EXPLORING CHILDREN’S LITERATURE TO ENHANCE LITERACY THROUGH THE GRADES

Unit 5: OPEN SESAME!

Discover a Treasure of Fictional
Stories

Introduction
Fiction is untrue
material. Ideas for fiction can come from true events, or they can be
imaginary. In both situations, fiction is made up. It’s created. It’s not real.
A whole book can be fiction. A story can be fiction too. We can find
fictional stories in books, magazines, newspapers, speeches, as well as
online.

This Module will now bring us to the wonderful world of stories

where the only limit is your imagination. It will present both children and
young adults’ fictional tales in classic and modern presentations. It will
discuss the elements that make a story worth learning from.
Encompassing all these will be beautiful quotes by which you can make
moral cornerstones of your young life. Adaptations of movies into books
will also be explained. Are you now ready to indulge?

As Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves shouted out when he opened the
cave of treasures, “Open Sesame!”

Module Learning Outcomes

• Familiarized oneself with fiction and fictional narratives

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• Appreciated the sample works of fiction and developed love

for reading

Lesson 1: Characteristics & Elements of

Fiction

Lesson Outcomes
 define fiction
 explain characteristics of fictional narratives:
 identify elements of fiction

Activate Prior Learning

Task 1: League of Fiction Heroes Fact Card Creation

Look at the sample below. Create the same profile of the characters
as shown.

Full Name: Howl Pendragon

Main Series: Howl’s Moving Castle
Designation: Wizard
Author: Diana Wynne Jone
Power Quote: I have enough of running away.
Now I have something to protect. It’s you!

Group into four and do this task. Create a fact card by doing a character
profile for them just like the example made for Howl. Identify the character

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Were you able to identify the stories where these characters were taken?
Do you know them? Which of these characters are your favorites? Which
are not? Why?

Task 2: Round Robin

Present the fact card you made to other pair for discussion. Write
some memorable notes at the back of the card recalled by other pairs.
Have pairs take turns going around the group and adding facts that fit the
character in the card. You may use your smart phones to verify facts.
What elements of the story were you able to recall best?
What type of fiction story was you character taken from?
Do you know the elements of a fiction story that make it worth
remembering?
Let us review them in this module.

Acquire New Learning

Read On!
. Fantasy, science fiction, and folklore are all members of the fiction
family tree. The broader fiction genre includes stories that may not be
real, but certainly could be real. They're the tales of children and their
classroom pals or the adventures of kids and their faithful puppy.
So, they're possible events but they still stem from the author's
imagination. They're set in "real" places and times and allow readers to
dip into the lives of others, even if they don't technically exist.
What are the key features of fiction as genre of children's literature?
• It should always be an enjoyable experience for the
listener/reader.
• Children's literature written for children by adults.
• Literature that is read by or to children. ...
• It stands up to expert critical analysis.
• Reader's appreciate the story and make connections with the
book. “... a good book is one that at a particular moment
caused them to feel and to think. These experiences don’t
end when the book is returned to the shelf; rather, readers

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internalize them, applying them to personal experiences and

other reading events.” (Barone, 2010)
• Of interest and relevance to reader.
• Appropriateness of topic for children. Through the ages this
appropriate has changed in focus but it should remain of
relevance for all publishers and readers. Librarians play a
significant role in monitoring this reading and guidance.
• There is a strong influence of what is written by cultural
beliefs.
• It is usually read but can be performed. It can be printed or
broadcasted.
• They tend to share a story, characters, setting, and plot.
• Are traditionally designed to teach, socialize and teach
cultural aspects for children.
• Offers opportunity to dip into those deepest stories of living –
change, frailty, failure, success, loss, growth etc.
• “It is an artistically mediated form of communication – a
conversation – that a society has with its young” (Winch,
2006, p398)
• It is characteristically prose narrative, but can include poetry,
drama, and factual writing.
• The main character is generally a child or stand in child like
an animal or toy. if it is meant for young adult teens are
usually involved.
• “Picture books are unique adaptations of the novel from –
very short and using visual as well as verbal text for the
carriage of story.” (Winch, 2006, p398)
• It is read by children or young adult.
• “The point is that literature is a deep experience that we
respond to in many different ways and many different levels.”
(Winch, 2006, p 401)
• “It can be a map of childhood, and childhood is a diverse and
subjective space. Fiction literature reflects this diversity and
offers children the opportunity to create their own maps and
to traverse their own ways.” (Winch, 2006, p 410).

