genres. review what are nonfiction books? what’s your favorite nonfiction book?

GENRES

Review• What are nonfiction books?

• What’s your favorite nonfiction book?

Nonfiction• Who came up

with a plan on how to divide the books into groups?

• Why did he do this?

born in 1851

What do we call his plan?

•THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM

DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM

• How many main groups did he divide the books into?

• What are they?

Mr. Dewey used the Dewey Decimal System to help him classify the books in the nonfiction section.

FICTION

• If nonfiction books are factual, what are fiction books?

• What’s your favorite fiction book?

NONFICTION

FICTION

There are 2 main types of literature:

FICTIONWithin the fiction section there are lots of books that we can group together because they have something in common.

NONFICTION

Within the nonfiction section there are also lots of books we can group together because they have something in common.

These groups have a name.

GENRE

According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, genre

means…

•“1 a category of artistic, musical, or literary composition characterized by a particular style, form, or content 2 kind. sort.”

NONFICTION

FICTION

What are some genres in nonfiction?

NONFICTION

FICTION

What are some genres in fiction?

Did we miss any genres?

mystery

biographies

fantasy

poetry

fables

Historical fiction

Science fictio

n

Fairy tales

Realistic fiction

myths

horror

romance

adventure storie

s

Picture books

This year we’ll find out what makes some genres special and read some books from various genres.

SCIENCE + FICTION =

WHAT GENRE?

SCIENCE + FICTION =

SCIENCE FICTION

What famous science fiction writer was born in Syracuse, N.Y.?

Bruce

Coville

born in Syracuse, New York, on May 16, 1950

He writes lots of different series such as: 

• Sixth Grade Alien Series

• Space Brat Series • Rod Albright Alien

Adventures • Bruce Coville's

Books of... • My Teacher Is an

Alien Series

ALIENS STOLE MY BODY

• Can you imagine what you would be like if your brain was empty?! That’s what happens to Rod. He has to figure out a way to get his mind and his body back together again!

Most science fiction books have characters with strange names. Try reading some of the names in this book:

•Selima Khan• Snout• Elspeth• Madam Pong• Grakker• Ah-Rit

What will you do if you can’t pronounce a

word?

What does the word SETTING mean?

• The setting of science fiction books can be -

• in the future• in space• in a different world• in a different

universe.

• This book takes place on the planet Kryndamar.

Science fiction books are based on science theories that could be partly true. Why?

K. A. Applegate:Animorph series

• There are 54 books in the ANIMORPH series.• The kids in these books can “morph” into an

animal!• How? They touch something that’s alive and aborb DNA into their own bodies. That gives them the power to morph.

Animorph series

What makes these books science fiction?

Franny K. SteinMad Scientist

• Kissypie! What kind of middle name is that?!

• How can a name like that turn this book into a science fiction book?

THE FRAN THAT TIME FORGOT

Franny K. SteinMad Scientist

• Franny invents a time-warp machine.

• She goes back in time to when she’s a baby.

THE FRAN THAT TIME FORGOT

Tell us about these books. Are they science fiction?

you’ll probably like

If you like science fiction,

FANTASY

Some authors write both science fiction AND fantasy

books.

Who am I?

THE MONSTER’S RING

(fantasy)• In the Monster’s

Ring, Russell goes into a magic shop and ends up buying a “monster’s ring.”

• He doesn’t really believe it’s magic, but when he puts it on his finger, twists it once, then says the magic words, he turns into a monster!

THE MONSTER’S RING

(fantasy)• What’s going

to happen when he twists the ring two times, or even worse, three times?!

What kind of struggle might happen in The

Monster’s Ring?

• A fantasy book is not true; therefore it is ___________.

• The plot will usually involve a big struggle between good and evil.

FANTASY

•Talking animals

•Magical powers

•Time travel

•Imaginary beings from other planets

This toad has an attitude!

Harry Potter books by•Many fantasy books are very long. Have you ever read an entire Harry Potter book?

What’s the advantage to a book having so many pages?

What do you see in this picture?

• Can you imagine being shipwrecked and waking up in a land of Lilliputians?

• Lilliputians were only about 6” tall!

Gulliver in Lilliput / retold by Margaret Hodges from Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift

The country was ruled by horses!!

•While there, Gulliver got caught up in a war between 2 nations.

•The war started because the 2 nations couldn’t agree over which end of a boiled egg one should open.

What would you do if you were Gulliver?

JON SCIESZKA

• You might know Jon Scieszka as the author of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.

