Realistic Fiction- A story using made-up characters that takes place in modern times.
Example:  Baby Sitters Club; Ramona; Horrible Harry; Junie B. Jones; Amber Brown

Fantasy- A story including elements that are impossible, such as talking animals or magical powers.
Example:  The Wizard of Oz; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; Harry Potter; Chronicles of Narnia

Traditional Fiction (Folk Tales, Fables, Myths, Legends, or Fairy Tales)- A story, often with a message, that was initially passed on by word of mouth.
Example:  Aesop's Fables, Hans Christian Anderson, Grimms Fairy Tales, Native American legends, etc...

Science Fiction- A story that blends futuristic technology with scientific fact and fiction.
Example:  Star Wars; Star Trek; Animorphs; My Teacher is an Alien; War of the Worlds; Magic School Bus

Informational- All of the information is based on true facts and is not made up.

Autobiography- The story of a real person’s life that is written by that person.

Biography- The story of a real person’s life that is written by another person.

Mystery- A suspenseful story about a puzzling event that is not solved until the end of the story.
Example:  Cam Jansen; Boxcar Children; Nancy Drew, Encyclopedia Brown, A-Z Mysteries, Nate the Great, Whodunit Mysteries (by Hy Conrad), Sammy Keyes Mysteries (by Wendelin Van Draanen)

Historical Fiction- A fictional story with real or invented characters that takes place during a historical time.
Example:  Magic Tree House; American Girls, Dear America

Poetry- A verse written to inspire thought by the reader.
Example:  Jack Prulutsky; Shel Silverstein; Dr. Seuss

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