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• It is a literature of growing. Bildungsroman the novel of

development – the self-awakening of the central character.
• It is designed for children in story, language, typography and
physical format.
• In a narrow sense, it is any story or work of fiction that has
something to say. In a wider sense it is any of a large body of
writings that amuse, enlighten or entertain children (NSW
Department of Education 1989, p.45).
• It is an empowering tool, enabling children to breakthrough
the silence of childhood inexperience and inarticulateness –
like taking a plant from a pot and letting it grow in the earth.
Suddenly its roots are free and it can expand and develop its
full potential. (Otley, 1992).
• Fiction is literature to which we are exposed becomes a way
of making sense of our lives through story.
• Our choices and definitions of what fiction literature makes
an immense difference to the way literature is valued and
used in classrooms.
Plot, Setting, Character, Conflict, Symbol, and Point of View are the
main elements which fiction writers use to develop a story and itsTheme.
Because literature is an art and not a science, it is impossible to
specifically quantify any of these elements within any story or to
guarantee that each will be present in any given story. Setting might be
the most important element in one and almost nonexistent in another.
With that understanding, let’s examine the elements of fiction.
Plot. The plot is the events that unfold to make up the story. It is
what get us interested in reading in the first place. It is the carrot on the
string that pulled us through a story as we wanted to see what would
happen next.
Setting. Stories actually have two types of setting: Physical and
Chronological. The physical setting is of course where the story takes
place. The “where” can be very general—a small farming community, for
example—or very specific—a two story white frame mansion at Calle
Seminario. Likewise, the chronological setting, the “when,” can be equally
general or specific. The author’s choices are important. Shirley Jackson

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gives virtually no clues as to where or when her story “The Lottery” is set.
Examination suggests that she wants the story to be universal, not limited
by time or place.
Character. What type of individuals are the main characters?
Brave, cowardly, bored, obnoxious? If you tell me that the protagonist
(main character) is brave, you should be able to tell where in the story you
got that perception. In literature, as in real life, we can evaluate character
three ways: what the individual says, what the individual does, and what
others say about him or her.
Conflict. Two types of conflict are possible: External and Internal.
External conflict could be man against nature (people in a small lifeboat
on a rough ocean) or man against man. While internal conflict might not
seem as exciting as external, remember that real life has far more internal
than external conflict.
Symbol. Don’t get bent out of shape about symbols. Simply put, a
symbol is something which means something else. Frequently it’s a
tangible physical thing which symbolizes something intangible. A rose
may symbolize love, a dove, freedom and an apple from the story of
creation depicts knowledge.The basic point of a story or a poem rarely
depends solely on understanding a symbol. However important or
interesting they might be, symbols are usually “frosting,” things which add
interest or depth.
Point of view. Point of View is the “narrative point of view,” how
the story is told—more specifically, who tells it. There are two distinctly
different types of point of view and each of those two types has two
variations. In the First Person point of view, the story is told by a character
within the story, a character using the first person pronoun, I. If the
narrator is the main character, the point of view is first person protagonist.
Mark Twain lets Huck Finn narrate his own story , while Anna Sewell,
makes Black Beauty tell his experience as a working horse in this point of
view (POV).
If the narrator is a secondary character, the point of view is first
person observer. Arthur Conan Doyle lets Sherlock Holmes’ friend Dr.
Watson tell the Sherlock Holmes story. Doyle frequently gets credit for

