Text Structure Resourcescompiled by Emily Kissner

The books on this list were put together as a resource for teachers planning to teach about expository text structures.

DescriptionThis text structure can also be called statement/support or main idea and detail. An author begins by stating a main point, and then supports that main point with details.Graphic organizer: Web, Tree map

Sill, Cathryn. (2010). About Raptors. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishing. Amazon linkThis book is part of a series that introduces readers to animals and their characteristics. The books are written with main ideas and supporting details. Very simple text, clear structure. Multiple books in the series could be used for further instruction.

Wallace, Karen. (1993). Think of a Beaver. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press. Amazon linkIn this book, readers learn about the characteristics of the beaver. Figurative language adds to the descriptive imagery, making it a fine example of a picture book that shows the description text structure. If this title is unavailable, look for the companion book Think of an Eel. Note: Toward the end of the book, the structure changes to chronological order as the growth of beaver kits is explained.

Chronological OrderText that is written in chronological order shows how something changes over time. Time order transitions such as next, then, later, and finally are used.Graphic organizer: Sequence chain

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Zecca, Katherine. (2007). A Puffin’s Year. Maine: Down East Books.Amazon linkReaders find out about a puffin’s year in this beautifully illustrated book. The text begins with the puffins’ arrival on the island, and follows a pair as they lay their egg and raise the puffling.

McMillan, Bruce. (1993). Nights of the Pufflings. New York: Houghton-Mifflin.Amazon linkA nice counterpart to A Puffin’s Year, this book tells the story of pufflings and the Icelandic children who help them when they get lost on their way to the sea. Photographs of children, puffins, and Iceland accompany the text. A nice counterpart to A Puffin’s Year, this book examines some of the same events in a different way. (Note: There is a section of the text that is problem and solution at the end.)

Cherry, Lynne. (1997). Flute’s Journey. New York: Harcourt.Amazon linkIn this book, a wood thrush is followed from hatching to raising its own young. The book tells how wood thrushes migrate to Central America, and the dangers that they face. The text follows a very clear chronological order pattern.

Other good chronological order texts:

Cherry, Lynne. A River Ran Wild.

“The Great Chicago Fire” from Toolkit Texts, 4/5

“Firefighting Through the Ages” from Toolkit Texts, 4/5 Himmelman, John. A House Spider’s Life.

Nelson, Vaunda. Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, U.S. Marshal. (In typical biography fashion, this text starts with an event from the middle of the subject’s life, and then goes back to chronological order.)

Cause and EffectCause and effect text shows how one or more causes led to one or more effects. Usually, the author explains the causes before the effects,

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although this is not always the case. Clue words such as cause, effect, result, and therefore might be found, but are not always used, especially in authentic text. Because causes precede effects, chronological order clue words are also often present.Graphic organizer: Flow map

Battan, Mary. (2003). Aliens from Earth: When Animals and Plants Invade Other Ecosystems. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishing.Amazon linkThis book explains how alien plants and animals affect ecosystems. Each double page spread explains another case of an alien invader, and the effects the exotic species had on the ecosystem.

Davies, Nicola. (2006). Extreme Animals. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.Amazon linkHow can polar bears survive their freezing homes? How can wood frogs survive being frozen? What animal is the toughest on earth? (You might be surprised!) In this book, Nicola Davies explains how the adaptations of animals help them survive extremes. This is an example of text where the effect is stated before the causes.

Other good cause and effect textsSiebert, Patricia. Toad Overload.

Washington Post article: Zoo Mystery

Johns, Chris, and Elizabeth Carney. Face to Face with Cheetahs.(The Fast Cats section is organized as cause and effect.)

Stewart, Melissa. Deadliest Animals.(This book includes cause and effect sentences as the author explains why various animals are deadly.)

Problem and SolutionIn problem and solution text, an author states a problem, and then describes one or more solutions. The solution could be something that has actually happened, or the author may be making suggestions for the future. Problem and solution text often includes some elements of cause and effect as the author explains what led to the problem or the effects that the solution will have.Graphic organizer: Flow map

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Stewart, Melissa. (2006). A Place for Butterflies. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishing.Amazon linkThis book uses two levels of text to explain how butterflies are affected by habitat change, and how people have helped to restore their habitats. The simpler text uses a cause and effect structure, explaining how people’s actions have led to butterfly survival. The longer text focuses on a particular species of butterfly and how people solved problems related to the butterfly’s habitat.

Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. (2008). When the Wolves Returned. New York: Walker and Company.Amazon linkThe wolves of Yellowstone were all killed in the early part of the 1900s. How did this lead to problems in the ecosystem? The author of this book explains how and why the wolves were killed, and then tells how scientists reintroduced wolves to the park. This is a good example of how cause and effect text fits well with problem and solution text.

Other problem and solution books

Stewart, Melissa. A Place for Birds.

Gerstein, Mordecai. Sparrow Jack.

Compare and ContrastIn the text structure of compare and contrast, an author shows how two or more things are similar and different. Compare and contrast is complicated by the fact that the text can be put together in multiple ways. The author may use a clustered style, in which all of the details about each topic are put together. Or the author may use an alternated style, going point by point through the details. Sometimes, authors may even combine the two methods.Graphic organizer: Matrix, Venn diagram

Collard, Sneed. (2008). Teeth. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.Amazon linkThis book uses a clustered method to describe how different animals use their teeth. Different kinds of teeth are discussed, with details that show how these different teeth help the animals to survive. Most of the

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comparisons are implicit and left to the reader to piece together; however, this would work well with a comparison chart.

Bullard, Lisa. (2010). What’s the Difference Between An Alligator and A Crocodile? Minnesota: Picture Window Books.Amazon linkThis book uses an alternated style to help a reader understand the differences between an alligator and a crocodile. Diagrams and supportive illustrations depict the main details to show how these reptiles are similar and different. Look for other books in the series, like What’s the Difference Between a Frog and a Toad?

Other compare and contrast texts

Carney, Elizabeth. Cats vs. Dogs.

Jenkins, Steve. Dogs and Cats.

Compiled by Emily Kissner http://emilykissner.blogspot.com