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TMC Easy

Guide to the picture books section in the TMC.

Picture Book Genresopen book

This section features definitions, common characteristics, and examples of some genres that are typically encountered in picture books. Navigate through the tabs below to learn more about each! (Look in the TMC Fiction section for YA and Middle Grade examples).

Picture Book Genres

Traditional Literature involves a variety of different tales that all tend to originate from oral storytelling. Many of them have been passed down for centuries! There are several sub-categories within traditional literature, such as folk talkes, fairy tales, fables, legends, myths, etc. Different cultures will tend to have their own authentic traditional stories.

Common elements:

  • These stories are handed down, and started out as oral tales that were told and retold, often with recurring characters and themes, but slight variations with the re-tellings
  • May be traditional tellings, or even continuing the tradition by giving the old tales a modern twist
  • Frequently involve fantasy elements such as magic, impossible occurrences, and talking animals
  • Different Types of Traditional Tales:
    • Fables usually provide a specific lesson or moral, and anthropomorphized animals star as the main characters. Examples: The Tortoise and the Hare, The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs, etc
    • Fairy tales usually feature elements of fantasy, often involving magic or magical creatures, wizards and other magical characters, struggles of good vs evil, faraway kingdoms, royalty, etc. Examples: Cinderella, Rapunzel, etc.
    • Folk tales are the stories of the "folk", the ordinary people, and usually were told and retold orally. They may feature songs, stories, myths, and proverbs, and usually are deeply rooted in a particular culture. Examples: Anansi the Spider (Ashanti folk tale), Momotarō (Japanese folk tale), etc.
    • Legends tell of a specific hero, real or imagined, usually involving many fantastic elements in their story. Although some history may be involved (particularly in the setting), the story tends to be unverifiable and mythical in nature. Examples: King Arthur, Faust, etc
    • Mythology usually deals with pantheons of deities, as well as heroes and heroic deeds. May involve creation stories and other massive events in the distant past, usually told to explain natural occurrences. Examples: Norse Gods (Poetic Edda), Greek Gods (Zeus, Poseidon, etc), etc.
    • Tall tales feature superhuman figures and exaggerations of actual events, frequently involving a great deal of humor.  Examples: Paul Bunyan, Johnny Appleseed, etc.

Historical fiction takes place in a time period in the past, and that setting is important to the plot lines and themes being explored. They often involve a fictionalized account of a real historical event (or time period) and can even include real historical figures. These books are NOT meant as a fully accurate retelling of historical events, however they make for good literary pairings with nonfiction books in a history lesson, bringing past events alive to readers.

Common elements:

  • Distinctly set in a specific time period in the past: details from the time period will be evident
  • The historical setting is generally important to the plot, themes, etc
  • Takes place at least ~20 years ago
  • May feature famous historical events as part of the plot
  • May feature real people from history: realistic but fictionalized accounts of their stories
  • Usually features fictional characters and plot lines
  • Usually written in a realistic way: but there are many sub-categories of the genre (historical fantasy is a sub-genre exception that uses fantasy elements)

Fantasy involves imaginary situations that aren't possible in the real world. It tends to include supernatural elements like magic or mythical settings and situations, and usual creatures and beasts like dragons and so on. It can also possibly take place in the real world, bringing fantastic situations in to a seemingly realistic setting.

Common elements:

  • Imaginary, supernatural elements are essential to fantasy: magic, fantastic creatures, magical artifacts, etc
  • May often include "medieval" setting features, such as kingdoms, castles, etc (such as in the "high fantasy" sub genre)
    • Some sub-genres may take place in the real world, weaving in the magical elements (such as in the "urban fantasy" sub genre)
  • Usually the setting is low-tech in nature, with magic taking on a prominent role instead
  • Although the magical elements are impossible in reality, without any basis in "real world" science, they usually follow their own rules
  • May often feature epic journeys and quests, the struggle of good vs evil, hero's journey, etc
  • Stories with anthropomorphized animals (that talk and behave human) typically fall under the category of fantasy as "animal fantasy" (although there may be overlap with other genres, such as traditional): these books include titles such as Watership Down, the Redwall series, etc. (more examples).
  • Contrast with Science Fiction: "Science fiction deals with improbable possibilities, fantasy with plausible impossibilities" (source)

Science fiction focuses on material such as fictional technology, space travel and extraterrestrials, or futuristic settings. It's taking real science and going a few steps ahead, speculating on what "could" be.

Common elements:

  • Science is at the basis of the story... but it is stretched beyond reality to an imagined place, making it speculative in nature
  • Often features technological advancements: robots, space travel, genetic modification, time travel, etc
    • Plots and themes frequently deal with technological change and its consequences (good or bad)
  • Often features other "what if" scenarios, using science as a basis: such as, "what if alien life existed?" (with an underlying scientific explanation for its existence)
  • May be "hard" science fiction (strictly follows and focuses on the science aspect) or "soft" science fiction (more focus is placed on the social consequences of the science)
  • The setting may frequently be some distant time in the future (going along with its speculative nature)
  • Dystopian literature is a sub-genre in this category as a speculation of what could go disastrously wrong, with society changing for the worse (usually seen more often on the YA level)
  • Contrast with Fantasy: "Science fiction deals with improbable possibilities, fantasy with plausible impossibilities" (source)

Realistic fiction involves events that could actually happen; usually it takes place in a modern setting. In these stories, characters face anything from major (refugee experiences, immigration, etc) to smaller-scale (friendships, etc) real-world issues. Themes about growing up and independence are also common, as children go off to school and start to develop their identities. The main protagonists will often be children, typically an age that's relatable to the audience.

Common elements:

  • Growing up, exploring identity, starting school, issues encountered at school
  • Confronting social or personal problems: bullying, family problems, fitting in, etc
  • Relatable situations
  • Relatable age of protagonist: usually children
  • Modern, contemporary setting
  • Characters and plot lines grounded in reality, as if they could happen in everyday life

Example Books:

Biographies showcase the lives of real people, whether modern or historical. They can be about famous figures, or even regular people who have been through extraordinary events.  Autobiographies are a firsthand account written by the subject of the book.

Common elements:

  • Features the story of a real person: usually in narrative format
  • May be about anyone: famous historical figures, contemporary stars and athletes, or even just ordinary people with interesting stories to tell
  • Alongside the personal story of the subject, their setting may be notable and important to study, especially if they are from a particular time in history (e.g, Civil Rights era, Holocaust, etc), or even a specific ethnicity or culture (e.g., Native American, African, etc)
  • May be in a variety of formats: picture books, middle grade with chapters, etc: the format tends to fit with the level
  • Autobiographies are a firsthand account written by the subject of the book
  • Biographies usually feature a person's whole life story, from childhood on up through adulthood, giving a thorough, well-rounded account of their successes and failures, and the lessons that can be learned from their life
  • Memoirs tend to focus on one certain aspect of a person's life: for instance, if they're a musician, it may be about one important concert, or a sports player may recount a game they're famous for winning, etc

Poetry books in the picture book format are illustrated books featuring specific poems, or collections of poems.

Common elements:

  • Compilations or anthologies of poetry from multiple poets
  • Collections of poetry from a single poet
  • Showcase of one single poem for the entire book

Nonfiction books discuss real events, people, places, and things

Common elements:

  • Focused on a specific "real world" topic: real facts, events, and ideas will be explored
  • Usually will be narrative (reads like a story) or even poetic
  • Contains illustrations, rather than photographs