Childrens Lit Traditional, Fantasy, Realistic Fiction Definition

Folklore/Traditional Literature

Traditional literature is the term used to describe various forms of folklore, stories that come from the oral tradition.  They do not have a known originating author, but have been collected and retold by people like the Grimm Brothers.  Traditional literature includes folktales, mythology, legends, tall tales, folk songs,  nursery rhymes and fairy tales.  Fairy tales by known originating authors, such as those by Hans Christian Andersen, are not traditional literature.  Folklore may appear as a single illustrated story in picture book format, or a number of stories may be collected into an anthology.

Modern Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Animal Fantasy

Fantasy describes those stories that could not happen in real life. They are works of known authors who created the stories (those that came from the oral tradition are considered traditional literature). Fairy tales by known authors, such as those by Hans Christian Andersen, are considered modern fantasy. There are often talking animals, an element of magic, or imaginative creatures in tales of fantasy. Fantasies can be found in picture books (E) and in novels (F).

Science Fiction

The line between Fantasy and Science Fiction is often a thin one. Science fiction stories also could not happen in real life—at least not at this time. However, these books involve some aspect of science or technology. Futuristic stories are often science fiction. Science Fiction can also be in picture book format (E) or a novel (F).

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Realistic fiction is a term used to describe stories that could actually have happened.  Contemporary realistic fiction means the book is set either “now” or in the recent past.  Books with talking animals or set in a place or time that do not exist (fantasy) or stories set in the past (historical fiction) are not contemporary realistic fiction.  Realistic fiction can be found in either picture storybooks (E) or in chapter books/novels (F).

Multicultural/Diverse Literature

Multicultural literature is a term used to describe literature of, by, or about various racial/ethnic/cultural groups. Sometimes the term is also used for books about sexual identity, disabilities, and age. Usually it is used to describe books portraying people that are not of Anglo-Saxon origin. Many books that are culturally neutral or generic do not have an assigned racial/ethnic subject heading, but most books that are "culturally specific" will have such a subject heading.

Early Childhood/Picture Storybooks

Technically speaking, a picture book is a 32-page book that uses either illustrations and text or all illustrations to tell a story or provide information.  A picture book is a format—stories, poetry, folklore, biographies, and informational books may be in picture book format.  However, more generally the term picture book is used to describe all books for young children, including board books, toy books, concept books and beginning-to-read books as well as the more typical picture storybook.