A Brief History of Informational Series

Essential Elements in Information Books

The Importance of Using Information Books in the Primary Grades

Examples and Comparisons of Primary Information Series Books

Planets

Animals

Pioneer Studies

Conclusion

Examples and Comparisons of Primary Information Series

There are many types of information series books available on the market today. I have chosen to look at three topics that are studied by the young students at Greeley School and three information book series from each area. The books were chosen based on topic, recommendations from readings, teacher preferences, use in my school library, copyright date, inclusion of essential elements in good informational books and personal preference. Recently, I have opened a Primary Nonfiction section in the library that serves our youngest students. This section contains mainly information books. The goal was to make these books more accessible to young children. Since the onset of this idea, I have spent time researching information books and observing the children and what they enjoy.

As I looked at various series it became clear that good information books could be divided into different categories. Some were meant to be read aloud or read as one would read a picture book and others were meant to assist children in their search for specific information. While both types of books provide the essential information, their format is quite different. One looks a great deal like a picture book while the other is broken into distinct categories or chapters that are usually a page or two in length and have vivid photos. Both of these types of books can be used to accomplish the same goals but one allows the children to find certain facts easier and more swiftly than the other.

The date of publication was used to compare information books written recently with those that were written a number of years ago. It is interesting to note the changes in format, words per page, illustrations, appropriateness and general appeal to children.

Planets

The first topic I chose was the study of planets. I chose to look at three series. The first was Seymour Simon's Uranus copyright 1987 by the William Morrow and Company. Seymour Simon is a master with informational series books. He has written a number of new series since this one but his format remains very similar.

Seymour Simon is known for his accuracy and his smooth prose for children. This is a well-written book that is organized and presents new concepts in an understandable manner. Children love the illustrations in this book and can learn a great deal about this subject by reading it. As you look at the photos above, please note the text on the page and the photos. The amount of text per page varies but can be rather extensive for young children. Until recently, this was one the best series available on the market for young children. It remains a very good resource but others are emerging for the young reader.

While the text is large and the photos inviting, this book can be a bit difficult for the young reader due to the number of words on the page. Also certain elements that teachers are looking for in informational books are not present here. There is no index, glossary or recommended sites to get further information. If a child wanted to find out a specific fact, it would be difficult to locate it without reading through the book.

The next series is the Library of the Planets Uranus copyright 2001 by the Rosen Publishing Company. This is a recent series that compares favorably with the Simon series in terms of content but has a much different look. As you look at the pictures above, note the page setup. Each page has a chapter title and each chapter is a single page followed by a large, colorful photo. Text is large and possible unfamiliar words are bold. A glossary is available.

This series uses not only photos but also charts and graphs to illustrate the ideas. The book also has a Table of Contents, Glossary, Index and Recommended Sites to visit. Children enjoy these books on many levels. The photos and charts are vivid and the text is quite readable. Having difficult words in bold and definitions at the end of the books is also a helpful feature in fostering an independent reader. Teachers find this type of format particularly helpful to students when they are involved in a research project. Children are able to locate individual facts readily by using the chapter headings or the index. Bare in mind that teachers are looking for certain information in children's research and also want children to use more than one source. This type of format lends itself well to these types of projects

The third series I have decided to include is Our Solar System, Uranus, copyright2003 by Smart Apple Media. On first glance this has an unintimidating text with lots of space on the page, appealing photographs, a glossary, index and recommended books and sites to visit. According to a review written in School Library Journal, it should be noted that not all the information in the book is correct. An example would be that Pluto was not made mostly of gases and Galileo did not discover that the sun was the center of our solar system. The introduction of facts is not logical which doesn't allow for children to move from one idea to another smoothly. Also some basic facts are missing. This book is an example of good format but a lack of accuracy and organization makes it a poor choice for students and teachers.