Pairing Fiction with Nonfiction Texts on Big Universe

This post is inspired by Dawn Little’s (AKA Links to Literacy) Book Buddies blog post where she explained the benefits of pairing fiction and nonfiction readings to increase comprehension and engagement, and to increase background knowledge about a subject. Unfortunately, most of our home, classroom, and school library book collections are limited. The public library is always an option, but there are times when you aren’t able to make the trip to the library. Why not utilize the Big Universe website for your fiction and nonfiction pairings? There are hundreds of books to choose from!

Just search for your topic using the Search bar:

-or- Browse the different categories:

Leave a comment for other pairings that you discover on the Big University website.

Here are a few to get you started:

Bears

• Nonfiction- Bear Cubs by Anne Wendorff This book answers basic questions about bear cubs: newborn facts, what they eat, how they play, & how they grow.
• Nonfiction- In the Forest by Howard Rice Learn about bears as well as other animal and plants that live in the forest.
• Fiction- Goldilocks and the Three Bears This classic fairytale is read aloud as students follow the highlighted words.

Sea Turtles

• Nonfiction- Sea Turtles by Ann Herriges This book answers basic questions about sea turtles: where they live, how they look, how they lay eggs, and information about baby sea turtles.
• Nonfiction- Sea Turtles by Cindy Rodriguez This book introduces facts about sea turtles, their offspring, their habitat, and predators.
• Nonfiction- Carolina’s Story: Sea Turtles Get Sick Too! by Donna Rathmell The true photo journal story of a critically ill loggerhead sea turtle, as she is cared for and nursed back to health at the Sea Turtle Hospital of the South Carolina Aquarium.
• Nonfiction- Zoobies – Turtles Informational magazine for PreK-K children.
• Fiction- Where Should Turtle Be? by Susan Ring Follow turtle as he hatches and tries to find his home.
• Fiction- Turtles in my Sandbox by Jennifer Keats Curtis A little girl discovers baby turtles in her sandbox. She gets information from various sources and turtle-sits them until they are ready to be released back into their natural habitat.

Birds

• Nonfiction- Migrating Animals of the Air Learn about birds and other animals and insects that migrate.
• Fiction- The Best Nest by Doris L. Mueller This folktale features native US birds as it explains how magpies build nests.

Bats

• Nonfiction- Migrating Animals of the Air Learn about birds and other animals and insects that migrate.
• Nonfiction- Why Animals Live in Caves Learn about bats, as well as other animals that make their homes in caves.
• Nonfiction- Bats by Cindy Rodriguez Examine the issues of endangered bats and how they can be saved.
• Fiction- Little Red Bat by Carole Gerber Follow the story of one red bad as she decides whether to migrate or hibernate.
• Fiction- Little Lost Bat by Sandra Markle A touching animal adoption story, based on research, about a bat who has lost his mother.

Keisa Williams (aka Ms. K) is a K-5 School Librarian at Monarch Academy, a public charter school in Oakland, CA. She is certified in secondary and elementary education (MLIS and MEd) and loves collaborating with teachers and integrating technology into her library lessons. She considers herself a “Technology Diva” and “Gadget Junkie”.