Literary Genres

Genre
Activity
- Picture Books are
stories written around one or two themes with the illustrations being an
integral part of the book.
- Fantasy
books are a type of fiction that contain elements such as characters or
settings that could not exist in life as we know it today. Examples include
characters such as dragons or animals with human characteristics. Settings
might be magical or other-world.
- Historical
fiction
books are those that give a historically accurate portrayal of life during a
particular time in history. They have a strong sense of place and time.
- Mystery books
are stories that involve a suspenseful event (often a crime of some type).
The reader uses clues from the story and gradually discovers who has
committed the crime to solve the mystery by the end of the story.
- Realistic fiction
books are those set in present-day. Characters encounter modern day
difficulties and dilemmas. Realistic fiction includes mysteries, adventure
stories, humorous stories, and much more.
- Nonfiction books
are informational books written by credible authors. Nonfiction books
explain how things work, tell facts about many different topics, and show us
how to do various things.
- Folktales
are stories that have been passed down to us over the years by real people.
There are many types of folktales, including fables, tall tales, myths, and
fairy tales.
- Fables are brief
stories that teach a lesson or moral. The characters are usually
animals, but they are given human characteristics.
- Tall Tales are
folktales that have a key element of exaggeration, such as Paul Bunyan.
- Fairy Tales usually
have magical elements with characters that could be fairies, giants, or
elves. Many times magical deeds are performed. Cinderella is an example
of a fairy tale.
- Myths are
stories that serve to explain some phenomenon of nature. Many
incorporate gods and goddesses within the story. The story of King Midas
is a myth.
- Poetry
books are those that include verses or poems. Poems may be humorous,
serious, lyrical, or narrative (tells a story). Many poems have a rhythm and
meter. Poems create imagery.
- Biographies
are histories of a person's life or parts of his/her life. A biography that
is written by a person about his/her own life is called an autobiography.
Back to Reading