Fact! Reading nonfiction with children has many benefits


Nonfiction, or informational books are a wonderful addition to your reading routine! They are important because not only can they be super engaging, but they also increase vocabulary and background knowledge; two essential elements to academic success.

Remember that there are no rules when reading nonfiction! In Storytime, we often will study only one or two pages before moving on to something else. I will model finding the page in the index, and we will turn to the numbered page (mini numbers lesson!) together. This is a great way to also practice book handling and print awareness skills because nonfiction often includes additional content like an index, captions, a glossary, and other items not often found in fiction.

Babies

  • Babies love looking at faces! Find board books that explore humans’ diverse, beautiful faces.
  • Nonfiction helps teach babies about the world they live in! Explore the planet without leaving your living room.

Toddler

  • Try adding nonfiction books and text around your children’s play area. Put a book about bridges by building blocks, a magazine about animals by their stuffies, or to-go menus by their kitchen set. This incorporates reading into playtime!
  • When looking for nonfiction, check the publication date. A lot can change in five years! Keep an eye out for new and up-to-date content.

Preschoolers

  • If your child asks you a question that you don’t know the answer to, find a book in our catalog or in your home library and do some further investigation! Making discoveries together sparks curiosity and helps children begin to make connections.
  • Reading nonfiction is a great time to introduce the concept of fact vs. opinion.
  • You don’t have to subscribe to a magazine to enjoy it! The library has tons of magazines on our shelves, even for little ones! Place a hold online, pick it up and take it home. For little ones, I recommend Caracola (in Spanish) and Click.

Here are some books to try:

Water Land

A Rainbow of Rocks

Hello, Little One

-Taylor, Children's Librarian, Quincie Douglas Library


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Reading helps children understand how text works and positions them to increase their language and literacy skills throughout their lives.

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