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telling detective stories this way, but Edgar Allan Poe perfected the
technique half a century earlier.
In the Third Person point of view, the story is not told by a character
but by an “invisible author,” using the third person pronoun (he, she, or it)
to tell the story. Instead of Huck Finn speaking directly to us, “My name’s
Huckleberry Finn” and telling us “I killed a pig and spread the blood
around so people would think I’d been killed”, the third person narrator
would say: He killed a pig and spread the blood…..If the third person
narrator gives us the thoughts of characters (He wondered where he’d lost
his baseball glove), then he is a third person omniscient (all knowing)
narrator. If the third person narrator only gives us information which could
be recorded by a camera and microphone (no thoughts), then he is a third
person dramatic narrator.
Different points of view can emphasize different things. A first
person protagonist narrator would give us access to the thoughts of the
main character. If the author doesn’t want us to have that access, he
could use the first person observer, for example, or the third person
dramatic.
Theme. Theme is not so much an element of fiction as much as the
result of the entire story. The theme is the main idea the writer of the
poem or story wants the reader to understand and remember. You may
have used the word “Moral” in discussing theme; but it is not a good
synonym because “moral” implies a positive meaning or idea. And not all
themes are positive. One word—love, for example—may be a topic; but it
cannot be a theme. A theme is a statement about a topic. For example:
“The theme of the story is that love is the most important thing in the
world.” That’s a cliché, of course, but it is a theme. However, mot all
stories or poems (or films) have an overriding “universal” theme.

Apply your Learning

Task 3: Bits & Pisces

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1. A struggle between two forces in any literary work is called

_______________________
2. The force that moves a character to think, feel, or behave in a
certain way is called the _________________
3. A short story that is not true is called __________________
4. The main character or central figure in a story is called the
_________________________
5. The central idea in a literary work is called the ____________
6. The time and space in which a story occurs, together with all
details is called ________________________
7. The secondary character who narrates is called the
_________________
8. _______________ represents something in the story like a red rose for
love

Task 4: Express Yourself

Take one characteristic of fiction that makes you readily relate a
story as such. Explain your choice.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________

Lesson 2: Sub genres of Fiction & Some

Notable Works

Learning Outcomes
• identify the subgenres of fiction
• give notable examples of each subgenre

Activate Prior Learning

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Task 5: Genre Detective

“Sometimes, I’ve
believed as many as six
impossible things before
breakfast.”
1

“It has been a terrible,

horrible, no good, very bad “Believing takes
day. My mom says some
days are like that. Even in practice.”
Australia.”
3
2

It is our choices Harry Trust me, Wilbur. People

that show us who we are very gullible. They
truly are, far more than believe everything they
our abilities. see in print.
4 5

Were you able to solve the case? Were you able to identify the
genres with the given clues taken from famous children’s fiction? Were
you also able to identify the children’s fiction? Let us learn more about this
interesting lesson by reading the texts in Read On.

Acquire New Learning

Read on!
Within fiction, you'll find several subgenres. A subgenre is a
category of work that can be classified under a major genre - in this case
fiction. So what are the types of stories classified under fiction?

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A popular subgenre is historical fiction. In these novels, the

characters lived in a real place and time. However, the story itself remains
fabricated. For example, we might read a historical fiction novel of a
soldier's daughter who lived during the Civil War. That's a real event and
the dates and details should be historically accurate. But, perhaps this
daughter dresses as a boy to join the army and see her father. This
fictional tale will detail the realities of life at that time, while still falling
within the realm of fiction. Here are some that I considered my fab four in
historical genre.
The Boy in Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
This book will lead you on a journey with a nine-year-
old boy named Bruno. And sooner or later you will arrive
with Bruno at a fence where he befriends a boy of his
own age: Shmuel, who lives on the other side of a fence
which surrounds a large camp in the grounds. Fences
like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have
to encounter one. Read this to understand the poignant events that
unfold.
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend
Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now
1943 and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school,
food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through
town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen
moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of
the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save
Ellen's life.
Makisig: The Little Boy Hero of Mactan by Gemma Cruz-Araneta
The story is about Makisig who shows qualities
desirable in a good child: bravery, industry, a sense of
initiative, and a habit of being early. Because of his
zeal to help and please his parents, he would get up
early and sail to fish for breakfast. It was during one
such trip that, from a distance, he sighted the big ships
of foreign invaders. He rowed quickly back to his

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village, ran past the guards of Datu Lapu Lapu and informed him of what
he had seen.
At Ngumiti si Andoy by Xi Zuq with Dominic Agsaway (Illustrator)
Andoy smiled. This is the beginning of Andrew’s story, which starts
at the Heroes Park. He just wanted to draw the statue
of Andres Bonifacio when he discovers a few secrets in
the life of the hero.
This book made me smile, because it showed
that kids can be interested in learning about our own
history--which is a good thing. It will also teach you
more about Andres Bonifacio's life and make you want
to learn more about him. It has great illustrations, too.

