Informational Texts and our Littlest Library Patrons

Correia, M. P. (2011). Fiction vs informational texts: Which will kindergartners choose? Young Children, 66(6), 100-104.

In this article, Correia makes a strong case for the inclusion of non-fiction materials in primary classroom libraries. We often tend to stock shelves intended for nonreading and emerging reader students with beautifully illustrated fiction picture books. However, access to non-fiction materials is crucial for the development of literacy skills. According to the literature review, early access to informational texts, including books, magazines, and any other print sources, is proven to expand young readers' vocabularies and background subject knowledge. This was a study which sought to determine whether kindergarteners actually preferred fiction over nonfiction. The author found that despite many, including her own, assertions to the contrary, when given good quality options for both, students actually preferred the nonfiction informational genre.