How to Label Children's Books by Genres
Categorizing a children's bookshelf seems at first an overwhelming task. Pull "Charlotte's Web" from the collection. Do you put it back under "fantasy" or "literature?" The picture book you read to your 1-year-old at bedtime has some text. So does it belong in "picture books" or "picture story books?" And what's the difference? Understanding children's genres and which books belong in each is the first step to getting organized. A visit to your local library or book store might also help you narrow your options.
Things You'll Need
- Bookshelf
- Label maker or adhesive labels
- Pen/marker
Instructions
Label Children's Books by Genre
Identify the genres you have in your collection. Some universities name approximately seven different genres in children's books. They include: picture books, fantasy, traditional literature, fiction, poetry, history and informational. Sort the titles into each genre. Picture books contain few to no words or contain rhythmic patterns like "Brown Bear, Brown Bear." Fantasy titles also include anything in science fiction, folk tales, unusual characters or personification of inanimate objects. Traditional literature will usually contain classic titles, legends or fables like "Goldilocks and the Three Bears." Fictional stories will often echo real-life situations in sports, peer relationships, adventure, mystery and world cultures. Poetry contains Mother Goose, nursery rhymes and stories told in poetic meter such as those from Shel Silverstein. Historical titles can be both non-fictional and fictional based in historical fact, and informational books include those in science and nature or the humanities, as well as dictionaries or picture encyclopedias. Alphabetize by author's last name. Once you have sorted all your books, organize your shelves alphabetically by author's last name. While it's true that the traditional library system might be too sophisticated for some age groups, parents may want to leave a basket of loose books on the floor for children to sort through on their own. Stack and label. Put all the books on the shelf by genre and, using a label maker or adhesive tape, label the shelf area accordingly. It's a good idea to leave some space for new books in between the genre categories. The extra room also allows for children to remove and replace the books with ease.