1. By Mrs. Paula McMullen
Library Teacher
Norwood Public Schools
2. Nonfiction books have external and internal features
that organize, highlight, show and explain information
for the reader.
Good readers understand and use these features to
help them to better understand the subjects in
nonfiction books.
The following slides will show examples of external and
internal features. Please note that internal features
include: text organizers, graphics, illustrations, print
features and other special features.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 2
Norwood Public Schools
3. Readers examine the following external features
before reading nonfiction books:
•Book Covers
•Book Flaps
•Spine Labels (on library books)
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 3
Norwood Public Schools
4. This is the front cover
of a book.
Good readers read
the title and examine
the illustration. Then,
they make predictions
about what the book
will be about.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 4
Norwood Public Schools
5. The front book flap
presents information
about the subject of
the book.
Readers can often
decide if they want
to read the book
based on the
contents of the front
book flap.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 5
Norwood Public Schools
6. The rear book flap
contains information
about the author.
The rear book flap also
contains information
about the illustrator.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 6
Norwood Public Schools
7. This back cover
provides information
on the book’s subject.
It provides examples of
other books in the
series.
It also provides
information about the
two reading levels in
this series.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 7
Norwood Public Schools
8. This is the back cover of the
book called Baby Apes.
The back cover of this book
tells the reader that this is
one book in a series called
Baby Animals. This back
cover lists all the other books
in the series so readers can
look for them in the library.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 8
Norwood Public Schools
9. The spine label is located at
the bottom of a library book’s
spine.
The call number is on the
spine label. If the call number
has a number and the first
three letters of an author’s last
name, it is a nonfiction book
that can be used as an
information resource.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 9
Norwood Public Schools
10. Library books on the
same subject have the
same call number and
are located next to
each other on the
shelf.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 10
Norwood Public Schools
11. Readers examine these text organizers before
reading the book:
•Title Page
•Contents Page
•Introduction
•Glossary
•Index
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 11
Norwood Public Schools
12. • The title page presents
the title, the author,
the illustrator and the
publishing company.
• Libraries will often
stamp the name of
their library on this
page.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 12
Norwood Public Schools
13. The Contents Page lists all
the chapters as they
appear in the book. It
also lists the Glossary and
Index, located at the back
of the book.
The Contents Page tells
the reader what topics
will be covered in each
chapter of the book.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 13
Norwood Public Schools
14. This Contents Page
explains that bolded
words are found in
the Glossary.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 14
Norwood Public Schools
15. Although it does not
use the words
“Contents Page,” this
page lists the chapters
in a book.
The chapters, Glossary,
and Index are always
in chronological order
– as they appear in the
book.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 15
Norwood Public Schools
16. The Introduction is
located at the front of
the book, after the
Contents Page.
The Introduction tells
what topics the book
will cover. It can also
tell us why the author
wrote the book, and
how the book should
be used.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 16
Norwood Public Schools
17. The Glossary is located
near the back of the book.
The Glossary provides
definitions for important or
difficult words in the book.
It lists these words in
alphabetical order.
Each entry word is bolded
to make it easier to find.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 17
Norwood Public Schools
18. The Index is located at the
end of the book.
The Index is an alphabetical
listing of every topic the
book covers.
The Index also shows the
page number(s) where
readers can find
information on the topics.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 18
Norwood Public Schools
19. Readers understand information better with
illustrations that show what things look like.
Illustrations include:
•Drawings – made by the illustrator
•Collages – put together by illustrator
•Photographs – taken by a camera
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 19
Norwood Public Schools
20. This illustration is a
drawing. There is a small
label telling the reader
that the animal on the left
is an American Toad.
When readers look
carefully at this
photograph, they can infer
that the snake is a threat
to the toad. There is no
caption explaining the
picture to the reader.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 20
Norwood Public Schools
21. This illustration is
a drawing that
shows snakes
shedding their
skin.
The caption
explains to the
reader that the
snake’s skin is
very thin.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 21
Norwood Public Schools
22. This is a double-page
drawing. It covers
facing pages in a book.
The drawing shows
animals found in the
open sea. It also
shows the number of
these ocean creatures
on the page.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 22
Norwood Public Schools
23. In this cutaway
drawing, the
illustrator has cut
away part of the
ground and tree
roots to show the
creatures who live
below and behind.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 23
Norwood Public Schools
24. This illustration of a
monkey is a collage
made of thin strips of
wood.
