Short Story

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Review with your children that a short story is a short piece of fiction that has a beginning, middle, and end. Fiction is writing that comes from the imagination, and not just from facts. Fiction can feature imaginary characters and settings, such as a fairy tale about three pigs living in houses made of straw, wood, and bricks. It can also feature imaginary characters living in a real-world setting, such as a short story about a child living in an ancient civilization. Short stories can even feature real characters in fantastic situations, such as a story where Abraham Lincoln travels in time or to a different planet. Short stories are only limited by the imagination and there are many different genres of fiction such as historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction. Short stories can be very short and be only a few sentences, or they can be much longer. Review that short stories can often be read in one sitting, while a novel or a chapter book takes longer to read. Explain to your children that no matter the length, all short stories tell a complete story.