Fiction v. Nonfiction | Reading Comprehension | Khan Academy Kids

Understanding Fiction and Non-Fiction Books

Have you ever wondered about the difference between fiction and non-fiction books? Let’s explore what makes them unique and how you can tell them apart!

What Are Fiction Books?

Fiction books are stories that come from the author’s imagination. This means the events and characters in these books are made up and did not happen in real life. For example, if you read a story about a duck wearing a hat and flying with balloons, that’s fiction! Ducks don’t wear hats or fly with balloons in the real world.

What Are Non-Fiction Books?

Non-fiction books, on the other hand, are all about real things. They provide true information about people, places, animals, or events that actually happened. If you find a book that teaches you interesting facts about ducks, like where they live or what they eat, that’s non-fiction.

How to Tell the Difference

To figure out if a book is fiction or non-fiction, you can look at a few things:

• Title: Sometimes the title can give you a hint. A title that sounds like a story might be fiction, while a title that sounds informative might be non-fiction.
• Images: Fiction books often have drawings or illustrations that look imaginative. Non-fiction books usually have real photos or realistic drawings.
• Words: Read a few sentences. If the book talks about things that seem real and factual, it’s likely non-fiction. If it describes magical or impossible events, it’s probably fiction.

Now that you know the difference, you can enjoy both types of books and learn something new every time you read!