
by MelisÂsa Stewart
NarÂraÂtive nonÂficÂtion. The words have a nice ring to them, don’t they?
ExposÂiÂtoÂry nonÂficÂtion? Not so much.
Rhymes with gory, purÂgaÂtoÂry, derogaÂtoÂry, lavaÂtoÂry. Gesh, it’s no wonÂder exposÂiÂtoÂry nonÂficÂtion gets a bad rap. And yet, plenÂty of great nonÂficÂtion for kids is exposÂiÂtoÂry. Its main purÂpose is to explain, describe, or inform.
As far as I’m conÂcerned, this is a goldÂen moment for exposÂiÂtoÂry nonÂficÂtion because, in recent years, it’s gone through an excitÂing transÂforÂmaÂtion. Once upon a time, it was borÂing and stodgy and matÂter-of-fact, but today’s nonÂficÂtion books MUST delight as well as inform young readÂers, and authors are workÂing hard to do just that. The exposÂiÂtoÂry books we’re creÂatÂing feaÂture engagÂing text, often with a strong voice, as well as dynamÂic art and design.
Here are ten of my recent favorites:
- A Black Hole Is Not a Hole by CarÂolyn CinaÂmi DeCristofano
- Bone by Bone: ComÂparÂing AniÂmal SkeleÂtons by Sarah Levine
- Born in the Wild: Baby MamÂmals and Their ParÂents by Lita Judge
- Bugged: How Insects Changed the World by Sarah Albee
- CreaÂture FeaÂtures by Steve JenkÂins & Robin Page
- FeathÂers: Not Just for FlyÂing by MelisÂsa Stewart
- Frogs by Nic Bishop
- Look Up! Bird-WatchÂing in Your Own BackÂyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate
- Neo Leo by Gene Barretta
- Tiny CreaÂtures: The InvisÂiÂble World of Microbes by NicoÂla Davies

Sarah S. BranÂnen, illusÂtraÂtor
CharlesÂbridge, 2014
There is also a secÂond kind of exposÂiÂtoÂry nonÂficÂtion books. Some peoÂple call them data books. I preÂfer to call them fast-fact books to disÂtinÂguish them from the facts-plus books listÂed above.
Facts-plus books focus on facts as well as overÂarÂchÂing ideas. In othÂer words, they present facts and explain them. Fast-fact books focus on sharÂing cool facts. PeriÂod. They inform, and that’s all. ExamÂples include The GuinÂness Book of World Records and The Time for Kids Big Book of Why. These are the conÂcise, fact-filled books that groups of boys love to read togethÂer and discuss.
Some peoÂple don’t have a very high opinÂion of fast-fact books, and to be sure, they don’t build readÂing staÂmiÂna or critÂiÂcal thinkÂing skills. BUT they do entice many relucÂtant readÂers to pick up a book, and IMHO that alone makes them worthwhile.
Why do stuÂdents need to be exposed to a diverse array of exposÂiÂtoÂry texts? Because it’s the style of nonÂficÂtion they’ll be asked to write most freÂquentÂly throughÂout their school years and in their future jobs. Whether they’re workÂing on a report, a theÂsis, a busiÂness proÂposÂal, or even a comÂpaÂny newsletÂter, they’ll need to know how to sumÂmaÂrize inforÂmaÂtion and synÂtheÂsize ideas in a way that is clear, logÂiÂcal, and interÂestÂing to their readÂers. Today’s exposÂiÂtoÂry children’s books make ideÂal menÂtor texts for modÂelÂing these skills.