Genre Definitions

Non-fiction
All of the information in a non-fiction book is based on the known true
facts.  Nothing can be made up.  Non-fiction books include how-to
books, science books, history books, biographies, autobiographies
and much more.  Non-fiction books can be about any subject.

Biography  
A biography is the story of a real person's life, written or told by
another person.  Biographies may be located in a section of their own
in some libraries and may be labeled B for biography or use the Dewy
Decimal System Classification number of 92 and then are listed in
alphabetical order by who the book is about.  Biographies of 2 or more
people in the same book use the Dewey Classification number of 920.  
Other libraries prefer to place biographies in the Dewey Decimal
Classification according to the subject of what the person did -- for
example biographies of artists would be located in the art section,
biographies of sports stars in the sports section.  Ask your librarian for
help if you can't find the biographies in your library.

Autobiography
An autobiography is the story of a real person's life, written or told by
that person.  Autobiographies are found in the same place as the
biographies in the library.  See biographies for the different places you
might find autobiographies in your library and then check with your
librarian if you can't find them in your library.

Fiction
Fictional stories may be based on actual events or people or may be
based entirely on the author's imagination, but fictional stories all
contain elements that are made-up or created by the author.

Realistic Fiction
Fictional stories that take place in modern time, right here and now.  
The characters are involved in events that could really happen.

Mystery/Suspense
Fictional stories, usually realistic,  about a mysterious event which is
not explained or a crime that is not solved until the end of the story to
keep the reader in suspense.

Fantasy
Fiction that contains elements that are NOT realistic, such as talking
animals, magical powers, etc.  Make-believe is what this genre is all
about.

Science Fiction
Stories which include futuristic technology; a blend of scientific fact and
fictional elements.

Historical Fiction
Stories which take place in a particular time period in the past.  Often
the basic setting is real, but the characters are fictional.

Folk Tales, Tall Tales, and Fairy Tales
Folk tales are stories with no known creator.  They were originally
passed down from one generation to another by word of mouth.  The
authors on folk tale books today are retelling these stories.  Although,
folk tales are sometimes based on real historical figures, there are
fictional elements to the story.  Tall tales are generally folk tales in
which the main character is bigger than life in some way -- examples
would be Paul Bunyan,  Mike Fink,  Swamp Angel, etc.  Fairy tales
were often created to teach children behavior in an entertaining way.  
Folk tales, tall tales,  and fairy tales are found in most libraries in the
non-fiction section with a Dewey Decimal Classification of 398.  Some
libraries place picture book versions of folk tales in the easy book
section.  Check with your librarian.

Myths
Myths are stories that usually explain something about the world and
involve gods and other supernatural beings.  Although, myths are
fictional stories, in most libraries they are found in the non-fiction
section of the library in the 290s.

Poetry
Poetry is verse written to create a response of thought and feeling
from the reader.  It often uses rhythm and rhyme to help convey its
meaning.  Poetry collections are usually found in the non-fiction
section of the library under the Dewey Decimal Classification  numbers
808 - 811. Occasionally a novel may be written in free verse form and
is found in the fiction section of the library, or a picture book of a poem
may be found in the easy section.  Check with your librarian.

These definitions found at http://www.booknutsreadingclub.com/genrelist.html Sept. 2005