Can you think of other stories that belong in this genre? Go

online and check out stories of historical fiction. Make your own
collection with your own number motif.

Fantasy tales that talks about imaginative worlds and make-

believe characters is another genre. Stories set in places that do not exist,
about people and creatures that could not exist, or events that could not
happen. In this fiction genre, people fly. They grow into giants. They talk
to animals. They cast spells and transform into magical beings. It reflects
the imagination of children in a world where there is no distinction
between what's real from what's not. Here are some examples

C.S. Lewis' The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the

third book in the Narnia chronicles, is full of magic and
fantastic creatures. Here, siblings Edmund and Lucy,
along with their cousin, Eustace, meet Prince Caspian
aboard the Dawn Treader, the royal ship. Together,
they face many dangers as they try to save the seven
Lords of Narnia.

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It is the same with Lewis Carroll's Through

the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found there.
Here, Alice decides to walk through a mirror. No big
deal. he adventures of Alice-named for one of the
little girls to whom the book was dedicated-who
journeys down a rabbit hole and into a whimsical
underworld realm instantly struck a chord with the
British public, and then with readers around the world.
In 1872, in reaction to the universal acclaim *Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland* received, Dodgson published this sequel. Nothing is quite
what it seems once Alice journeys through the looking-glass, and
Dodgson's wit is infectious as he explores concepts of mirror imagery,
time running backward, and strategies of chess-all wrapped up in the
exploits of a spirited young girl who parries with the Red Queen,
Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and other unlikely characters. In many
ways, this sequel has had an even greater impact on
today's pop culture than the first book.
From Severino Reyes collection of Mga Kwento ni Lola
Basyang, my local fantasy favorite is Ang Plautin ni
Periking. Like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, Periking has a
magical flute that can make the people who hear him
play unable to stop dancing until their bodies hurt.
Well, I know that the Pied Piper uses his flute to rally rats around but what
I am trying to say is that their flutes can do wonderful things. The story is
simple but engaging. All the ingredients of a good children's book is here:
love, fantasy, initial alienation or difficulty, hope provided by an powerful
divinity posing as a lowly or needy stranger, adventure, triumph against
all odds and finally reconciliation. It is inspiring and definitely something
that definitely engages not only the children but adults as well.
My other local fantasy favorite is Si Emang
Engkantada at ang Tatlong Haragan by Rene O.
Villanueva with Alfonso Oñate and Wilfredo Pollarco as
illustrators. This is a story of three naughty children
who refuse to care for their environment: they destroy
plants, waste water and throw garbage just about

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anywhere! One day, an enchantress decides to teach them a lesson they

will never forget.
Of course, I also like Where the Wild Things Are, The Harry Potter
series, BFG, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Never-ending Story,
Inkheart, Tuck Everlasting, The Secret of Platform 13, The Girl who Drank
the Moon, The Hobbit, Howl’s Moving Castle and many more. They can all
be some stories that are waiting for you to explore if you have not been
there yet.
Fantasy books are really great for children, because fantasy
involves imagination and suspension of beliefs about reality -- a feat that
children have a natural aptitude for. Fantasy literature is appealing to
them and can introduce them to the joys of reading from a young age.
Children's fantasy novels can help develop positive reading habits in
children that they will keep for life.
If you are going to be a literacy teacher, it is high time that you
make your own choice of fantasy stories now. After all, you cannot teach
what you do not have.
Try this game! Make your own Fantasy Book title using the formula in the
box.
The (your Birth Month) of (first letter of your first name) and (first letter of your last
name)

My fantasy title is: The Queen of Smoke and Fog. What’s yours?

