2. GENRES

3. MAIN GENRE GROUPS
Fiction
Nonfiction
Poetry
FICTION

4. FICTION Story based on the imagination of the author
Written to entertain the reader
Characterized by a setting, characters,
dialog (talking), problem/conflict, climax,
and solution

5. FICTION SUBGROUPS Traditional Literature Fantasy Science Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Mystery
FANTASY

6. BIOGRAPHY
The story of a real
person’s life written by
another person.

7. TRADITIONAL LITERATURE
Stories that are passed down from
one group to another in history
Includes folktales, legends, fables,
fairytales, tall tales, and myths
from different cultures

8. FANTASY Story including elements that are
impossible such as talking animals
or magical powers
This genre is all about make believe

9. SCIENCE FICTION A type of fantasy that uses science and technology
Robots, space, time
machines, aliens, etc.

10. REALISTIC FICTION
Story using made-up characters that could happen in real life.

11. HISTORICAL FICTION Fictional story that takes place
in a particular time period in
the past.
Often the setting is real, but
the characters are made up
from the author’s
imagination.

12. MYSTERY Suspenseful story About a puzzling event that
is not solved until the end
of the story

13. Folktale A folktale is a usually a short story.
Teaches a lesson or moral
Passed down by word of mouth
Usually has animal characters with
human characteristics
Usually stress themes such as : the
value of cooperation, looking at
problems from different viewpoints
Created to explain the wonders of the world

14. Nonfiction Written work based on facts Written to inform the reader
Characterized by
providing information
about topics
Provides valid information

15. NONFICTION SUBGROUPS
Informational
Biography
Autobiography

16. Informational Texts that provide facts about a variety of topics
such as: sports, animals,
science, history, careers,
travel, geography, space,
weather, etc.

17. AUTOBIOGRAPHY The story of a real person’s life that is
written by that same
person.

18. WHAT GENRE IS THIS BOOK? Using what you know about
book genres, in what genre do
you think this book belongs?
How do you know?

19. What Genre Is This Book? Using what you know about book genres, in
what genre do you think this
book belongs?
Realistic Fiction
This is because the book cover
picture implies a story about
that could happen in real life.

20. WHAT GENRE IS THIS BOOK? Using what you know about book
genres, in what genre do
you think this book
belongs?
How do you know?

21. POETRY Written to create a response of thought and feeling from
the reader, or
express feeling.
Often uses rhythm
and rhyme to help
convey its meaning.

22. WHAT GENRE IS THIS BOOK? Using what you know
about book genres, in what
genre do you think this
book belongs?
How do you know?

23. WHAT GENRE IS THIS BOOK? Using what you know about book genres,
what genre do you
think this book belongs?
Historical Fiction
This book looks like it
is going to be a story
that takes place in a
past time period.

24. WHAT GENRE IS THIS BOOK? Using what you know about book genres, in
what genre do you think
this book belongs?
How do you know?

25. WHAT GENRE IS THIS BOOK? Using what you know about book genres,
in what genre do you
think this book belongs?
Informational
This book looks like it will
give information about a
topic (alligators).

26. WHAT GENRE IS THIS BOOK? Using what you know about book genres, in
what genre do you think
this book belongs?
How do you know?

27. WHAT GENRE IS THIS BOOK? Using what you know about book genres, in
what genre do you think
this book belongs?
Autobiography
because it is the story of a
real person’s life written
by that person

28. What Genre is This Book? Using what you know about book
genres, in what genre do
you think this book
belongs?
How do you know?

29. What Genre Is This Book? Folktale It is a story that has been passed
down from generation
to generation
This story teaches a
lesson.

30. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT GENRES?
Learning about genres helps you to develop a deeper understanding of what you are reading and most importantly, what you like to read.