• But have you read the fantasy…

The Not-So-Jolly Roger

•Through magic, 3 boys end up in a coconut tree in a desert.

The Not-So-Jolly Roger

• The pirate Blackbeard comes to the desert to bury his treasure. He sees the boys and captures them! He takes them to his pirate ship.

The Not-So-Jolly Roger

• This is just one of the Time Warp Trio series.

More Fantasy Books!

• Winnie the Pooh• Alice in Wonderland• Bunnicula• The Giver• Wrinkle in Time

FANTASY: Time travel - talking animals - imaginary beings - magical powers

What is a mystery book?

• Let’s see if you’re right.

Genre:

MYSTERY

Mysteries•CHARACTERS SEEM SO

REAL•MAIN CHARACTER COULD

BE A DETECTIVE OR A SPY•MAIN CHARACTER LOOKS

FOR CLUES TO SOLVE A PROBLEM OR A CRIME

DAVID ADLER writes mysteries.

DON’T THINK, JUST WRITE!

These words are on a sign in David Adler’s office. What does this sign mean?

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of Flight 54Cam Jansen and the Ghostly MysteryCam Jansen and the Scary Snake MysteryCam Jansen and the Barking Treasure MysteryCam Jansen and the Triceratops Pops MysteryYoung Cam Jansen and the Pizza Shop MysteryCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Television DogCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen DiamondsCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Corn PopperCam Jansen and the Mystery at the Haunted HouseCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Chocolate Fudge SaleCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Carnival PrizeCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Monster MovieCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Circus ClownCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Babe Ruth BaseballCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Gold CoinsCam Jansen and the Mystery of the Dinosaur BonesYoung Cam Jansen and the Double Beach MysteryCam Jansen and the Birthday MysteryCam Jansen #8 Mystery of the Monster MovieCam Jansen & the Tennis Trophy MysteryCam Jansen & Mystery of Stolen Diamonds

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O.Cam Jansen Double Mystery #1Young Cam Jansen and the Dinosaur GameYoung Cam Jansen and the Missing CookieYoung Cam Jansen and the Dinosaur GameCam Jansen and the Mystery at the Monkey HouseYoung Cam Jansen and the Ice Skate MysteryCam Jansen and the School Play MysteryYoung Cam Jansen and the Lost ToothBones and the Dinosaur MysteryCam Jansen and the Mystery at the Haunted HouseCam Jansen Triceratops Pops MysteryYoung Cam Jansen & the Substitute MysteryCam Jansen #12 Mystery of Flight 54Cam Jansen #11 Mystery of the Stolen Corn PopperYoung Cam Jansen & the Spotted Cat MysteryBones and the Big Yellow MysteryYoung Cam Jansen and the Substitute MysteryCam Jansen 14 Chocolate Fudge MysteryCam Jansen & the Ghostly MysteryCam Jansen & the Birthday MysteryCam Jansen & the Catnapping MysteryCam Jansen & the School Play MysteryCam Jansen & First Day of School MysteryCam Jansen & the Barking Treasure MysteryCam Jansen & the Scary Snake MysteryCam Jansen & the Mystery of the UFOCam Jansen & Mystery of the Dinosaur Bon

After just writing, he would edit his work several times. Over time, he wrote many, many books.

CAM JANSEN AND THE BARKING TREASURE MYSTERY by David

Adler• Little Treasure is

stolen! (Little Treasure is a poodle.)

• Cam will act like a detective. She will use her memory to find clues to solve the mystery.

CLUE“Clue: Something that serves to guide or direct in the solution of a problem or mystery.”

www.dictionary.com

HOUSE OF DIES DREARby Virginia Hamilton

A family is excited to move into this big old house because the house used to be part of the underground railroad.

HOUSE OF DIES DREARby Virginia Hamilton

But what’s happening? Is someone trying to scare them away? What motive would the person have?

MOTIVE“Motive: an idea, need, desire, or impulse that causes a person to act in a particular way or do a particular thing; reason.

His motive for robbing the bank was not clear.”

http://www.factsforlearning.com/ffl-dictionary.asp

SUSPECTS

“Suspect: one who is suspected of doing something wrong or of a crime.

She is a suspect in the robbery.”

http://www.factsforlearning.com/ffl-dictionary.asp

THE CASE OF THE BARFY BIRTHDAYby Michele Torrey

• There are 4 mysteries in this book.

• In each one, Drake and Nell use deductive reasoning to solve the cases.

