1. INSPIRATIONAL READING
The Brain FOOD PYRAMID
MIND
CANDY
PLEASURE
READING
INSPIRATIONAL READING
AWARD WINNNERS
and Classics
NONFICTION
Click on underlined words to learn more!
Variation by Mrs. Barbara Quintangeli
Library Media Specialist
Perkiomen Valley Middle School West
The orignial Brain Food Pyramid was
created by
Tammie Failmezger,
Harper Park Middle School,
Leesburg, VA

2. INSPIRATIONAL READING
The Brain Food Pyramid
The Brain Food Pyramid is set up like the USDA Food Pyramid
MIND
CANDY
PLEASURE
READING
INSPIRATIONAL READING
AWARD WINNNERS
and Classics
NONFICTION
Feed your brain with good
book selection.
READ EVERY DAY!
Focus on Nonfiction at the base
of the pyramid.
Read from the top sparingly!

3. INSPIRATIONAL READING
NONFICTION
The foundation of your reading…choose nonfiction every day!
Newspapers & Magazines for current events
Nonfiction books increase knowledge in a variety of subjects.
Learn more about school subjects.
MIND
CANDY
PLEASURE
READING
INSPIRATIONAL READING
AWARD WINNNERS
and Classics
NONFICTION
Click on underlined words to learn more!

4. INSPIRATIONAL READING
AWARD WINNERS
Learn about people and the world in which you live.
Model for writing – dialogue, plot, etc.
Awards include Newbery, PA Young Readers Choice, and American Library Association (ALA)
MIND
CANDY
PLEASURE
READING
AWARD WINNNERS
and Classics
NONFICTION
INSPIRATIONAL READING
Click on underlined words to learn more!

5. INSPIRATIONAL READING
Includes biographies, autobiographies, character-building stories, and poems.
Helps readers learn perseverance, determination, goal-setting, and other admirable traits
Knowledge from these books will help in history class, too.
MIND
CANDY
PLEASURE
READING
INSPIRATIONAL READING
AWARD WINNNERS
and Classics
NONFICTION

6. INSPIRATIONAL READING
PLEASURE READING
MIND
CANDY
PLEASURE
READING
INSPIRATIONAL READING
AWARD WINNNERS
and Classics
NONFICTION
Includes poetry, realistic fiction, historical fiction, and non-award winning books
Just fun to read
Creates excitement about reading
Click here to read about literary genres such as realistic and historical fiction.

7. INSPIRATIONAL READING
MIND CANDY
MIND
CANDY
PLEASURE
READING
INSPIRATIONAL READING
AWARD WINNNERS
and Classics
NONFICTION
Cartoons, joke books, comic books
Teen celebrity magazines
Read just a little – NOT every day!
Just like candy puts holes into your teeth, reading too much of this category will put holes (large gaps) into your knowledge base.

8. Newspapers & Magazines
Newspapers available at the Library Media Center (LMC):
USA Today
Philadelphia Inquirer
Pottstown Mercury
Norristown Times Herald
The Valley Item
Magazines available at the LMC:
U.S. News & World Report, Time, Newsweek, Girls Life, Boys Life, Sports Illustrated, Good Housekeeping, Skateboarding, Ride BMX, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Faces, Dig, Consumer Reports, National Geographic, Current Events, Junior Scholastic, Time for Kids, and more!

9. Dewey Decimal Numbers Our Library Media Center is organized by
the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
system.
According to Dewey, Fiction books may be
classified under 813, but we have a
separate section that begins with the call
number F
Our short story collections begins with SC
Reference books begin with REF
Biography books begin with B
Collective biography begins with 920
Click here to view a short presentation about the DDC.

10. ALA Literary Awards
John Newbery - most distinguished contribution to American literature for children
Michael L. Printz – excellence in Young Adult literature
Coretta Scott King – African American author and illustrator for outstanding inspirational and educational contributions
Robert F. Sibert – most distinguished informational book
Mildred L. Batchelder – most outstanding book originally published in foreign language
Click here for more details and lists of award winning books!

11. Literary Genres
A genre is a type of literature based on tone, technique, or content.
Some of the genres studied in middle school include:
Adventure
Fantasy
Mystery
Science Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Classics are also taught in middle school

12. adventure
A type of literature that has high stakes and lots of thrills. Often, the life of the hero hangs in the balance while he or she faces dangers by threatening villains or nature -- or both.
Some popular adventure authors include:
Cornelia Funke, Anthony Horowitz, Jack London, Gary Paulsen, Theodore Taylor, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

13. Fantasy
A type of literature that deals with the imaginary or make-believe.
Some popular fantasy authors include:
J.R.R. Tolkien, Jane Yolen, Eoin Colfer, Brian Jacques, Patricia Wrede, Bruce Coville, and J.K. Rowling.

14. M y s t e r y …
A mystery story is a puzzle – something unusual that doesn’t fit, something unexplained, illegal, or spooky. It is up to the reader to figure out the solution to the problem in the story.
Some popular mystery authors include:
Agatha Christie, Lois Duncan, Carolyn Keene, Caroline Lawrence, Carole Marsh, Joan Lowery-Nixon, and Wendelin Van Draanen.

15. Science Fiction
Literature that combines science, adventure, and fantasy. It deals with life in the future, life in other galaxies, or exploration of other imaginary situations.
Some popular science fiction authors include: Lois Lowry, William Sleator, Madeline L’Engle, Margaret Peterson Haddix, and Bruce Coville.

16. historical fiction
Historical fiction is a realistic story set in the past. Fact and fiction are combined. It helps the reader understand what life was like in an earlier time. Actual events and people may or may not be in the story.
Some popular historical fiction authors include:
James Lincoln Collier, Barry Denenberg, Karen Hesse, Sally Keehn, Kathryn Lasky, Iain Lawrence, Scott O’Dell, Linda Sue Park, Katherine Paterson, Gary Paulsen, Richard Peck, Ann Rinaldi, Gloria Whelan, and Jane Yolen.
Popular series include: Dear America, and My Name is America

17. Classics
are stories of the highest quality that have stood the test of time. Classics have memorable, believable characters that are genuinely entertaining. Readers can easily identify with the thoughts and feelings of the characters.
Some examples of Classics include: To Kill a Mockingbird,
Call of the Wild, Frankenstein, Robinson Crusoe,
Treasure Island, The Red Badge of Courage,
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and Oliver Twist.