Birth months: Letters M-Smoke

N-blood
Jan – city
A-bones O-Ice
Feb – kingdom
B-storm P-shadow
March – song
C-night Q-fox
April – throne
D-wind R-rivers
May – book
E-crows S-stars
June – court
F-wind T-class
July – queen
G-sun U-moon
August – house
H-snow V-fog
September –king
I-ash W-wolves
October – daughter
J-fire X-sand
November – empire
K-nightmares Y-ember
December - land
L-Roses Z-ivory
Adventure fiction focuses on things happening. Characters don't
just sit around and chat all day—they do things. These stories feature

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physical action and courageous heroes who save others from danger or
impending doom. The adventure genre of fiction is usually fast-paced and
centers on a protagonist in a dangerous or risky situation. Although it also
defines actions by heroes from fantasy stories, adventure fiction tells more
about actions done by ordinary people that calls on their courage to go the
distance and help themselves or others in need. These are stories of
children who overcome insurmountable odds to come up victors against
all odds. These are my classic fave four in global context

The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss tells of how a

family survives a shipwreck and find themselves stranded on a tropical
island with nothing but their ship of supplies, survival skills, and sense of
humor. Adventures abound for this family as they deal with the dangers of
island life.
Jumanji is a 1981 fantasy adventure children's picture book,
written and illustrated by the American author Chris Van Allsburg.
The book is about a magical board game that implements animals and
other jungle elements as the game is played in real life. The players must
play to finish or else havoc may be brought about by all the animals that
come out of the game board. Survival means to win the game
Matilda by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake is hilarious,
magical and clever. Matilda is an exceptional young girl whose parents
and teachers think she’s just a nuisance. Luckily, she loves to read and her
books teach her things that the adults in her life do not. This book is full of
humorous pranks and adventures as Matilda discovers how she can use
her superpowers to fight against the mean adults.
And who can ever forget the classic, The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain? The story started when Huck Finn’s

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estranged father returns to seek revenge, Huck escapes and embarks on a

journey through the Deep South of America. On his travels, he meets Jim,
a slave also on the run, and together they take on the mighty Mississippi
River, in a search for independence and freedom.
For the local color favorite adventure stories for children, are more
on the folktale nuances than anything else. The epic stories that come
from the many islands of the beautiful archipelago have delighted the
imagination of the young and although they are orally transmitted the
writers/retellers of these beautiful adventures have made their own
imprints in the literary world. Biag ni Lam-ang, Labaw Dungon,
Indarapatra at Sulayman are some of the epic adventures worth
reading. And although these are traditional tales, the printed form is an
adventure worth delving into.
Try to list down some
adventure stories that
you have read or
watched in a movie.
Looking for them is at the
tips of your finger
Another fiction subgenre is the action story. This sub-genre works
because they are fun. People enjoy watching or reading them, even if they
are not mentally stimulated by the genre. Action stories are very easy to
understand, and they work with themes that every human being can
easily relate with. Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz, The Incredibles
by Brad Bird, The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas and Robin
Hood by Roger Green are my favorite action stories
Who can ever forget the classic mantra to develop esprit de corps -
“All for one and one for all!” of The Three Musketeers? In this classic by
Alexander Dumas, a young man named d’Artagnan joins the Musketeers
of the Guard. In doing so, he befriends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis — the
King’s most celebrated musketeers — and embarks on a journey of his
own.
Robin Hood by Roger Green is a thick book with lots of fighting and
action scenes, so it’s not for the faint of heart. This beloved tale of social

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justice follows the escapades of Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men
who use trickery and humor to rob from the rich and give to those in need.
The Incredibles is a movie about a family of undercover
superheroes, who while trying to live the quiet suburban life, are forced
into action to save the world. This was written and directed by Brad Bird.
And of course Alex Rider in Stormbreaker has non-stop action in this
story. They told him his uncle died in an accident. He wasn't wearing his
seatbelt, they said. But when fourteen-year-old Alex finds his uncle's
windshield riddled with bullet holes, he knows it was no accident. What he
doesn't know yet is that his uncle was killed while on a top-secret mission.
But he is about to, and once he does, there is no turning back. Finding
himself in the middle of terrorists, Alex must outsmart the people who
want him dead. The government has given him the technology, but only
he can provide the courage. Should he fail, every child in England will be
murdered in cold blood. Wonderful fast paced action-this story leaves you
breathless.

