Knowing and Growing Takes All Types of Books

By Mark W.F. Condon, Unite for Literacy vice president

There are all kinds of reading materials for children to enjoy, but for those of any age who are new to reading, there are basically two kinds of books: storybooks and informational books. Those two categories are plenty for new readers of any age.  

Storybooks

This word conjures up images of fairy tales and mythical creatures and villains and heroes of all kinds. It reminds us of spending time with the characters in beloved series books for youngsters, like Encyclopedia Brown, Frog and Toad, Magic Tree House, and graphic novels like the Amulet series. And then, of course, there are the memorable characters like Knuffle Bunny, Christopher Paul Curtis’ Watson family on their way to Birmingham, Katherine Paterson’s Gilly Hopkins, and siblings Johnson and Beebee from Jacqueline Woodson’s Our Gracie Aunt. What an extraordinarily creative collection of characters we have enjoyed! 

Storybooks, typically fictional accounts of life, love, adventure and woe have offered their authors a blank slate for sketching their story lines and fleshing out each of their magnificent characters. Storybooks tend to be culturally rich with meanings that resonate with target audiences who can see themselves in their pages. They also are of great value to those whose lives are quite different, however, offering insights into others’ worlds in ways that bring us closer to characters across town, or even living in faraway places. 

Informational books 

While some children prefer fiction, others are drawn to real world “stuff,” eager to read about things they find interesting. These topics spark as much in their imaginations as fictional books do for story lovers. For instance, some younger informational book readers may gravitate toward exploring animals. As kids gain life experiences, they might be drawn to books about influential people, and indigenous civilizations and cultures. And virtually any child could be interested in the fullness of nature in every place on earth and far out into the galaxy. Like adults, all children like to read about whatever piques their curiosities. 

Nonfiction books focus on what is demonstrable. These and other evidently “true” books have universal potential for building the background knowledge so essential for a reader to make sense of new information or ideas. They are particularly important for children with limited life experiences, helping them to develop and deepen their understandings of and personal connections to the real world.  

Storybooks or nonfiction? Both! 

Adults should lead children into new worlds and ways of thinking, using all types of

publications. It is up to us to inspire children to sample from the unlimited adventures they will encounter in a lifetime of reading from every sort of book, magazine, comic book, graphic novel, internet site and news source. In fact, pulling together a collection of related texts—storybooks and informational books—about a topic is a terrific way to introduce children to the benefits of each kind of resource. 

 Like all readers, kids will have their favorites. Animal lovers will gleefully dive into any book featuring snakes, koalas or horses. Those who love to “make stuff” will be attracted to “How To” books. Puzzle solvers will gleefully dive into any kind of mystery book. But that does not preclude also being a devotee of scholarly works, informed opinion, and resources that support a novice musician or carpenter. Each of their interests takes young readers joyfully in many directions and our only regrets are captured in the truth that there are “So many books, yet so little time!” This powerful challenge is answered by every public library, everywhere. That is where there is help for deciding on a next book.

It is truly never too early to start reading and talking with our littlest ones about what they encounter in books. So, start right now to encourage children’s growth in knowledge about humanity and our world in every conceivable way by refreshing that library card and scheduling regular visits. Each small pile of borrowed books can contribute in wonderful ways to family members’ individual lives and inspire conversations in which the entire family can participate.