The Categories or Genres of Childrens and YA Literature

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The Categories (or Genres) of Childrens and YA
Literature

• Prof. Shirley Santiago
• English 326

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Categories or Genres of Childrens and YA Lit
Traditional Fantasy
Fantasy
Modern Fantasy
Science Fiction
Fiction
Prose or Poetry
Modern Problem Novel
Ethnic Literature
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Poetry or Prose?

• Can rhyme or be rhythmic
• Can be condensed or longer than prose
• Forms haiku, sonnet, couplet, blank verse,
  limerick, cinquain, free verse and more!
• NOT WRITTEN IN PARAGRAPHS

• ALWAYS WRITTEN IN PARAGRAPHS!

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Poetry or Prose?

• Beyond the difference in format, the function of
  both literary forms is identical
• Both thoughtfully explore the world
• Both give insight into the human condition
• Both bring pleasure to the reader

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Fiction vs. Non-Fiction

• Springs largely from the authors imagination
• Cannot be verified in other sources
• Ideas, incidents, the setting, and details can be
  accurate but the structure comes from the mind
• If any part of the book is fiction, then it is
  categorized as fiction.

• Centers on what can be confirmed by research
• All the evidence and facts can be documented.
• The content of nonfiction exists.

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Non-Fiction

• Biography (Autobiography)
• Tells the story, or at least part of the story,
  of an actual persons life
• Reliable sources and documentation are
  imperative.

• Informational
• Generally called nonfiction in adult publishing
• Anything that is not literature (fiction, drama,
  or poetry)

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Fiction

• Realistic Fiction and Fantastic Fiction
• Both are invented stories, often with invented
  characters and events that take place in invented
  settings
• The difference between realism and fantasy lies
  in the laws of our universe

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Fiction

• Realistic Fiction
• Dogs bark
• Trees are green
• Gravity is everywhere
• Time passes normally (seconds, minutes, hours,
  days)

• Fantastic Fiction
• Dogs speak
• Trees are magical
• Pigs can fly and defy gravity
• Time travel is possible - to the past or the
  future!

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Realistic FictionContemporary Realistic vs.
Historical

• The aim of both categories is to tell an
  interesting story about people in our world.
• Contemporary identifies a story that takes place
  in todays world.
• Historical indicates a tale that happened at an
  earlier time for example, pioneer America or
  medieval England.
• However, the difference between the two genres
  can depend on the age of the reader.

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Fantastic FictionTraditional Fantasy vs. Modern
FantasyThe difference lies in antiquity.

• Some stories are as old as humanity and are part
  of the human tradition.
• Their origin is oral.
• Their authors are unknown.
• Some are now preserved in print and are known by
  those who first collected them (e.g. the Brothers
  Grimm)

• Has an identifiable author.
• Originated in print.
• For example, the tales of Hans Christian Andersen
  are considered modern fantasy.
• A subgenre is science fiction, which deals with
  scientific possibilities.

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Fantastic FictionModern Fantasy vs. Science
Fiction

• Both modern fantasy and science fiction contain
  story elements not found in the known universe,
  such as being able to change shapes or read
  peoples minds.
• In modern fantasy those abilities just are or
  come about by magic.
• In science fiction, they are the result of an
  injection made from a special formula or the
  alteration of a persons brain chemistry using
  laser surgery.
• Science fiction is based on extrapolated
  scientific facts pushed into logical but unproven
  possibilities.

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The Picture Book as a Special Category in
Childrens Literature

• Picture books are defined by their format rather
  than their content.
• They can be of any genre, including poetry.
• They are unique because illustrations and text
  share the job of telling the story or teaching
  content.

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Categories of Picture Books

• Predictable Books
• Beginning Reader Picture Books
• Picture Storybooks
• Engineered Books
• Baby/Board Books

• ABC Books
• Counting Books
• Concept Books
• Participation Books
• Wordless Picture Books

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Categories of Picture Books

• ABC Books
• One of the earliest varieties of illustrated
  books for children, authors and illustrators have
  devised inventive ways to introduce the alphabet.
• The alphabet may be used to introduce or
  categorize information or concepts for older
  children.
• They are meant to entertain or teach fascinating
  words or interesting concepts, but not phonics.

• Counting Books
• Also one of the earlier types of picture books
  for children.
• Unlike ABC books, they do help children learn
  basic numbers and give them practice counting,
  typically from 1 to 10.
• Usually provide a printed Arabic number
  accompanied by the same number of like objects
• 5
• The better books allow for personal discovery.

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Categories of Picture Books

• Wordless Picture Books
• Young children reinforce what they know about
  books and how they work as they read by
  themselves
• They encourage children to experience language by
  creating text
• The goal is to enjoy the book, whether it tells a
  story or teaches a concept

• Concept Books
• Introduce single, focused concepts to young
  children.
• Typical topics include colors, opposites, and
  basic geometric shapes.
• Participation Books
• Designed to involve children in physical activity
  that goes beyond the reading of the text

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Categories of Picture Books

• Predictable Books
• Sometimes called pattern books, they are
  characterized by repeated language patterns,
  story patterns or other sequences.
• The best examples are lively, use interesting
  words, and invite children to chime in.
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see?
• I see a redbird looking at me.
• Redbird, Redbird, what do you see?
• I see a yellow duck looking at me.

• Beginning Reader Picture Books
• Gives beginning reader well-written yet easy to
  read materials
• Example Dr. Seuss and The Cat in the Hat
• Picture Story Books
• Originates with the publication in 1902 of The
  Tale of Peter Rabbit
• Text and illustrations work together on each page
  to tell a story
• Are the foundation for literacy training as they
  are the bedtime stories

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Categories of Picture Books

• Engineered Books
• Based on physical structure rather than form or
  content
• Paper engineering involves the cutting, folding,
  or otherwise restructuring of the normal printed
  or illustrated page
• Most common is the pop up book with pull-tabs or
  flaps to be lifted
• Newest variety is the electronic book

• Baby/Board Books
• Established in the 1980s, these books are made
  of heavy cardboard with clear plasticized
  coatings.
• Meant to withstand wear and tear, they are
  wordless and focus on a single object on each
  page common to babys environment.

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Conclusion

• Knowing the genres can help in understanding
  Childrens and YA Lit, but the definitions are
  not iron clad.
• These can help adults draw on a framework for
  discussion and determine what holes exist in
  their own particular reading backgrounds.