Children's Literature the Genre of Essay

For instance, in Jacob Have I Loved, a twin comes of age in the 1940s, and finds that she indeed can make ordinary life more than extraordinary. Realistic fiction also tends to be more contemporary in tone, connecting with issues that are relevant to contemporary family situations. Issues such as divorce, dysfunctional families, adoptions, etc. are dealt with in a serious and relevant manner; in On My Honor, a young boy must deal with the guilt he has about the death of his best friend; while in The Tulip Touch, a girl finally realizes she must remove herself from a destructive relationship or face becoming a victim herself. Situational realism is also part of this genre -- books on the loss of a friend, pet, or relative; family crisis; disease; adoption; or natural disasters. In Bud, Not Buddy, the issues of homelessness, the depression, child-abuse, and a search for self-actualization are told through the eyes of a 10-year-old (in age only) African-American boy. Over the past few decades, realistic fiction has made great headway in dealing with issues of race, gender, special challenges, and friendship between members of different ethnic or socio-economic groups.

REALISTIC FICTION

Level

Author

Publisher

Year

Awards, Miscellaneous

K

Never Spit on Your Shoes

Cazet,

Denys

Scholastic

1996

Dialog about first day of school and what happens during school day; informative and teaches empathy.1

Pa Lia's First Day

Edwards,

Michelle

Harcourt

2005

Anxiety about fitting in; some words may be challenging and might be a combination of story time an individual reading.

2

A Grain of Rice

Pittman, Helena

Yearling

1995

How can a grain of rice turn into something wonderful? Also includes mathematics.

3

The Hundred Dresses

Estes, Eleanor

Sandpiper

1994

Newbury; issues of belonging, acculturation

4

On My Honor

Bauer,

Marion

Yearling

1987

Deals with issues of death, guilt, and uncomfortable emotions.

5

Walk Two Moons

Creech, Sharon

Harper Collins

1996

Newbury; Native American issues, love, loss, and complexity of emotions.

6

Jacob Have I Loved

Paterson, Katherine

Harper Collins

1990

Coming of age; 1940s, being a twin

7

Bud, Not Buddy

Curtis, Christopher

Laurel Lead

2004

African-American; leaving home, abuse, learning to trust and love.

8

Tulip Touch

Fine,

Anne

Longman

2003

Dysfunctional relationships; sociopathic tendencies, being true to oneself

Fantasy -- The human condition seems to revel in the idea of archetypal situations in which magic, monsters, dragons, and the paranormal can interact with gods, heroes, and adventures. Fantasy is different than Science Fiction, but may include elements of new.....