Looking through the eyes of another into a different world and experience, children gain an understanding of themselves and their world. Historical fiction provides insight and understanding into the past and present. Quality historical fiction combines fact with fiction to make the story believable, reflects different points of view, and effectively uses dialogue, authentic language, and background details to convey the values and spirit of the time period portrayed. Series books tend to be those that children can't stop reading and libraries and bookstores can't keep on the shelves. These stories center around one main character with whom children can identify, build on the story line in each book, and envelop children in a world that they come to know well.
Classics are books that almost every generation calls their own.
They are favorite books that use timeless themes and characters to tell a story that has mass appeal. We call these books the mac and cheese books because they truly are comfort food to us all, old and young. Myths, legends and folktales tell the story of different cultures, times and places, awakening children to a larger world from which they can learn and grow. Many traditional tales have been passed from generation to generation, evolving in response to the changes in culture and time. These stories transcend time and place in their attempt to answer the questions we all ask.