Nonfiction

Nonfiction

Nonfiction for Young Adults: From Delight to Wisdom, by Betty Carter and Dick Abrahamson, is a great resource can help teachers and librarians understand what nonfiction is. It provides a criteria that can help teachers and librarians evaluate nonfiction. Knowing the criteria for evaluation nonfiction is a must for the school librarian. Science, math, social studies, and other content teachers will need books with valuable information that supports their units or curriculum. As librarians, we must be very careful to only include material that is accurate and supports the needs of these teachers.

What are the qualifications of the author?

It is important that the author does his research and provides accurate information in a nonfiction book. There are certain authors who are known for writing nonfiction books that are factual such as Kathleen Krull, James Cross Giblin, Steve Jenkins, Don Brown, Lori Griffin Burns, and Seymour Symon,

Are the facts accurate?

Since we are not experts in every field, it is good to rely on authors that always provide texts with factual and accurate information. There are other sources you can use to help you decide what books you can add to your collection. You can refer to the lists put out by the Children's Book Council: Outstanding Science Trade Book and Notable Trade Books in the Social Studies. You can also allow the students to compare books on the same topic and do the research for you.

What is the purpose and scope of the book?

We need to pay attention to what the purpose of the book is and ensure that all parts of the book are tied to the purpose.

How does the organization of the book assist readers in locating information?

Book can have a table of contents, an index, suggestions for further reading, timelines, glossaries, bibliographies, and other resources that can help students locate information for when they are doing research or simply reading for pleasure.

What role do visuals play?

Visuals are essential to a text because they are able to visualize what they are reading or learning, especially in nonfiction books.

The book, Nonfiction for Young Adults: From Delight to Wisdom,  includes ten questions you can ask students about nonfiction that can help them evaluate the book:
                                               
                                                           
1. Tell how this book would be different if it had been written 50 years earlier or 50 years later.
                                                                                   
2. Describe your favorite illustrations. Which illustration do you wish you had done yourself? Why?
                                                                                   
3. Would this book make a good documentary? Why?
                                                                                   
4. Explain what you think the author did to research and write this book.
                                                                                   
5. How would this book be different if it had been written for an adult? For a
kindergarten student?

6.What kind of teacher do you think the author would make?
                                                                                   
7. If you had a chance to interview the authors of this book, what would you
ask them?

8. Describe three facts, theories, or incidents that you found particularly inter-
esting. Tell why.
                                                                                   
9. Examine the title and jacket of this book. Do they present a fair representa-
tion of the contents of the book?
                                                                                   
10. Select the book you think was the most well written. Pretend a book company is considering publishing this book and you must defend this book. Describe what you would say to persuade them of its value in learning.