If I were to categorize the types of text I normally have in my classroom library, my list would include the general categories of fiction, nonfiction and poetry. In terms of fiction I have series books (including picture book series like Mo Willem’s Piggie and Elephant and chapter book series like the Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Treehouse), traditional literature (fairy tales, folktales, fables), picture books, realistic fiction, fantasy, and graphic novels. I also have magazines (usually nonfiction), joke books, and nonfiction books which are organized into categories. These categories include nonfiction series (for example, DK Find Out and Magic Schoolbus) biographies, curriculum-related topics, and other popular topics like dinosaurs and space. I have also used reading apps and online books on iPads and classroom computers like Raz-Kids and Tumblebooks.

There is a lot I have to learn about other types of children’s literature for students outside the age range I have taught (second and third grade). My 13-year old daughter is very interested in dystopian fiction, so this is a young adult genre I know about from her accounts. I expect to find out about a lot of other genres from those highlighted in the Discussion forum, and I have already heard some completely new terms which I am curious about. I was amazed by the extensive list of genres at a glance on the Fiction Finder site, this certainly warrants further investigation.