Fox tells about his real run across Canada.
Nonfiction. It is a biography.
Common mistakes
- “It could happen, so it’s nonfiction.” Realistic fiction can seem real, but it is still made up.
- “It has animals, so it’s fiction.” Many nonfiction books are about animals.
- “It has pictures, so it’s fiction.” Nonfiction has pictures too, usually photographs.
Try it yourself
Fiction or nonfiction?
- A book that tells how to plant a seed, step by step.
- A story about a dragon who is afraid of the dark.
- A book about the planets with real photos from space.
- A story about two friends who build a tree house.
Answers: 1. Nonfiction (how-to). 2. Fiction (fantasy). 3. Nonfiction (informational). 4. Fiction (realistic fiction).
Tip for families
At the library, choose one fiction and one nonfiction book on the same topic, such as a story about a bear and a fact book about bears. Read both and talk about how they are different.
Quick recap
- Fiction is made up; nonfiction is true.
- Fiction entertains; nonfiction informs.
- Fiction has characters, a setting and a plot.
- Nonfiction has facts, photos and text features.
- A genre is a kind of writing, like fairy tale or biography.