Which types of books should be included to develop children's sense of story structure?

Including storybooks is essential for developing children's sense of story structure because they typically contain elements such as characters, settings, plots, conflicts, and resolutions, all of which are foundational components of storytelling. Storybooks often use a narrative format that helps children understand how stories unfold and the relationships between different parts of a story. This exposure is crucial as it aids in their comprehension and critical thinking skills, allowing them to anticipate story events, understand beginnings, middles, and ends, and engage with narrative dynamics.

In contrast, other types of books, like alphabet books, primarily focus on letters and sounds, which are important for literacy but do not teach story structure. Informational books offer factual content and are excellent for developing knowledge about various subjects but do not typically have a narrative framework. Poetry often focuses on language, rhythm, and imagery rather than the linear progression of a narrative, which can limit its effectiveness in teaching story structure. Therefore, storybooks uniquely provide the narrative experiences essential for helping children understand and appreciate the structure of stories.