Points to ponder nf

1. Nonfiction

2. Definition (Kiefer & Tyson, 2014)
• Used to be referred to as informational books (where
people think mostly of encyclopedias and textbooks)
• The relatively more recent term nonfiction is used to refer
to the body of literature representing a wider variety of
books--biographies, history, true adventures, science,
sports, photographic essays, memoirs, etc.– that are
available and accessible for children and young adults
• Can be as compelling, engaging and beautifully written as
fiction

3. Awards for Nonfiction
• Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for
Children (awarded by the National Council of Teacher’s
of English)
2015 winner is “The Family Romanov: Murder,
Rebellion & the Fall of Imperial Russia” by Candace
Fleming
• Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award (awarded by
the American Library Association)
 2015 winner is “The Right Word: Roget and His
Thesaurus” by Jen Bryant

4. Evaluating Nonfiction Books
• Accuracy and Authenticity
• Content and Perspective
• Style
• Organization
• Illustrations and Format

5. Evaluation Criteria
1. Accuracy and authenticity
• Is the author qualified to write about this topic?
• Are the facts accurate according to other sources?
• Is the information up-to-date?
• Are all the significant facts included?
2. Content and perspective
• For what purpose was the book designed?
• Is the book within the comprehension and interest range of
its intended audience?
• Is the subject adequately covered? Are different viewpoints
presented?

6. Evaluation Criteria (cont.)
3. Style
• Is information presented clearly and directly?
• Is the text appropriate for the intended audience?
• Does the style create the feeling of reader involvement?
• Is the language vivid and interesting?
4. Organization
• Is the information structured clearly, with appropriate
subheadings?
• Does the book have reference aids that are clear and easy
to use, such as table of contents, index, bibliography,
glossary, appendix?

7. Evaluation Criteria (cont.)
5. Illustrations and format
• Do illustrations clarify and extend the text or speak
plainly for themselves?
• Are size relationships made clear?
• Are media suitable to the purposes for which they are
used?
• Are illustrations explained by captions or labels where
needed?
• Does the total format contribute to the clarity and
attractiveness of the book?

8. Types of Nonfiction
• Concept Books
• Craft and How-to Books
• Documents and Journals
• Experiment and Activity Books
• Identification Books
• Life-Cycle Books
• Nonfiction Picturebooks
• Photographic Essays
• Specialized Books
• Survey Books

9. Access Features Found in
Nonfiction Books (Kerper,
2003)
• Access features of books are different ways of providing
readers the access to ideas and images in order for them
to enjoy and use the literature for selective purposes
(Kerper, 2003)
• Access features are important in the creation of an
engaging, informative and useful book

10. Access Features Found in
Nonfiction Books (cont.)
Access Features Include:
• Table of Contents and Index
• Glossary
• Sidebars
• Inserted Information
• Author’s and Illustrator’s Notes

11. Visual Displays Found in
Nonfiction Books
Some nonfiction authors convey information through
iconographic/visual displays. Some displays are
representational while some are highly stylized abstractions.
Visual Displays Include:
• Photography
• Diagrams
• Maps
• Tables/Charts

12. Some Award-winning
Nonfiction Titles
Title Author Description
Electric Ben: The
Amazing Life and
Times of Benjamin
Franklin
Robert Byrd 2013 Robert F. Sibert
Informational Honor
Book; 2013 NCTE
Orbis Pictus Honor
Book for Outstanding
Nonfiction for Children
Spiders Nic Bishop 2008 NCTE Orbis
Pictus Honor Book for
Outstanding Nonfiction
for Children

13. Some Award-winning
Nonfiction Titles (cont.)
Title Author/Illustrator Description
Mosquito Bite Alexandra Siy/ Dennis
Kunkel
2006 NCTE Orbis Pictus
Honor Book for
Outstanding Nonfiction
for Children
Balloons Over
Broadway: The True
Story of the Puppeteer of
Macy’s Parade
Melissa Sweet 2012 Robert F. Sibert
Informational Book
Medal