Identifying Genre

"Fallen Walkers" by Wells Taylor Dyson

Far below the surface of earth, a group of children engage in a secret government program. They are trained to pilot Mech-Walkers, which are giant mechanical insects. These kids protect Earth from hostile space barbarians using their robo-insect powers. Vander, the leader of the Mech-Walkers, mysteriously disappears in combat. Now the Mech-Walkers need to find a new leader. Seth, a boy from the surface, stumbles into Mech-Walkers while being chased by bullies. Now he has become an unlikely candidate.

• Fiction - Science Fiction

• Fiction - Historical Fiction

• Fiction - Realistic Fiction

• Fiction - Fantasy

"Super Fun Science Book for Kids" by Pam Orbison

Have you ever wondered why a submarine can stay underwater for so long? How a web page shows up on a phone screen? Or how to build a robot that plays basketball? Science doesn't have to be dusty and boring. This functional science textbook teaches the fundamentals of science. It describes technologies in ways that are interesting and relevant to young people. This text contains 32 experiments that students can try at school or home. There is also a vocabulary practice activity for each section.

• Fiction - Fantasy

• Fiction - Science Fiction

• Nonfiction - Informational

• Nonfiction - Persuasive

"From Athena to Zeus: The Greek Gods and Goddesses" retold by Chris Reed

This book retells the epic stories of the gods, goddesses, and heroes in Ancient Greece. All of the classic stories are in this text: the adventures of Perseus, the battles of Heracles, Odysseus and the Trojan wars, and the voyage of Jason and the Argonauts.

• Fiction - Fantasy

• Folklore - Fable

• Folklore - Fairy Tale

• Folklore - Mythology

"Diary Wanted" by Gail Labors

Katie Oaks is one of the most trusted girls in her class. Maybe they like how Katie listens, or maybe they just feel comfortable around her, but all of the other girls tell their secrets to Katie. When Katie gets a diary for her birthday, she can't help but to write down the secrets that she learns, but when her diary goes missing, Katie finds herself in a tight corner.

• Nonfiction - Biography

• Fiction - Realistic Fiction

• Nonfiction - Autobiography

• Fiction - Historical Fiction

"Mr. Lincoln's Groceries" by Curtis D. Davis

The year is 1835 and Bobby Pierce is working as a delivery boy at a local grocery store. One of his duties is to deliver groceries to a young state politician named Abraham Lincoln. The two get off to a rough start, but Soon Bobby learns the wisdom of Lincoln's ways. They learn to respect one another and each offers the other advice when it is needed most.

• Fiction - Historical Fiction

• Fiction - Realistic Fiction

• Nonfiction - Informational

• Nonfiction - Biography

"Dog Soldiers: Warriors of the Cheyenne" by M. D. Carroll

The Dog Soldiers were one of six elite military societies of the Cheyenne Indians. During the 1830s they played a strong role in repelling and pushing back American expansion in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming. The Dog Soldiers were known for their highly aggressive and effective attacks and their peculiar habit of "pinning down" their long tails to the ground. Once "pinned down," Dog Soldiers fought to the death or until a tribe mate "unpinned" the tail of the warrior. This text describes the Dog Soldiers' society and role in history.

• Fiction - Historical Fiction

• Fiction - Realistic Fiction

• Nonfiction - Biography

• Nonfiction - Informational

"John Henry" retold by Elijah Newman

John Henry was born with a hammer in his hand and he came out swinging it. When he was a baby, he built his own crib. As a toddler, he got sick of sharing his bedroom with his sister, so he built his own house. As an adult he laid track for the railway and was renowned as the best steel driver in world. His abilities are put to the test when he is challenged to race against a steam-powered drill through a mountain in the west.

• Fiction - Fantasy

• Fiction - Realistic Fiction

• Folklore - Legend

• Folklore - Tall Tale

"Why Are They Booing?" by Mr. Morton

In this candid and gripping account, Mr. Morton describes his real life career as a musician. After playing the trumpet in the school band for two years, Mr. Morton thinks that he has what it takes to make it big as a musician. He then quits his job teaching and starts making demo tapes in the studio, even though nobody has a cassette player anymore. Will Mr. Morton strike it big as a musician or will he crawl back to his principal begging for his old job? Find out in this compelling 940-page text written by Mr. Morton and about Mr. Morton.

• Nonfiction - Biography

• Nonfiction - Autobiography

• Fiction - Realistic Fiction

• Fiction - Historical Fiction

"The Fox and the Grapes" retold by Aesop

One day a fox came upon a grape orchard and found a bunch of beautiful grapes hanging from a high branch. "Boy those sure would be tasty," he thought to himself. He backed up and took a running start, and jumped. He did not get high enough. He went back to his starting spot and tried again. He almost got high enough this time, but he still could not reach the grapes. He tried again and again, but he just couldn't get high enough to reach the grapes. Finally, he gave up. As he walked away, he put his nose in the air and said: "I am sure those grapes are sour anyway." It is easy to hate what you cannot have.

• Fiction - Fantasy

• Folklore - Fable

• Folklore - Legend

• Folklore - Fairy Tale

"African Creation Story" by unknown

According to this Bakuba account of the world's creation, the Earth was once just darkness and water and it was ruled by the giant Mbombo. One day Mbombo felt some sharp pains in his stomach, which caused him to vomit the sun, moon, and stars. The sun's rays evaporated the water covering the Earth, which created clouds, and soon the dry hills emerged from the water. Still feeling some pains in his stomach, Mbombo vomited again, this time expelling the world's first man and woman, all of the animals, the trees, falling stars, the firmament, and lighting.

• Folklore - Mythology

• Folklore - Legend

• Folklore - Fairy Tale

• Fiction - Fantasy