Nonfiction books have a special role in children’s lives. These books can cross age levels, using illustrations to focus interest and clarify text information, thereby providing powerful motivation to read. Currently nonfiction books are being produced in increased numbers, variety, and quality. A new focus on the very young has provided an abundance of attractive nonfiction books in many formats. Other developments include reliance on illustrations, use of sophisticated photography, use of unconventional formats, borrowing techniques from fiction, and the appearance of more books on specialized topics. Nonfiction books are finally being recognized for their quality; for example, the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children was established in 1990.

Special criteria are needed for evaluating these books, but the books need to be regarded with emotion as well as rationality. Each of the following is a criterion that can be subdivided into several sections for careful study of the book: accuracy and authenticity, content and perspective, style, organization, illustrations, and format. Guides for evaluating nonfiction books have been developed.

There are several types of nonfiction books, each of which has distinguishing features: concept books, nonfiction picture books, photographic essays, identification books, life-cycle books, experiment and activity books, documents and journals, survey books, specialized books, and craft and how-to books.

Classroom use of nonfiction books need not be confined to one single area of study. Many nonfiction books can be extended to subject areas of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. Use of books in these areas can replace or supplement textbooks, aid the development of critical thinking and reading, provide guides for children’s reporting, and serve as the basis for studies. Teachers can use standard general references and specialized sources for selecting books for the classroom. The integration of fact and fiction books for classroom study provides a challenging and satisfying way of teaching.