The heading is in larger
color print. Below the
heading, you can see
the geographical
location and remaining
number of this
endangered animal.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 24
Norwood Public Schools
25. This illustration is a
photograph of a
toucan bird.
The photograph has a
label with an arrow
pointing to the bird’s
large bill.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 25
Norwood Public Schools
26. Some illustrations
compare an
unfamiliar object,
like a baby bat, to
something we know,
like a person’s hand.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 26
Norwood Public Schools
27. A close-up focuses
on a detail, or small
part, of something.
This photograph is a
close-up of the clear
skin that covers a
boa’s eye.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 27
Norwood Public Schools
28. These photographs
show the stages in the
panda’s life cycle.
The arrows show us
the direction our eyes
should travel as we
read the captions that
describe each
photograph.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 28
Norwood Public Schools
29. These photographs
show the stages of
development in an
orangutan’s life.
Readers match the
circled number to
the numbered
caption when
examining this
illustration.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 29
Norwood Public Schools
30. Graphics help the reader to see, compare
and understand facts. Graphics include:
•Tables
•Charts
•Diagrams
•Maps
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 30
Norwood Public Schools
31. This is a Table
called Length of
Life of Animals.
Tables allow the
reader to see
and compare
information.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 31
Norwood Public Schools
32. This Table is called Interesting Facts About
Reptiles. The first part of each fact is bolded so
readers can easily pick out each fact.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 32
Norwood Public Schools
33. This chart is a bar
graph. It shows
endangered animals as
of 2004.
The purple bar shows
the US figures; the gold
bar shows the foreign
figures.
The key shows what
the bar colors stand for.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 33
Norwood Public Schools
34. This chart
shows in feet
how high
different
types of birds
can fly.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 34
Norwood Public Schools
35. This pie chart
visually shows the
greatest threats to
US endangered
species in
percentages.
According to this
chart, hunting is
the greatest threat
to US endangered
species.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 35
Norwood Public Schools
36. A diagram is a
labeled drawing or
photograph. A
diagram provides
labels of the parts of
a whole object.
As the heading
indicates, this
diagram shows the
parts of a ladybug.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 36
Norwood Public Schools
37. This page
shows a
diagram of the
parts of a
panda’s body
below the
Glossary.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 37
Norwood Public Schools
38. This is a map. Maps
help the reader
understand where
things are in the world.
The large bolded word
“Africa” tells the reader
it is a map of that
continent.
The red box labeled
“Chimpanzee Habitat”
shows where
chimpanzees live.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 38
Norwood Public Schools
39. Using the title and the
map key, the reader can
tell that the top map
shows the farm products
of U.S. regions.
Using the title and map
key, the reader can tell
that the bottom map
shows the importance of
agriculture to state
economies.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 39
Norwood Public Schools
40. Readers understand that print features focus your
attention on specific parts of a nonfiction book. Print
Features include:
•Titles
•Headings
•Boldface Print
•Italics
•Captions
•Labels
•Bullets
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 40
Norwood Public Schools
41. The chapter title is
bolded and in larger
print to call attention
to it.
The title tells the
reader what the topic
will be in that
Chapter Title
chapter. The reader
knows what to expect
when reading that
chapter.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 41
Norwood Public Schools
42. The heading
“Bright Eyes” is
bolded and in a
larger print.
There are
several other
headings on this
page: “Touch,”
“Smell,” and
“Taste.”
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 42
Norwood Public Schools
43. A caption
describes or
explains the
illustration.
Captions can be
inside, beside,
above or below
the illustration.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 43
Norwood Public Schools
44. Bullets are placed
before items in a
list. They call the
reader’s attention
to each item.
The heading of
this fact box is
bolded and placed
in an orange color
bar to call
attention to it.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 44
Norwood Public Schools
45. The captions
for each of
these small
illustrations
on this page
are in italics
to distinguish
them from
the other text.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 45
Norwood Public Schools
46. The heading
“Bone Facts” is
typed in a RED
band of color to
get the reader’s
attention.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 46
Norwood Public Schools
47. This diagram
has labels
for the parts
of the
rattlesnake’s
mouth.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 47
Norwood Public Schools
48. This is a labeled
diagram showing
the parts of an
ant’s body.
