A genre study helps students refine their reading skills, and enhance their study skills. An accomplished reader does not approach a science book in the same way as a sci-fi novel, but not all middle school students know this. Recognizing the components of various genre also helps students become better, more deliberate writers. Because picture books are short, students can read and compare a wide variety of genre in a relatively brief period of study.
Genre Study Meets State Literacy Standards
A genre study meets most states' requirements for reading comprehension. For example, Washington State's essential learning skills requires students to:
- Demonstrate evidence of reading comprehension.
- Understand and apply knowledge of text components to comprehend text.
- Expand comprehension by analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing information and ideas in literacy and informational text.
- Think critically and analyze the author’s use of language, style purpose, and perspective in informational and literary text.
Introduce the Genre Study
Carefully select a group of picture books, paying attention to books that deal with important themes like poverty, immigration, the environment, scientific exploration and more. The books should represent a broad range of genre, such as, but not limited to:
- contemporary fiction
- historical fiction
- fantasy
- mythology
- science fiction
- natural science
- history
- biography
Tell students they will be reading a number of picture books and evaluating the content for organizational structures, style, and language. Most middle schoolers will groan at the thought of using "baby books," but this fear can be quickly laid to rest by allowing time for students to peruse all the books the teacher has chosen, or by doing a book talk noting the themes, and quality of writing. Students will quickly see there are no rubber ducky books in the collection.
Reading the Picture Books, and Summarizing the Content
Teachers can require students to read a set number of books, or to read one book from each genre. After reading a book, students should respond either in their reader’s notebook, or on a teacher-made form, with the following information:
- Title, author, and genre
- Summary of the content or story
- Ways that the artwork helps support the text
- Response to the story or content
Critical Thinking Assignments
In addition to summarizing and responding to individual books, students should compare and contrast books from two or more genres. This can be accomplished by having the students use a grid or Venn Diagram to compare books for elements such as organization, word choice, characters (if relevant), author's style. For example, the book She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head, by Kathryn Lasky [Hyperion, 1995] and the Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry [Sandpiper, 2000] both deal with serious environmental issues, but one is a non-fiction book about the two women who founded the Audubon Society, and the other is an mythical story about the interdependence of life in a tropical rain forest. Though the themes are similar, the organization, language and style of the books are quite different.
Picture books are a good way to teach many literary components. They are accessible to struggling readers and writers, but accomplished students also benefit from and enjoy reading and analyzing picture books.
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