Why non-fiction?

I was walking through the library one day when a lady stopped me and asked if I could help her choose a book for her son, whom I soon found out was called Finn and aged 8 years.

Finn’s mum reeled off a list of worthy children’s authors and well-known titles which she had tried to get him to read but with little success.

Finn glared at me.

‘Have you tried any non-fiction (fact) books?’ I asked.

‘But it’s a Reading Challenge,’ the lady replied.

Forcing children to read can often backfire which was clearly the case here.

I then directed the conversation towards Finn and asked him what he liked doing.

‘I like being outside,’ he said ‘and I like football and animals,’ and with great enthusiasm told me about their family pets.

I took Finn and his mum over to the non-fiction section in the library and before too long Finn was happily looking at books about caring for dogs and cats.

As well as allowing children to immerse themselves in subjects they are interested in non-fiction books have many other benefits:

• They improve vocabulary by introducing children to new words
• They introduce children to new reading skills e.g. using an index, glossary, appendix
• They open up new worlds
• The sooner young children become visually literate, the better. It is an important skill they will use throughout their lives.

Of course non-fiction books are not only for children who are reluctant readers. Quite the opposite. Non-fiction books are a vital part of all children’s reading experience.

There are many fantastic non-fiction books with beautiful photographs and illustrations available to support the Wild World Heroes, Summer Reading Challenge 2021 which has a theme of nature and the environment.

Why not encourage your children to take a look at the non-fiction section when you next visit your local library and introduce them to a whole new world of books which, like Finn, I hope they will enjoy READING!