Modern Fantasy Modern fantasy is literature written by a known author that is set either in a makebelieve or imaginary world in which

places, people and creatures could not exist,and/or have events that could not possibly happen such as tiny people, talking animals, or traveling through time.

Categories of Modern Fantasy According to C. Huck, S. Hepler, J. Hickman, B. Kiefer (Children's Literature in the Elementary School 1997) there are several categories of children's modern fantasy books. Animal Fantasy The category of animal fantasy is often given to stories about animal characters that still maintain their animal characteristics, such as Wilbur in Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White, who lives in a barn and eats slop, but also displays human characteristics such as being able to talk with other animals. Toys and Objects This category is about toys and objects that have a secret life with or without the knowledge of their owner. For example the Velveteen Rabbit who wants to become real and of course the well known and loved Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. Tiny Humans This category is about humans who are extremely tiny. They have human traits and have real human situations but are just little. Some examples are The Borrowers by Mary Norton andThumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen. Unusual Characters and Preposterous Situations This category is about strange and unusual characters such as Willy Wonka, Mary Poppins, and the Mad Hatter. These types of characters portray human characteristics but put themselves in strange situations. Some books that fall into this genre would be Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater. Imaginary Worlds Imaginary Worlds begin in the realm of reality then move rapidly into a world of make believe where situations seem impossible but still have a realistic quality. For

example Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. Supernatural Books under this category capture the attention of children because they enjoy the different types of characters and places that appear in supernatural books. Places such as Hogwarts school found in the Harry Potter series by J.K.Rowling are intriguing in the minds of its readers. Time-warp Time warp books start out in the "real world" with characters who find a way to travel back in time or to the future. In the book The Golden Hour, by Maiya Williams, four children find themselves in the middle of the French Revolution while trying to discover the secrets surrounding the town and the abandoned Owatannauk resort. In Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt, Winnie falls in love with Tuck who is a character that has the gift of everlasting life, a person from the past must now help a friend in need. High Fantasy High fantasy includes popular books like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S.Lewis. These books involve the battle between good and evil and their characters may include elves, dwarves, witches, dragons and other mythical beings as well as humans. High fantasy books typically have a quest for a lost or stolen object of power that the protagonist and antagonist need for different reasons and purposes. Science Fiction Science Fiction books are those that contemplate future worlds and may often include space travel. Readers will find real scientific information included in these books. Literature books such as A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle or The Giver by Lois Lowery are included in this category. http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Choosing_High_Quality_Children's_Literature/Modern_Fant asy

Realistic Fiction

Definition: A classification of literature containing stories that could happen in the real world, in a time and setting that is possible, and with characters that are true to life, yet drawn from the writers imagination. It is categorized as historical or contemporary based upon the time period of publication (Contemporary begins at 1960). Experts define categories of realistic fiction using aspects of theme(e.g., survival, friendship, diversity, tolerance, environmental preservation, courage, freedom, justice).

Characteristics:

Narrative elements: characters, setting, a plot involving conflict or tension revolving around a problem, and a resolution providing the conclusion Can be humorous, adventurous, romantic and/or imaginative

http://wiki.kdl.org/pmwiki.php/Main/RealisticFiction

Non-Fiction Non-Fiction is prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people, places, objects, or events. It is an account or representation of a subject which is presented as fact. This presentation may be accurate or not; that is, it can give either a true or a false account of the subject in question. However, it is generally assumed that the authors of such accounts believe them to be truthful at the time of their composition. Autobiographies, biographies, essays, reports, letters, memos, and newspaper articles are all types of nonfiction.

Characteristics of Non-Fiction Works of nonfiction differ from works of fiction in several ways. The people, events, places, and ideas presented in nonfiction are real, not invented. Nonfiction is narrated by an author who is a real person. It presents facts, describes true-life experiences, or discusses ideas. Nonfiction is written for a specific audience, or group of readers. In addition, it addresses a clear purpose, or reason for writing. The audience and purpose influence the type of information a writer includes.

Tone, the authors attitude toward the subject or reader, is displayed through the writers word choice and style. http://www.misshannigan.com/Genre/nonfiction/nonfictionnotes.html

characteristics of a biography

be written by an author about the life of someone else. identify the country, city, or town from which the subject comes. include any major historical or cultural contributions, (Why are famous?) identify birth date and place. in some case, identify date of death, location, and method. include any influences on the subject have important events from history identify problems or obstacles the subject had to overcome. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_characteristics_of_a_biography

Elements Of Folktales Characteristics Folktales were the oral tradition of adults. Stories about peoples' lives and imaginations and as they struggled with their fears and anxieties in these tales around the campfire, they became better able to struggle with them in reality. While many of these tales weren't told specifically for children it is almost certain that they too would listen and enjoy as well as develop respect for certain elements described in the stories. Robert Sweetland's Notes http://www.huntel.net/rsweetland/literature/genre/fiction/folktales/elements.html

Fable From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Fable is a literary genre. A fable is a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized (given human qualities such as verbal communication), and that

illustrates or leads to an interpretation of a moral lesson (a "moral"), which may at the end be added explicitly in a pithy maxim. A fable differs from a parable in that the latter excludes animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as actors that assume speech and other powers of humankind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fable

Parable From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A parable is [1] a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or (sometimes) a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human characters. It is a type of analogy.[2]

Characteristics A parable is a short tale that illustrates universal truth, one of the simplest of narratives. It sketches a setting, describes an action, and shows the results. It often involves a character facing a moral dilemma, or making a questionable decision and then suffering the consequences. Though the meaning of a parable is often not explicitly stated, the meaning is not usually intended be hidden or secret but on the contrary quite straightforward and obvious.[6] The defining characteristic of the parable is the presence of prescriptive subtext suggesting how a person should behave or believe. Aside from providing guidance and suggestions for proper action in life, parables frequently use metaphorical language which allows people to more easily discuss difficult or complex ideas. Parables teach an abstract argument, using a concrete narrative which is more easily grasped.[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable