5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Traditional

Welcome to our final post for our 5 Kinds of Nonfiction series! All month long, Beanstack and Lerner have teamed up to bring you the 5 Kinds of Nonfiction Challenge! The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction include active, browsable, traditional, expository literature, and narrative nonfiction. Read more here about this system in our interview with author and creator Melissa Stewart. 

This post is all about traditional nonfiction. Traditional nonfiction includes survey-style writing that gives the reader a brief overview of an entire topic. It is great to use as you are gauging interest in or beginning research on a certain topic. Readers who don’t need specific details but who want to get a general feel for something will enjoy traditional nonfiction. You may have some traditional titles in your collection, but read on for more recommendations! 

Ready to get started? Here are some of our favorite traditional nonfiction books for elementary through high school from Lerner Publishing Group.

Cats, Cats, Cats! - An ode to our feline friends; this book has it all! Learn the basics of cat behavior and needs. Then, dive into internet cat culture and investigate why cats have become so popular!

Secret Spy Gear - Learn about the tools of the trade and the brave people who risked everything to spy for their country in this book. From picking locks to planting bugs, get the inside scoop on what it takes to be a super spy. Just make sure you can trust your team to get the job done!

Cool Kids Changing the World - Kids are amazing helpers and can change the world! Read about inspiring kid activists who are helping keep the Earth clean, save endangered animals, and donate books to help others see themselves in stories. Get inspired and get out there!

Fandom - Ever want more of your favorite character, show, or video game? You’re not alone. There’s a whole world out there of people creating stories, videos, and even costumes to bring their favorite characters to life! Learn more about how it started and how to bring your own unique view to the fantastic world of fandom in this book.

Self-Driving Cars: The New Way Forward - Can you imagine turning your back on the steering wheel and still arriving at your destination without a problem? Although it may sound scary, self-driving cars may be the wave of the future. They have actually been imagined and tested for almost a hundred years. But with concerns of safety and humans’ natural resistance to change, engineers have had to take their time in producing these types of vehicles. Read on to find more about the past, present, and future of self-driving cars. 

Thanks for tuning in to our 5 Kinds of Nonfiction series! For more information about Lerner Publishing Group, visit www.lernerbooks.com.

If you’re an educator, librarian, or parent who wants to learn more about how Beanstack can help your school, community, or family achieve its literacy goals, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a note at beanstack.com/contact.