THE CASE OF THE BARFY BIRTHDAYby Michele Torrey

• In one story, so many people at the birthday party seem to be getting sick!

• Drake and Nell make a deduction using what they know about bacteria.

DEDUCTION“Deduction: the process of finding an answer by using what is already known to be true.

If you see footprints in the snow, and you know that the snow started falling after dark, deduction will tell you that somebody was here last night.”

http://www.factsforlearning.com/ffl-dictionary.asp

DEAD LETTERby Betsy Byars

• Herculeah Jones buys a coat at a 2nd hand store. Inside the lining, she finds a letter written by a woman who is dead. In the letter, the woman says that she thinks someone is trying to kill her! She even says she’s being held prisoner!

DEAD LETTERby Betsy Byars

• What kind of evidence will Herculeah find to prove that the woman really was murdered?

• Worse yet, will Herculeah herself be murdered?

EVIDENCE“Evidence: something that gives proof or a reason to believe.

Scientists have not yet found evidence of life on Mars.”

http://www.factsforlearning.com/ffl-dictionary.asp

RUDE ROWDY RUMORS

• Brian feels awful! Someone on his soccer team is spreading awful rumors about him!

• He needs a witness to help him solve the mystery.

by Elizabeth Levy

WITNESS

“Witness: to watch or be present at.

He witnessed the accident.”

http://www.factsforlearning.com/ffl-dictionary.asp

Let’s check your memory!

• Clue• Motive• Suspects• Deduction• Evidence• Witness

FOLK

TALE

S FAIRY TALES

FABLESWHERE CAN YOU

FIND THESE IN

OUR LIBRARY?

398.2

2 entries found for folktale.

“Folktale or folk tale

n. A story or legend forming part of an oral tradition.

Folktale

n : a tale circulated by word of mouth among the common folk”

www.dictionary.com

Can you

explain this?

In folktales,

•animals that talk

•monsters• tricks•# 3 or 7

Folktales were told all over the world.

• Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm were born in the late 1700’s in Germany. When they grew up, they traveled a lot. Wherever they traveled, they listened to people tell stories. They published many of these stories. Today they are very famous and are known as the Brothers Grimm.

They published these stories.

• Cinderella• Sleeping Beauty• Snow White• Little Red Riding

Hood• Rapunzel• Rumpelstiltskin• Hansel and Gretel• The Frog King

The Bearskinner : a story by the brothers Grimm; with

pictures by Felix Hoffmann • Today we’re

taught not to talk to strangers. But this story took place a long time ago so the soldier in this story not only met, but also made a deal with a stranger.

The Bearskinner : a story by the brothers Grimm; with

pictures by Felix Hoffmann • The 2 agreed that

if the soldier could go 7 years without shaving, washing, combing his hair, cutting his nails, or praying, then he would become very rich.

The Bearskinner

• He didn’t look too bad at first, so a woman he met fell in love with him. She agreed to wait for him for 7 years.

• What do you think happens when she sees him after 7 years?

another Grimm story

• Know where the devil lives?

• The hero in this story has to go there to get 3 hairs from the devil’s head!

Remember, folktales were told all over the world.

• Many of the Grimm tales we know are also found in other parts of the world. The characters and setting might be different, but the plot is basically the same.

Remember, folktales were told all over the world.

• In this book, Judy Sierra collected 15 stories from all around the world. You have to read each one and match them with a familiar story such as The Frog Prince or Rumpelstiltskin.

Virginia Haviland• Virginia Haviland

was like the Grimm Brothers. In that she collected stories from all over the world. Favorite Fairy Tales is a series of stories told in 16 countries.

FAVORITE FAIRY TALES TOLD IN

INDIA• “Slip Slop

Gobble” is a story in this book.

• Parrot is greedy and mean while Cat is really nice. Nice doesn’t cut it though when Parrot is hungry enough to eat everyone he meets!

Did you notice that series said “Favorite FAIRY TALES,” not FOLK TALES?

FOLK TALES•tales of talking animals•tales that tell why (Pourquoi tales)

•tales of magic (fairy tales)•cumulative tales•tales of exaggeration (legends,

tall tales)

Fairy tales are tales of magic. They are folk tales.

• CINDERELLA is a fairy tale. It is told in different ways all over the world.

Wanda Gag's The Six Swans• ONE day a king solved a problem by

making a deal with an old woman. As a result, he had to marry the woman’s daughter who was very wicked indeed.

