Explanation of Genres
The number of books in each genre that students need to complete is under the subtab "How Many" under Reading Requirements. They should finish these requirements by January 9.
Here are the genres we will cover this year. I have tried to give you some “cues” to look for in determining whether or not a book fits a certain genre. If you are ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to call or e-mail with questions.
Poetry (P): any forms of poems and verse; haiku, rhyming verse, free verse, etc. Collections are fine. Poems are short and there are illustrations. Many children’s collections can be read in an hour or so.
Traditional Literature (TL): stories passed down for generations by oral story-telling. These will be fairy tales, folktales, myths, legends, tall tales, etc. Most are in a collection and the kids will read many together in a book.
Realistic Fiction (RL): Books about things ordinary people could or would do. The settings are modern times and realistic places and events. Characters could be like us, family members or people we know.
Historical Fiction (HF): Books using fictional characters and plot line based around a real historic time or event. Settings are usually pre-1970. Characters may be a real historic person as well as authentic site, event and time.
Fantasy ( F): Imaginative fiction featuring strange settings and unreal creatures. Characters may be talking animals, mythical creatures and magical people. May include heroes and villains; journeys and quests; good versus evil, and magic.
Science Fiction (SF): Books that deal with the impact of science on society or individuals. Characters may include: mutants, robots, aliens, “mad” scientists, and computers. Settings can be futuristic cities, spaceships, galactical travel or even time travel. Societies may be using advanced technology or have governments that have changed and laws that have evolved from the way we know them.
Mystery (M): Books that deal with the solution of a mysterious crime. Characters may be spies, detectives, or investigators. Sometimes a kid is learning to be a detective. Settings may be a crime scene, detective agency or creepy house. The plot should involve a crime or mysterious event with clues that lead to a solution.
Informational (I): Basically any non-fiction, factual reading.
Autobiography, Biography, Memoir (ABM): Autobiographies are a person writing about their own life. Biographies are written by one person about another person’s life. Memoirs are short brief accounts (vignettes) an author writes about their own life.
Chapter Books Your Choice (CBYC): Books in any genre that you want to read more!
REMEMBER! Some books may fit several different genres!
Here are the genres we will cover this year. I have tried to give you some “cues” to look for in determining whether or not a book fits a certain genre. If you are ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to call or e-mail with questions.
Poetry (P): any forms of poems and verse; haiku, rhyming verse, free verse, etc. Collections are fine. Poems are short and there are illustrations. Many children’s collections can be read in an hour or so.
Traditional Literature (TL): stories passed down for generations by oral story-telling. These will be fairy tales, folktales, myths, legends, tall tales, etc. Most are in a collection and the kids will read many together in a book.
Realistic Fiction (RL): Books about things ordinary people could or would do. The settings are modern times and realistic places and events. Characters could be like us, family members or people we know.
Historical Fiction (HF): Books using fictional characters and plot line based around a real historic time or event. Settings are usually pre-1970. Characters may be a real historic person as well as authentic site, event and time.
Fantasy ( F): Imaginative fiction featuring strange settings and unreal creatures. Characters may be talking animals, mythical creatures and magical people. May include heroes and villains; journeys and quests; good versus evil, and magic.
Science Fiction (SF): Books that deal with the impact of science on society or individuals. Characters may include: mutants, robots, aliens, “mad” scientists, and computers. Settings can be futuristic cities, spaceships, galactical travel or even time travel. Societies may be using advanced technology or have governments that have changed and laws that have evolved from the way we know them.
Mystery (M): Books that deal with the solution of a mysterious crime. Characters may be spies, detectives, or investigators. Sometimes a kid is learning to be a detective. Settings may be a crime scene, detective agency or creepy house. The plot should involve a crime or mysterious event with clues that lead to a solution.
Informational (I): Basically any non-fiction, factual reading.
Autobiography, Biography, Memoir (ABM): Autobiographies are a person writing about their own life. Biographies are written by one person about another person’s life. Memoirs are short brief accounts (vignettes) an author writes about their own life.
Chapter Books Your Choice (CBYC): Books in any genre that you want to read more!
REMEMBER! Some books may fit several different genres!