Book Genres

What is a genre?

A genre is a classification used to sort books into different categories. It comes from the French word meaning “kind”.

Mystery

A mystery is a story in which there is a problem that needs to be solved. Many times there is a spy or detective who uses clues to help him/her crack the case.

Biography

This genre tells about a real person. Someone else tells the story of this person’s life.

Autobiography

A story written about a real person. The person writes the story about herself or himself.

Example:

Kate wrote a story about her life.

Fable

A fable is a short story, normally with animal characters, that teaches a lesson or a moral.

Poetry

Poetry is often shorter stories that use words to express a feeling. They can rhyme and are typically written in stanzas, or lines.

Fiction

Fiction stories are make-believe, or fake, stories the author has written. The story can use real people or animals, but the storyline is made up.

Non-Fiction

Non-fiction stories use real facts and information to tell about a certain subject.

Fantasy

A fantasy is a fiction story that generally contains magic. The characters do things that wouldn’t happen in real life. There may be creatures in the story that do not really exist in real life.

What’s the Genre?

• You will need a sheet of paper and a pencil for this activity.

• On questions 1-20 you will read a brief description and choose the correct genre, either a,b,or c.

• Once you have completed your paper give it to the teacher.

1. Mary Smith wrote a book about Michael Jordan. This is an example of a/an ________________.

a. biography

b. autobiography

c. mystery

2. In a ___________ someone may have something stolen from them that they want returned.

a. Fable

b. mystery

c. myth

3. A story that has a moral or lesson is a/an ______________.a. Fantasy

b. Myth

c. Fable

4. This type of story contains the element of magic.

a. Myth

b. Fantasy

c. Fable

a. fableb. mysteryc. poetry

5. The friendly cow, all red and white,

I love with all my heart;She gives me cream with all her might,

To eat with apple tart.

This is an example of ______________.

6. If someone writes a story about himself, it is called a/an ______________.

a. Myth

b. Autobiography

c. Biography

7. If a story is written about real information to tell people about something it is ______________.

a. Fiction

b. Non-fiction

c. Fable

8. John has lost his glasses. He hires a detective to help him find them. This is an example of a __________.

a. biography

b. fable

c. mystery

9. This type of story is made up, or not real.

a. mystery

b. fiction

c. non-fiction

10. This genre normally consists of stanzas, or lines, of words that often rhyme.

a. non-fiction

b. fiction

c. poetry

11. In the story of the Grasshopper and the Ant, the moral is that you should be responsible and get your work done. This is an example of a ____________.

a. fable

b. poetry

c. mystery

12. Lucille Ball wrote a book about herself called Love, Lucy. This is an example of a/an __________.

a. non-fiction

b. autobiography

c. biography

13. Our teacher wrote a paper about David Shannon. This would be an example of a/an _________.

a. biography

b. autobiography

c. fiction

14. The Harry Potter series is a great example of the genre _______ because of the make-believe characters and magic.

a. poetry

b. mystery

c. fantasy

15. Jack wrote a book about dogs. It tells us how to teach them tricks. This is a ____________ book.

a. fiction

b. non-fiction

c. biography

16. My sister wrote a story about people living in Florida. She made up names for all of the people. This is an example of ____________.

a. biography

b. non-fiction

c. fiction

17. I read a book about a missing dog. What kind of book was it?

a. mystery

b. fable

c. fantasy

18. My uncle wrote a book about himself. This is a/an __________.

a. biography

b. autobiography

c. fiction

19. In the story of the Lion and the Mouse, the mouse proves even the smallest can help the greatest. This is an example of ____________.

a. mystery

b. fantasy

c. fable

20. Patty wrote a book telling people about boats. This is an example of _____________.

a. fiction

b. non-fiction

c. fantasy

21. Tom wrote a story about Jenny. This is an example of _________.

a. biography

b. autobiography

c. fiction

22. Shel Silverstein wrote the following:

Tell me who can Catch a toucan?

Lou can

This is an example of __________.

a. poetry

b. fantasy

c. fable

23. A story that has make-believe characters, a made-up setting, and other non-real events is an example of ___________.

a. non-fiction

b. mystery

c. fiction

FANTASTIC WORK!