Criteria for evaluating Nonfiction for Children:
- Author's qualifications- Do they have a reputation for Nonfiction? Look in the back of the book. Check their website out. Look at their author's notes. Look at acknowledgements- who did the author turn to for help?
- Accurate facts- We need to find books that have the most accurate facts. Use content lists that are vetted by different organizations and content area professionals, for accurate books. Know the quality series and the quality authors. Kids need to find out how to find out the right information.
- Purpose and scope of book- real words, real situations, nothing held back. Might be narrow or broad. What fits your needs?
- Organization of book- does it assist readers in locating information- Is there a glossary? Index? Bibliography? Notes?
- Role of visuals- Elaborate on text? Help break up text? Helps kids not feel overwhelmed by the text. Real life photos or drawings? Photos of artifacts? Historical paintings? Graphic organizers? Maps and charts?
I used to think that nonfiction meant books that had a glossary and maybe an index with some photographs and captions- books you could use for a research project or for a presentation. But I've come to learn that nonfiction is so much more and I think it's important for us to point this out to our students! I used to think you really only read nonfiction when you had to complete a project for school, but now (in my elderly wisdom, ha!) I know that nonfiction can be read for entertainment as well as for learning- learning for one's own pleasure, not just for a grade. I think that we need to be vigilant about making sure our library patrons are aware of the many good reads available in nonfiction, not just how to use nonfiction books for research.
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