For the Filipino

readers Mars
Ravelo’s comic’s action heroes come to mind for action adventure stories.
This is the legacy of Filipino Komiks which I am proud to say had been part
of my growing-up. Can you identify the hero images below? Match the
heroes with the following names; Flash Bomba, Lastikman, Dyesebel,
Darna, Tiny Tony and Varga. Each one has a story to tell in the context of
the Filipino culture. We have them long before the Avengers came.

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Mystery is a subgenre for fiction, too. They are great for kids
because they foster logical thinking and deductive reasoning. They are
also just plain fun.
The Bunnicula series by Deborah and James Howe,
The Great Mouse Detective series by Eve Titus,
illustrated by Paul Galdone, The Clubhouse Mysteries by
Sharon Draper, illustrated by Jesse Joshua Watson and The
Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald J. Sobol are for
grades 3-5 readers who are fond of sleuthing games and
solving mysteries.
For older children The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde, The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow, The
Graveyard Book, Coraline, Harriet the Spy, The
Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and Miss
Perigrinne’s Peculiar Children may be interesting to look
into. It may help you understand the book better if you try
to read about their writers as well.

Based on extending physical laws and scientific principles to their

logical outcomes and stories about what might occur in the future give us
the science fiction.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle talks about 13-year-old
Meg Murry and her brother Charles who go searching through a ‘wrinkle in
time’ for their lost father, they find themselves on an evil planet controlled
by a pulsating brain known as ‘It’.
The City of Ember is a post-apocalyptic primary-to-middle-grade
science fiction novel by Jeanne DuPrau that was published in 003. The
story is about Ember, a post-apocalyptic underground city threatened by
aging infrastructure and corruption
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien is a
story of Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, who must
move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost

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certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and
must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an
extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a
brilliant solution to her dilemma.
Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key and Leon B.
Wisdom Jr. as illustrator is a story of aliens who landed on earth. Some
terrifying experience has blocked Tony and Tia's memory of the past. But
because they have supernatural powers, they are sure that they come
from another world--and that their people still exist somewhere. Then
Tony and Tia find that they must escape from men who want to use their
special powers for evil. They begin a desperate search to find their true
home--which
leads them to the
strange and
mysterious Witch
Mountain. A
movie version from Walt Disney was produced for this story.

Realistic fiction is a genre consisting of stories that

could have actually occurred to people or animals in a
believable setting. These stories resemble real life, and
fictional characters within these stories react similarly to
real people. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli, Bridge to
Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, and Because of
Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo are classic examples of this genre.
Wonder is a children's novel by Raquel Jaramillo, under the pen
name of R. J. Palacio, published on February 14, 2012. R. J.
Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him
from going to a mainstream school, Auggie Pullman becomes the most
unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his
new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to discover their
compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite
them and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.
Bridge to Terabithia is written by Katherine
Paterson and was published in 1977 by Thomas Crowell.
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In 1978, it won the Newbery Medal. This is the story of Jesse, an

adolescent, whose life changed when he befriends Leslie, the class
outsider. The children create an imaginary world called Terabithia, which
is inhabited by all manner of magical creatures. Though difficulties fill their
ordinary lives, Jesse and Leslie rule as king and queen in Terabithia. Soon
one of the friends must draw on the strength of their imaginary kingdom
to cope with a tragedy.
Kate DiCamillo's first published novel, Because of
Winn-Dixie, immediately proved to be a keeper—a New
York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor winner, the
inspiration for a popular film, and most especially, a
cherished classic that touches the hearts of readers of all
ages.
It talks about Opal, a preacher’s daughter and Winn-
Dixie – her big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor, and the
friendship that they made in the new town they moved in.
And the fourth example, Maniac Magee is a novel
written by American author Jerry Spinelli and published
in 1990. Exploring themes of racism and inequality, family
and homelessness as well as literacy, this book follows the
story of Jeffery Lionel Magee, a homeless drifter who finds
his way to the racially divided community of Two Mills,
Pennsylvania. Upon arrival, Maniac Magee amazes the town with his feats
of athleticism and bravery and is soon deemed a legend.
Why don’t we take a break and review all these wonderful stories
discussed here? Perhaps you can do a book-barter to get hold of a copy or
the seven-day book challenge to search for friends who can loan you one.

