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Why Nonfiction?

Anne Hauth • June 6, 2025

The easiest One Minute Reader stories to read are often the hardest ones to write. Many people are surprised to learn this. Isn’t it easier to write a quick level E story than it is to research and write a complex level 5 story?


Not at all. There are several reasons why. First, it’s much harder to be concise than it is to explore a topic with as many words as you want. But early readers need the sentences and stories in the lowest One Minute Reader levels to be quite short. Second, readability formulas are very limiting at these levels—one difficult word can upset the entire balance. And finally, perhaps most importantly, One Minute Reader stories are nonfiction. Taking nonfiction research, simplifying it, and turning it into an original, completely accurate, high-interest story—which, by the way, is only about a paragraph long—is really hard to do! So why do we insist on nonfiction stories?


We decided on high-interest nonfiction when we wrote our first stories over 30 years ago for our school-based program, Read Naturally, and we haven’t wavered since. This is because we want our stories to appeal to readers of all ages. One Minute Reader might see a third grader in level 1, or a fifth grader in level 2. These stories must be interesting enough to appeal to many readers and not appear too young or immature, regardless of the level of vocabulary in the story. Furthermore, the One Minute Reader Strategy requires teacher modeling and repeated reading with short passages. Teacher modeling and repeated reading are two of the most effective, research-based strategies for improving fluency. The ideal length of stories for modeling and repeated reading is 100–400 words, which is also a good length for nonfiction. Most good fictional stories require more than 100–400 words.


One Minute Reader stories present new information about unusual animals, people, inventions, etc. As kids do repeated readings, they build knowledge about all kinds of topics. It is motivating for kids to share the interesting information they've learned with their parents and peers. Nonfiction can also encourage kids who have not previously enjoyed reading to want to read more about a particular subject that interests them—so they not only enjoy learning to read but begin to enjoy reading to learn.


In this blog post, literacy expert Tim Shanahan elaborates on the value of nonfiction text for students of all ages. We especially like his mnemonic: Fabulous Libraries Can Give Satisfaction. According to Shanahan, informational text should teach…

1. Fact vs. Fiction

2. Locating Information

3. Comprehending Informational Text

4. Use/Interpretation of Graphical Elements

5. Synthesizing Information


One Minute Reader aligns well with Shanahan’s recommendations. Not only does this program feature nonfiction stories, but the strategy requires kids to comprehend and synthesize the information before moving on. Comprehension questions are present at every level, and kids must answer them correctly in order to solve the Joke Jumble at the end of each book. To learn more and see the program in action, start a 7-day free trial. The program is just $8/month after that.


Oh, and if you’re wondering how we feel about fiction-- We LOVE good works of fiction! Nothing makes us happier than classic literature and riveting novels. We’re also huge fans of the many beautiful children’s fiction books in today’s bookstores. (Need recommendations? We’re full of them!) Getting lost in a work of fiction is one of the best experiences a reader can have. One Minute Reader stories fulfill a specific purpose for developing and struggling readers. For that purpose, nonfiction is the story we’re sticking to. For other purposes, as long as students are engaged with the reading material, the sky’s the limit!

