HYBRID TEXTS: AN INNOVATIVE GENRE TO INTEGRATE LITERARY AND INFORMATIONAL TEXT William Bintz

HYBRID TEXTS: AN INNOVATIVE GENRE TO INTEGRATE LITERARY AND INFORMATIONAL TEXT

William Bintz College of Education, Health and Human Services, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA

My ELA standards emphasize reading literary text, but they also emphasize reading informational text. I’ve always associated ELA with teaching literary text, especially fictional narratives. My problem is that I don’t know how to integrate literary and informational text in my ELA classroom (10th grade ELA teacher).

This article is a response to the problem expressed by this English/ Language Arts (ELA) teacher, and many others like her. It introduces hybrid text as an innovative genre to integrate literary and informational text. I begin by describing hybrid text as an extension of paired text and then identify several design features of hybrid text. I end with some final thoughts.

Paired Text

Hybrid text is rooted in paired text (Bintz, 2015). A paired text is two texts that are conceptually related in some way, e.g. topic, theme, genre, etc. Paired text is based on the belief that reading is about making connections, specifically making personal connections between the books readers are currently reading and their past experiences.

Purpose of Paired Text

Paired text has many purposes. One purpose is to put intertextuality into action. Intertextuality refers to the cognitive process of making connections across texts. Paired text is an instructional strategy that helps readers make intertextual connections across texts. By using paired text, readers develop both an expectation for connections and strategies for making the search for connections more productive and wide ranging.

Types of Paired Text

There are many different types of paired text. A paired text can be two texts by the same author or illustrator, two texts on the same story one of which is a traditional version and the other a variant, two texts with similar story structures or text types, two texts with similar topics or themes, two texts with similar content areas, two texts from the same genre, two texts – one literary (fiction) and one informational (nonfiction) – that deal with the same or related topic, and combined-text picture books, texts that integrate multiple genres of expository and narrative writing. Consciously pairing texts or recognizing the intertextual connections between texts has multiple benefits.

Benefits of Paired Text

area material. In fact, reading and sharing understandings of paired text contributes to learning not only in ELA but also across all subjects. Specifically, paired text: 1) enables students to share and extend understanding of each text differently from reading and discussion of only one text, 2) helps students to read one text and in the process build background knowledge for reading a second, related text, 3) provides experiences with multiple genres and content areas, 4) demonstrates how different genres provide students with different lenses for interpreting the text and, therefore, different ways of knowing about texts, 5) highlights different text structures, specialized academic vocabulary, captions, diagrams, subheadings, maps, etc., 6) increases vocabulary by seeing the same or similar words in different contexts, and 7) increases motivation to explore topics students are not initially interested in.

Hybrid Text

Hybrid text is an extension or variation of paired text. Instead of two texts, hybrid text is a single text in which two different types or genres of texts are integrated into one. More specifically, a hybrid text is a single text that integrates literary and informational text. These texts present information about a specific topic using narrative as the primary means of expression. These texts essentially have a dual purpose. They tell a story and present information at the same time. Hybrid texts are also referred to as mixed-genre text, multi-genre text, and post-modern picture books. Some examples of hybrid texts include The Bumblebee Queen (Sayre 2006), Big Blue Whale (Davies 1998), If the Earth…Were a Few Feet in Diameter (Miller 1998), Energy Island (Drummond 2011), One Riddle, One Answer (Thompson 2001), and A Wreath for Emmett Till (Nelson 2005). One of the most interesting and innovative aspects of hybrid texts is the use of different design features.

Design Features of Hybrid Text

Hybrid texts can be characterized as multimodal texts because they present information across a variety of modes, including visual images, design elements, written language, and other semiotic resources. These multimodal texts convey information through multiple systems or modes, including visual images, typography, graphic design elements, and written text. In short, hybrid texts integrate language, illustration, and design. Here, I identify and describe seven design features in specific hybrid texts.

Font. Traditionally, the term font is often associated with typeface; that is how writen text is designed. Fonts vary depending on characteristics such as height, width, angle, weight, and style of written text. Python (Cheng & Jackson 2013) is a hybrid text that is written in two kinds of fonts to highlight the difference between the literary and the informational text. The literary text uses a formal font and the informational text uses an italicized font.

Specifically, Python is a picture book that uses rich language and beautiful illustrations to describe important characteristics and behaviors of the diamond python, a snake indigenous to the Australian

bush. The literary text (narrative) tells the story of the python waking, smelling the air, and prowling the bush looking for food. After several missed attempts, the python sucessfully pounces, constricts her prey, and digests her meal, slowly, plentifully, and secretly. Later, the python coils around her eggs and waits for hatchlings to appear. Once born, they, like their mother, will spend their lives smelling, watching, and waiting.

In Python the informational text effortlessly follows the narrative, letting the narrative of one diamond python lead the way. In this way the informational text enriches the narrative with important and fascinating content area material about the life of the diamond python. Interestingly enough, the informational text is not only written in a different font but also, unlike the narrative text, is written in a curving design that effectively resembles the slithering movement of the python throughout the story.

