CCBC-Net Archives

past vs. present nonfiction for children

From: HUMMINGRK at aol.com <HUMMINGRK>
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 12:30:09 EST

Whatever the label we attach to it, children's nonfiction today seems much improved over twenty years ago. Books for children from an earlier era read like musty text books, totally inaccessible to younger readers. Most either lacked illustrations or had small b&w photos. With the exception of biographies, they were strictly for reports, as far as I was concerned. No wonder so many adults still cringe at the sound of the word nonfiction. Could that be why we desire to add the tags creative or narrative?

And thank you to Elizabeth for sharing the title and author to the terrific book on the Irish famine--perfect example of a recent book that is not fictionalized but is highly creative.

In a message dated 4/3/2002 10:01:48 AM Central Standard Time, ep at elizabethpartridge.com writes:




Lee Sullivan Hill Clarendon Hills, IL
Received on Wed 03 Apr 2002 11:30:09 AM CST