Wanda Gag's The Six Swans• Because the king had bad vibes about

his new wife, he worried that his 6 sons and a daughter from a previous marriage might not be safe. He didn’t even want his new wife to know they existed. So he hid them in a castle deep in the woods. His new wife was smart though. She paid the king’s servants to tell her where he went everyday.

Wanda Gag's The Six Swans• She came up with a plan. She sewed

some white shirts and then sewed a spell in each one. Then she set off for the castle. The boys thought their father was coming so they ran outside. She threw a shirt over each one of them and watched as they turned into swans.

Wanda Gag's The Six Swans• It’s a good thing the daughter

didn’t run outside. She’s the only one who didn’t turn into a swan. She ran into the forest to find her brothers.

Wanda Gag's The Six Swans• Eventually she found them and

discovered that if she wanted to break the spell, she had to sew 6 shirts made out of star flowers and couldn’t laugh or speak for 6 years. She was determined to do this. It was a little hard though when a king decided to marry her. For 6 years of marriage she never laughed or talked. She had 3 kids, but her mother-in-law took them away from her and hid them. She had a very difficult life.

Wanda Gag's The Six SwansThe king finally decided that she must be killing her babies and decided she should die. On the final day of the 6 years, she was about to be burned to death. Just as someone was lighting the fire, she looked up and saw 6 swans.

Wanda Gag's The Six Swans• She quickly threw the six shirts

over them. The magic spell was off! There was only one problem – the youngest brother still had 1 swan wing.

Wanda Gag's The Six Swans• The king found out his mother had

lied. I don’t know what happened to his mother, but everyone else lived happily ever after.

Compare parts of the story, THE SIX SWANS, to other fairy tales.

Rafe Martin

• Rafe Martin read The Six Swans. When he finished, he had a lot of questions that he wanted answered. He wondered what happened to the boy who still had one wing.

Rafe Martin

• “What happens to that boy?”

• “What kind of young man will he become?”

• “How will he find his place on this earth and be happy, when all who see him think him a cripple or worse, a freak?”

http://www.embracingthechild.org/authors2005.html

BIRDWING

• So Rafe Martin wrote BIRDWING. This story begins 6 years later and is mostly about the youngest boy, Prince Ardwin.

BIRDWING

• Prince Ardwin can’t figure out whether he wants to stay with his family or return to the sky.

BIRDWING

• If he stays, he might have to get a mechanical arm. Plus his father might make him marry another king’s daughter. So he leaves.

BIRDWING

• While he’s gone, he experiences violence, danger, struggles and love. He even sees his stepmother, the one who turned him into a swan to begin with!

Folktales by Rafe Martin

A man tells his 2 sons it is time to prove themselves. One leaves and spends lots of money. The other leaves and saves a baby bird. He ends up understanding the language of birds. Then - danger comes!

(Russian folktale)

Folktales by Rafe Martin

In THE SHARK GOD, 2 children are condemned to death. Their parents hope the ferocious shark god will help save them.

(Hawaiian folktale)

FABLES398.2

FABLE:

“1 a short tale that teaches a lesson. The characters in fables are often animals who speak and act like people.

"The Fox and the Grapes" is a well-known fable by Aesop.

2 a false story; lie.

He told us a fable about his father being a jet pilot.”

http://www.factsforlearning.com/ffl-dictionary.asp

CHARACTERS

• Characters don’t usually have names like we do. They go by the type of animal.

• They talk and act like people.

ANT

GRASSHOPPER

The characters don’t change much.

• Foxes are always clever.

• Mice are always small and weak.

• But the main character always learns a lesson.

WHAT IS THE MORAL OF A

FABLE?

MORAL:

“1 the lesson about right and wrong learned from a story or event.”

http://www.factsforlearning.com/ffl-dictionary.asp

What do these morals mean?

• Never trust a flatterer.• It is easy to scorn what you cannot get.• One cannot get through life without a

little work.• Let your actions speak for themselves.• Too much greed will not bring success.

Aesop

AESOP• The man who wrote

most of the fables we know is named Aesop.

• He lived as a slave in Greece in the 6th century.

• We don’t know a lot about him, but we do know that his master eventually gave him freedom.

HAVE YOU READ THESE?

• The fable in this book that you might like the best has this moral:

• He who smelt it, dealt it!

REALISTICFICTION

Additional website to use with students

For fairy tale genre:

http://www.classicfairytales.com/en/main

Bonnie FrenchTina Laramie

Michele Romeo

Library Media SpecialistsSyracuse City School District

Syracuse, New York