This diagram has a
caption in italics
below it. The text
has bolded words
that would be
found in the
glossary.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 48
Norwood Public Schools
49. • Bolded letters call attention to the text.
They tell the reader “Look at me! I am
important.”
• Italics also call attention to the text.
They tell the reader “Look at me! I am
different.”
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 49
Norwood Public Schools
50. Nonfiction books provide other important
features that help the reader. These
other features include:
•Fact Boxes or Lists
•Bibliographies
•Website Lists
•Copyright Date
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 50
Norwood Public Schools
51. Nonfiction books
often provide
extra facts in fact
boxes throughout
the chapters.
This list has
bullets in front of
each item.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 51
Norwood Public Schools
52. Nonfiction books
often provide lists
of additional facts
at the end of a
chapter or at the
end of the book.
Sometimes they
are in a box.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 52
Norwood Public Schools
53. This page contains
two resource lists.
The first is a
bibliography of
suggested books.
The second is a list
of suggested web
sites to visit.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 53
Norwood Public Schools
54. This page contains:
the Index, a
bibliography of
books, and a list of
web sites.
It also provides
information about
the authors.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 54
Norwood Public Schools
55. This page
provides a
list of
organizations
to contact, a
bibliography of
books and a
list of
websites.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 55
Norwood Public Schools
56. The copyright date
tells the reader when
the book was
published.
Copyright information
is found on the back
of the title page, or in
the back of the book.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 56
Norwood Public Schools
57. • Nonfiction features help the reader to
understand nonfiction books or magazine,
newspaper and encyclopedia articles.
• It is important that readers understand these
features so they can use them purposefully in
their reading every day.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 57
Norwood Public Schools
58. • Armentrout, David and Patricia. Chimpanzees. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Publishing, 2008.
• Bredeson, Carmen. Boa Constrictor’s Up Close. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2006.
• Bredeson. Carmen. Giant Pandas Up Close. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc., 2006.
• Donald, Rhonda Lucas. Endangered Animals. NY: Scholastic Inc., 2001
• Earle, Ann. Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats. NY: Harper Collins, 1995.
• Gans, Roma. How Do Birds Find Their Way? NY: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1996.
• Jenkins, Steve. Almost Gone: The World’s Rarest Animals. NY: HarperCollinsPublishers, 2006.
• Kalman, Bobbie. Baby Apes. St. Catherines, Ontario: Crabtree Publishing Co., 2008.
• Kendell, Patricia. Chimpanzees. Austin, TX: Raintree Steck-Vaughan Publishers, 2002.
• Lauber, Patricia. Snakes Are Hunters. NY:Harper Collins Publishers, 1988.
• Mattson, Mark. Scholastic Environmental Atlas of the United States. NY: Scholastic Inc, 1993.
• O’Toole, Christopher. Discovering Ants. NY: The Bookwright Press, 1986.
• Otto, Carolyn. What Color is Camouflage? NY: HarperCollins, 1996.
• Parker, Steve. Eyewitness Books: Mammal. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1989
• Pyers, Greg. Ladybugs Up Close. Chicago: Raintree, 2005.
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Journey: Stories of Migration. NY: Blue Sky Press Scholastic, 2006.
• Walker, Sara. Big Cats. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2002.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 58
Norwood Public Schools
59. • Kendall, Juli. Reading Workshop Journal. October 22, 2009.
http://www.middleweb.com/ReadWrkshp/JK33.html
• Stein, Barb et al. Reading Nonfiction Part 1. October 22, 2009.
http://www.iowa-city.k12.ia.us/library/Curriculum/Lit/Lessons/ReadingNonfiction1.htm
• Stein, Barb et al. Reading Nonfiction Part 2. October 22, 2009.
http://www.iowa-city.k12.ia.us/library/Curriculum/Lit/Lessons/ReadingNonfiction2.htm
• Huey, Raymond B., and W. Herbert Wilson, Jr. "Animal." World Book Student. World
Book, 2009. Web. 2 Nov. 2009.
• Means, D. Bruce. "Reptile." World Book Student. World Book, 2009. Web. 2 Nov.
2009.
Mrs. Paula McMullen, Library Teacher,
11/6/2009 59
Norwood Public Schools