Beyond Storybooks

Children love a good story.?

Each story shared by a gifted writer or talented storyteller mentally pulls children out of their here-and-now routines and into new perspectives, situations, and adventures. Stories lead children—indeed all of us—to explore our relationships with interesting characters through their encounters within common or orchestrated events, exotic cultures, and mesmerizing locations. Stories invite each of us to dream about new possibilities for ourselves within delightful, imagined worlds.?

Coming home from a library with a tote-bag full of storybooks for little kids or fictional novels for older readers is like bringing home a pop-up birthday party. “Ooo! That looks like a fun one!,” exclaim the reading-party goers who are in search of their next great mental adventure or belly laugh. As fun as they can be, storybooks are not the only party in town, however.?

The vicarious experiences found in storybooks can be complemented or even supplanted by the vast richness and tremendous power of factual books. Nonfiction books highlight commentary on what is developing or authoritative detail about what is provably real. They can help readers explore places in today’s world that are teaming with unique and fascinating creatures, cultures, and peoples, as well as mind-bending observations of the vastness of the space within our solar system and all the way out to and beyond the nearest stars.??

Nonfiction books bring scholars into our homes and provide true authority on every subject in a manner that serves to reliably inform and educate. Factual, and reflective accounts of reality make for fabulous reading for children and adults alike. They help us learn about the lives of admirable people and expand our sense of humanity. Even the very youngest readers and listeners can enjoy ideas and introductory insights into all of the sciences, mathematics, health, history, the biographies of famous and infamous people, and more.?

?For ideas about great nonfiction reads for kids, look to the Orbis Pictus Awards. These are announced yearly by the National Council of Teachers of English. Each year, several books are selected for their “…excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.” This year’s top choices offer something for everybody. Books from past years provide even more options, none of which will soon be out of date.?

As families add to their book collections or to their library selections, nonfiction choices deserve abundant shelf or book bag space along with their forever beloved stories.?

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