“Now, what I want is Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else. You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts; nothing else will ever be of any service to them.”
― Mr Gradgrind, Hard Times by Charles Dickens

Now, Mr Gradgrind’s view is somewhat extreme, and facts certainly aren’t the sole way to enrich children’s minds. However, the importance of facts and non-fiction in engaging reluctant readers is certainly worth observing. It’s interesting that the word ‘non-fiction’ is defined by what it is not, because it has its own merits in abundance.

For reluctant and struggling readers, good non-fiction writing is a way of unlocking a world that might previously have felt closed. By that I mean that non-fiction writing should be inherently honest and real – a route to the clarity of knowledge as opposed to the very subjective experience of reading a novel. The straightforward nature of non-fiction simplifies the action of reading, a practice so often mired in allusion and interpretation.

As the childhood owner of a predominant chunk of the Horrible Histories series, I am well aware of the ability that a good non-fiction text has to enthral and captivate its reader. But in case you need some convincing, here are five benefits of the genre:

  • The reader can dip in and out. Rather than reading as one long narrative from start to finish, the conventional notions of a book are turned on their head. The reader can delve in and out, furthering interest and building confidence. This is helpful specifically for those who find reading daunting.
  • Non-fiction is sociable and dynamic. Non-fiction provides the ability to relay interesting facts and figures.And not only to relay, but discuss, regardless if the other person is at the same point in the book or has even read it. Non-fiction reading is conducive to conversation, and is therefore also an interrogative and stimulating process. Reading is made less one-dimensional and more interactive.
  • Different text types to further engagement. A varied text type non-fiction format makes it easier to maintain concentration. There is something to engage and grab the attention of different readers. Information laid out in the form of tables, maps, lists, labelled diagrams etc serve to make the information more bite-sized and manageable. Not to mention, colourful accompanying photographs can really help to bring the words to life.
  • Non-fiction can foster curiosity. Non-fiction is an excellent way to introduce new vocabulary, as well as fostering an interest in new subjects. Something learned from a non-fiction book could open up a whole new world of opportunity for the reader. A student who isn’t engaged at all in reading might find a topic that grabs them and suddenly come alive to all the possibilities that reading affords. This type of investigation builds in momentum, because there is always more to know, making reading an enjoyable and more long term pursuit.
  • Educational. Simply put, non-fiction imparts valuable knowledge about the world around us.

Our non-fiction series, WOW! Facts, is a perfect gateway to reading for those who are reluctant and/or struggle. The 60 titles cover a huge variety of topics in order to appeal to as many readers as possible. They have also been placed in ascending reading levels by Dee Reid, providing a way to work upwards with only a slight increase in difficulty each time.

We hope that these books will encourage an enthusiasm for reading by possessing the merits mentioned above.

Name the topic, and chances are we have a WOW! Fact for it. Browse our range and see for yourself.

Written by Claire Morgan, Editorial and Marketing Co-ordinator