Faction

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See also under transitional genre

A new term referring to texts, usually for children under eight, which combine features of both story and non-fiction. So we might have a story about the life of a dog or horse together with some panels and information boxes giving information about diet and breeding. Sometimes storybook characters and talking animals appear in these texts and many young readers enjoy the playful approach.

Language must change, of course, and we need new words to clinch new concepts but some people, including the present writer, find ‘faction’ a charmless addition. The books the term refers to vary in quality, but the best in this transitional genre are enjoyed by young readers and listeners who can learn within the familiar story framework. It is now a category under which new children’s books are reviewed in well thought of children’s literature journals such as Books for Keeps where recent examples include the books mentioned below.

Hooper, Meredith (ill.), Allan Curless and Mark Burgess (2000) Dogs’ Night London: Frances Lincoln. (Dogs climb out of their paintings at the National Gallery.)

Lia, Simone (1999) Billy Bean’s Dream London: David & Charles Children’s Books (a numbers and colours book woven round an exciting story).

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