Why Nonfiction Matters

As we often say in our trainings, nonfiction can open up a whole new world of curiosity for young children. These books help children:

• Connect stories to real life experiences.
• Build background knowledge about how the world works.
• Learn new vocabulary that they might not hear in everyday conversation.
• Practice asking questions and thinking like little scientists.

That is why nonfiction is an important part of our collection. With just a few inviting strategies, you can help children see these books as exciting, friendly, and full of possibilities.

Before Reading: Set the Stage for Discovery

The first moments with the book can set the tone for the whole experience. Take your time here and help children get ready to wonder.

• Show the cover and talk about it. Invite children to look closely. Ask what they notice and what they think the book might be about.
• Connect the topic to their own experiences. Have they ever seen that animal, vehicle, or object before. Where. How is it used. What do people do with it. What does it eat.
• Bridge from the unknown to the known. If the topic is new to them, connect it to something they do know. For example, if they do not know what a crane is, you might compare it to a big strong arm that helps lift heavy things.
• Explore the table of contents if it is present. Show them that the table of contents is like a map for the book. Point out that the numbers help us find the page we want. This gently introduces how informational books are organized.

During Reading: Discovery Time

While you read, think of yourself as a guide on a little adventure. You are not just delivering information. You are helping children notice, wonder, and connect.

• Point to pictures and name objects together. Label what you see out loud and invite children to repeat the words or point along with you.
• Ask simple “I wonder” questions. Questions like “I wonder how this truck moves dirt.” or “I wonder what the sirens are for.” or “Why do you think they have fins.” invite children to think instead of just listen.
• Celebrate their ideas and predictions. When children make guesses, connect them to what you are reading. Gently clarify ideas and correct misconceptions when needed, such as the very common belief that sharks are always trying to eat people in any body of water.
• Paraphrase tricky sentences. If a sentence feels too long or technical, restate it in simple preschool friendly language so everyone can follow along.
• Repeat key facts in different ways. Say important ideas more than once and link them to familiar things. For example, “Penguins have a special layer of fat to keep them warm. It is like when you wear a big puffy coat outside in winter.”
• Pause to explore their questions. If a child asks about something, take a moment to follow that curiosity. It is perfectly fine to step away from the page for a moment if it means building a deeper connection.

After Reading: Extend the Learning

When the book closes, the learning does not have to stop. You can gently invite children to keep exploring the topic in their daily lives.

• Send them on a little “noticing mission”. Encourage them to look for things related to the book during the week. It might be trucks on the street, certain foods at home, or animals in a park or on a sign.
• Invite conversations with grownups. Suggest that they ask (or even teach!) their grownups about the topic. This keeps the learning going and helps families join in the fun.
• Connect back in future readings. If a similar topic comes up in another book, pause and say “Remember when we read about this. What did we learn.” This helps them recall and reuse what they have learned.

The True Goal: Curiosity, Not Memorization

It is easy to feel pressure to “teach facts” with nonfiction, but that is not our main goal in early childhood. We are not trying to make children memorize every detail.

Instead, we want to:

• Spark curiosity and a sense of wonder.
• Encourage them to ask questions and share ideas.
• Help them see nonfiction as inviting, friendly, and fun.
• Support connections between books and real life.

When children feel that real world topics are exciting and approachable, they are much more likely to keep exploring, asking, and learning as they grow.

Nonfiction really can open a whole new world. With your warmth, patience, and a few simple strategies like these, you are helping children step into that world with confidence and joy.