Reading Picture Books and Information Texts: Year 1 Study Guide
Readers use words, pictures and layout to find meaning.
Stories (narratives) have characters, a setting and a problem. Information texts (non-fiction) give facts about real things, such as animals, places or how things work. They are organised with a title, headings, photographs, labels, captions and sometimes a glossary.
Year 1 readers learn to use these features. If you want to know what a koala eats, you can look at the contents page and find the section on food. This skill helps in every subject.
Features of information texts
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Title | Tells what the book is about |
| Heading | Names a section |
| Photo or diagram | Shows what words describe |
| Label and caption | Name or explain a picture |
| Glossary | Explains hard words |
| Contents page | Shows where to find sections |
Reading to find out
Before reading, ask 'What do I already know? What do I want to find out?' While reading, stop at headings and say what you learnt. After reading, say two facts. Fiction and non-fiction look different: a story has made-up characters and events, while an information book has real facts.
What do you think it is about?
Make a prediction.
Was your prediction right?
I learnt that…
Answering questions
Some answers are right there in a sentence (Where do kookaburras live? In forests and woodland). Some need you to think (Why do you think kookaburras laugh? To mark their territory). Always go back to the text to check. Answering in a full sentence shows understanding.
Worked examples and common mistakes
Text: Echidnas are spiny animals. They eat ants and termites. They roll into a ball when scared. Q: What do echidnas eat? Ants and termites. Common mistakes: guessing from pictures without reading, answering with one word when a sentence is needed and mixing up what the child knows with what the text says. Prompt: 'Where does it say that?'
Check your understanding: model answers
1. For example, headings and a glossary. 2. In the contents page or the index, then go to the page number. 3. Your facts must come from the book and be said in complete sentences.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Narratives tell stories; information texts give facts.
- Headings, labels and photos help find information.
- Predict, read and check.
- Answer in sentences using the text.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Name two features of an information text.
- Where would you look to find 'koalas' in a book?
- Say two facts about an animal you read about.