The next subgenres of fiction - growing up stories and young

romance intertwine and seemed to be blended in their plot.
Growing up stories show us painful challenges and hopeful futures.
These coming of age middle grade fiction books tackle the tough job of
showing a realistic character who matures throughout the story, finding
his or her place in the world.

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High school is a near-universal experience to which we can all

relate. It’s also a complicated, messy time in life in which one grows from
the end of childhood to the cusp of adulthood, so there is a lot of feelings
to unpack – especially the boy meets girl stories. This is the plot of
romantic fiction.
Let us do some activities here. Categorize some story covers
presented whether growing-up or young romance. You may check the
internet for support. Research what these stories are all about and try to
choose which one you would like to read. you have 20 minutes to face the
challenge

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Were you able to distinguish growing up from young romance

stories? You can now learn about the last subgenre which is very
interesting as well.

The last subgenre of fiction which is an all important aspect of

children and young adult literature is the animal stories. Animal stories
can be categorized as; animals as animals, animals as talking animals, and
animals as people. Let us identify some animal stories belonging to
animals as animals category. We have Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, Babe:
The Gallant Pig by Dick King-Smith and The Incredible Journey by Shiela
Bumford.
Black Beauty is narrated in the first person as
an autobiographical memoir told by the titular horse
named Black Beauty—beginning with his carefree days
as a colt on an English farm with his mother, to his
difficult life pulling cabs in London, to his happy
retirement in the country. The theme of black beauty is
that faith and trust are much better than animal cruelty.
Gentle farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell)
wins a piglet named Babe (Christine Cavanaugh) at a
county fair. Narrowly escaping his fate as Christmas
dinner when Farmer Hoggett decides to show him at the
next fair, Babe bonds with motherly border collie Fly
(Miriam Margolyes) and discovers that he too can herd
sheep. But will the other farm animals, including Fly's
jealous husband Rex, accept a pig which doesn't conform to the farm's
social hierarchy?
The Incredible Journey, by Scottish author Sheila
Burnford, is a children's book first published by Hodder &
Stoughton, which tells the story of three pets as they
travel 300 miles through the Canadian wilderness
searching for their beloved masters

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It depicts the suffering and stress of an arduous journey, together

with the unwavering loyalty and courage of the three animals.
Can you look for more stories under this genre and share it with
your classmate? You can include the stories shown in their book cover in
the box. Search for the summary and try to find out whether they belong
to the first category of animal stories.

The next category of animal stories is animals as talking animals.

The pictures below are book covers of stories under this category.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, Dr. Doolittle by Hugh Lofting, The Jungle
Book by Rudyard Kipling, The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and

Bambi by Felix Salten.

And the third category of animal stories is stories of animals as
people. My book lists under this are Stuart Little, again by E.B. White,
Watership Down by Richard Adams, The Wind and the Willows by Kenneth
Grahame, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien and The
Cricket in Time Square by George Selden. The last two books mentioned
are winners of Newberry Award, a prestigious American award for books
written for children in a particular year. You might want to know which
year the last two books won.

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Ann Patchet, an American author quoted that reading fiction does

not only develops our imagination and creativity, it also develops our skill
to be alone. It gives us the ability to feel empathy to people we have
never met, living lives we probably could not experience for ourselves,
because the books allow us to be in the character skin.
I would like to believe that fiction is the truth that sometimes reality
obscures. When you read fiction you experience what others have
experienced and eventually you gained wisdom from it. Read, read, read,
As Dr. Seuss said, “ the more you read, the more you know, the more you
grow!”

Apply your Learning

Task 5. Fun Creation

1. For technocrats
Make an Infographic. Choose 2 fiction
stories, one local and another international.
Make an Infographic for each of your chosen
story using a graphic design platform that you
are most comfortable with,
Print this in a poster format 24” x 32” in
size.
2. For Non Technocrats
Make a Story Train Graphic Organizer. Choose 2 fiction stories, one
local and another international. Using the attached format - make a
fascinating beginning, middle and end part of your chosen story. Do this
using 2 long size folders and printing each required part in a Bond paper.
You may use illustration to emphasize the storyline. Paste on this printed
parts in the three-fold train design shown.