Highlighted Posts

Get our Child Reading at Grade Level with One Minute Reader
By Madeline Waters February 9, 2026
Boost your child’s reading skills and confidence with One Minute Reader. This evidence-based reading program helps kids read at grade level through engaging nonfiction, fluency practice, and progress tracking—perfect for parents seeking proven reading intervention at home.
By Anne Hauth January 13, 2026
Valentine’s Day, a holiday about love, seems to instead fill a large portion of the population with dread. If romance isn’t your thing, you feel doomed. If you’re unpartnered, you feel left out. If you’re a teacher, you’re bracing yourself for a day of mayhem and over-sugared students. And if you’re a parent of school-aged children, your living space is suddenly littered with dozens of valentines your children need to address. Does anyone actually love this holiday? Perhaps those of us working with struggling readers can reclaim it. After all, the written word is central to many of the ways we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Here are some Valentine’s Day-themed literacy ideas parents can do with their kids leading up to the holiday: Have kids write a “love letter” to their favorite book or One Minute Reader story. In the letter, they should explore how the book/story relates to their own life and why it is meaningful to them. Require kids to use their school spelling words, challenging vocabulary words, or words from One Minute Reader stories as they write valentines to friends and family. Have kids use candy conversation hearts as starting points for thinking about and creating sentences. For example, how could a heart that says “Be Mine” be turned into a question or a declarative sentence? Explore the genre of poetry and teach kids about simile, metaphor, personification, alliteration, and rhyme. You could even read a few Shakespearean Sonnets together—it’s never too early! Allow kids to eat a treat and then think of five or more adjectives to describe it. The Internet is full of Valentine’s Day-themed printables, worksheets, and projects , such as word finds and puzzles. Or, design your own incorporating the words your students are currently studying. And of course, read plenty of feel-good and Valentine’s Day-themed books aloud to your kids, followed by meaningful discussion about the books' vocabulary and themes. We can also encourage parents to reframe how they think about all the valentines littering their homes, waiting to be addressed. Are they a tedious chore? Or do they provide SO MUCH reading and writing practice? (I’ll admit, I might need this reminder.) If you have any ideas to add to our list, we’d love to hear them. We’ll be thinking of you and your kids with great admiration leading up to Valentine's Day, and always!
By Anne Hauth December 30, 2025
Regardless of where kids are on their reading journey, there are countless ways to incorporate reading into cozy days at home this winter. Here are some easy ideas for kids to try at home over winter break and beyond! Have kids think of the trusted friends, family members, or adults in their lives who can read, and encourage them to read aloud with these people as often as possible. Depending on their reading ability, they can simply listen to a book read aloud, or they can take turns reading and being read to. Have the kids fill out this Read-Aloud Log every time someone reads to them or every time they read to someone. You could offer a small reward for completing this activity every day of winter break (or every day during a predetermined time period). Reading aloud to their pets, stuffed animals, or even to themselves counts too! Set up reading challenges in which kids set goals and record their minutes spent reading or the number of books they read. Have kids color and decorate these winter-themed bookmarks to make reading even more fun. Encourage kids to borrow books from the library and have a big pile to choose from on cozy winter days. See this Cozy Wintertime Book List for book ideas. Refer to our 7 Ways to Create a Cozy Reading Environment document to create an ideal reading space. Lend or gift kids the first book in a series that’s likely to hook them. Sometimes all it takes is the right series to turn a reluctant reader into a bookworm! Incorporate reading time into other fun activities. For example, while making dinner or baking holiday treats, kids can read the recipes and write out the grocery lists. Create a snowflake book wall. Print out this Snowflake Wall Template , and have kids fill out a snowflake each time they finish a book. Then, have them tape the snowflake to the wall. Encourage kids to find ways to read while playing favorite games or while spending time on electronic devices. While playing games, have them read the game instructions aloud. While watching shows, have them turn on and read the subtitles. Have kids practice reading and writing while completing this fun Winter Scavenger Hunt . They’ll get some fresh air too! Refer to this Send Some Cheer printable for addresses to places where kids can send letters. Have them practice their writing skills and spread kindness by writing to kids in hospitals, senior citizens, refugee children, and more. Set up daily One Minute Reader time, and see literacy progress in just minutes! This research-proven, parent-trusted program is free for 7 days and just $8/month after that. Your kids will have so much fun beating their goals, they won't want to stop. Download the Splat-o-Nym vocabulary iPad app , which keeps kids entertained while boosting their vocabulary. Kids can try a free version of this game and purchase to get the full experience. Note that this app is only available for iPads, not smartphones or other devices. Add your own ideas to this list! Our hope is for all kids to experience the joy of reading this winter season and always.
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