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3. For both technocrats and non technocrats

Use the Infographic or graphic organizer to retell the story of your choice.
Do not exceed five minutes. Video yourself and upload in your google
classroom. Attached at the annex of this book is the rubrics for storytelling
on video.

What I Learned from this Module

Fiction is defined as literature created from the imagination. It is not

presented as fact, though it may be based on a true story or situation.
Characteristics of fiction stories for children were enumerated and a
few features are as follows; it should always be an enjoyable experience
for the listener/reader; written for children by adults; and literature that is
read by or to children. ...
Then, we got acquainted with elements of fiction - Plot, Setting,
Character, Conflict, Symbol, and Point of View which fiction writers use to
develop a story and its Theme.
The types of literature in the fiction genre were given to us in this
module as well as story samples for each one. It started with historical
fiction, followed by fantasy, action-adventure, mystery, science fiction,
realistic fiction, growing-up story, romance and animal stories.

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Fiction narratives are stories that allow you to enter your

imagination and explore mind-boggling universes as well as down-to earth
realistic experience. It is imperative that you build your own fiction library
as a teacher to be.

Assess What I Learned

Identify the concepts described. You may back-read what has been
communicated in the module.

1. What is the story about a pig and a spider that team up to try to save
the pig from ending up on the dinner table?
A. Babe
B. Charlotte’s Web
C. Because of Winn-Dixie
D. The Incredible Journey

2. Science fiction has all of the following characteristics, EXCEPT:

A. Plot could actually happen
B. Set in the future
C. Sometimes a utopia or dystopia
D. Might involve outer space or time travel
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3. An example of historical fiction might be:

A. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
B. Hunger Games
C. Lord of the Rings
D. Pearl Harbor

4. In which category does the following excerpt belong: "Jack feels lost
and alone at boarding school until he meets a boy named Ben. When they
embark on a quest to track down a great black bear, will these two boys
find more than they bargained for?"
A. Historical Fiction
B. Realistic Fiction
C. Science Fiction
D. Fantasy

5. Fantasy fiction has all of the following characteristics, EXCEPT:

A. Magical elements
B. Nonexistent worlds
C. Objects or people with super powers
D. Real places from history

6. Realistic fiction has all of the following characteristics, EXCEPT:

A. Could have talking animals
B. Contains realistic people
C. Takes place in the present
D. Could happen in real life

7. Fiction can be defined as:

A. Literature based on cold, hard facts
B. Stuff about stuff
C. Literature about imaginary places, people, or events
D. Reality show

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8. Literary genres can be defined as:

A. Books
B. Categories of literature
C. Movies that were turned into books

9. A story titled "The Day the Earth Stood Still" would most likely belong in
which genre?
A. Realistic fiction
B. Science fiction
C. Historical fiction
D. Fantasy

10. What fiction story is your favorite?

______________________________________

References

Diaz De Rivera, Lina B., Literature-based Reading Programs. Quezon City,

Philippines: University of the Philippines, Open University, 2000,
Lynch-Brown, Carol and Carl M. Tomlinson, Essentials of Children’s
Literature 3rd Edition, London, England: Allyn and Bacon. A Viacon
Company, 1999
Holt Interactive Reading, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Austin, Austin,
Texas: A Harcoaurt Education Company, 2003
Moen, Christine Boardman. Better than Book Reports Scholastic
Professional Books, New York, USA, 1998
Retrieved from
https://www.readbrightly.com/19-best-childrens-book-quotes/
https://www.writerswrite.co.za/the-17-most-popular-genres-in-fiction-and-
why-they-matter/
https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/quizshow.php?
title=mtyzmzy5mglr38&q=16
https://libguides.ashland.edu/childlitgen
https://literarydevices.net/fiction/
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https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/poetry/353645
https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literary-movements/childrens-
literature/characteristics
http://hye-ree-park.blogspot.com/2012/08/literary-elements-of-
childrens.html
https://bookriot.com/2018/07/10/must-read-mystery-books-for-kids/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/
458191.Escape_to_Witch_Mountain
http://cstl-cla.semo.edu/hhecht/The%20Elements%20of%20Fiction.htm

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