Volcano Rising (Rusch 2013), Flight of the Honey Bee (Huber 2013), Emu (Saxby 2015), and Big Red Kangaroo (Saxby 2015) are other hybrid texts that use the same design feature. In particular, Big Red Kangaroo alerts readers to pay attention to two kinds of text by stating: “Look up the pages to find out all about kangaroo things. Don’t forget to look at both kinds of words – this kind and this kind.”

Motif. Motif is a single, repeated design. Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library (Rosenstock 2013) is a fascinating hybrid text (picture book) that uses motif as a design feature. It describes an important character trait of Thomas Jefferson, a trait often overlooked by historians and history textbooks. Namely, Jefferson loved to read and collect books. He loved both so much that, over the years, his accumulated collection helped create and establish the world’s largest library at the time, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

From a literary perspective, this hybrid text provides a fascinating biography of Thomas Jefferson, his life with books, his passion for reading, collecting, and sharing his library with others. From an informational perspective, it uses the motif of an opened miniature book with a two-page spread inserted on each page. Each miniature book provides interesting information about Thomas Jefferson and his love of books. These miniature books also provide family information, historical information, quotes by Jefferson as well as quotes of other people at the time, including slaves, congressional representatives, political opponents, family relatives, and international diplomats. Another hybrid text that uses the motif is The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau (Yaccarino 2009). In this instance the motif is a circle on each page, representing a water bubble in the sea. Each bubble contains historical information, especially quotes made by Jacques Cousteau about his passion for the sea. Play, Mozart, Play! (Sis 2006) is yet another hybrid text that uses the motif as a design feature.

Marginalia. Marginalia is a design feature that uses written text, symbols, illuminations, scribbles, and comments in the margins of the text. Starry Messenger (Sis 1996) is an award-winning picture book that uses this design feature to introduce the famous scientist and mathematian, Galileo Galilei.

The literary text (narrative) depicts the life and times of Galileo as a famous scientist, mathematician, astonomer, philosopher, and physicist. It highlights Galileo’s refusal to accept the conventional thinking of the time, and his telescopic observations of the stars proving that the earth was not the center of the universe but rather the earth rotated around the sun. The informational text is provided through marginalia – that is, information provided in the margins of each page.

In Starry Messenger, each page is a double-page spread with illustrations covering approximately three-fourths of the complete page. The remaining space is a top-to-bottom single column replete with important historical information in both words and pictures about Italy, Galileo’s country; Pisa, Galileo’s birthplace; the Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria di Vallombrosa and the University of Pisa, Galileo’s schools; and a hydrostatic balance, a practical thermometer, a geometric and miltary compass, and the first astronomical telescope – the scientific instruments invented by Galileo. Like other hybrid texts that use marginalia as a design feature, readers could read the text of Starry Messenger without the panels (marginalia), and it would make complete sense. However, with the information presented in the margins the reader’s understanding and knowledge of the topics addressed is enhanced. Other hybrid texts that utilize this design feature are Snowflake Bentley (Martin 1998), No Fear For Freedom: The Story of the Friendship 9 (Johnson 2014), The 5,000-YearOld Puzzle: Solving a Mystery of Ancient Egypt (Logan 2002), and Dark Emporer & Other Poems of the Night (Sidman 2010).

Poetry. Poetry is a distinctive literary type of writing. Haiku is a traditional form of poetry. Haiku Hike (2005) is a delightful hybrid text written and illustrated by fourth-grade students. It tells the story of two young friends who decide to go on a hike to observe and photograph nature. Once hiking, they realize they have left the camera behind. So, they decide to write in researcher notebooks about the interesting things they see along the way. They write haiku poetry, a traditional form of Japanese poetry, and field notes, a kind of writing often used by scientists while make observations of a phenomenon. This hybrid text highlights both genres.

In Haiku Hike the literary text includes a collection of haiku poems about waterfalls, mighty oak trees, spring peepers, wildflowers, moose, and dragonflies that the friends see and write about along the way. The informational text includes written field notes that provide interesting facts about all of them.

Together, this hybrid text integrates not only literary and informational text, but also Science and English/Language Arts through both genres. Other hybrid texts that use poetry as a design feature are Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars (Florian 2007) and One Leaf Rides the Wind (Mannis 2002).

Symbolism. A Drop Around the World (McKinney 1998) uses lyrical text to tell the story of the water cycle. It describes how the water cycle supports life everywhere through the journey of a raindrop as it travels around the world in the sky, on the land, under the ground, and in the sea. On this journey, water is also described in terms of changing forms – liquid, solid, and vapor. The informational text is provided through symbolism, a design feature in which an object is used to represent an important idea.

A Drop Around the World incorporates a variety of symbols to add important information to the literary (narrative) text. These symbols include a hot air baloon to indicate that raindrops are world travelers, a snowflake to indicate that raindrops turn from a fluid to a solid when temperatures fall below 32 degrees F or zero degrees C, a cloud to indicate how different clouds are made in the atmosphere, an unbalanced scale to indicate that water is heavy, a leaf to indicate how water keeps the earth green and healthy, and a rainbow to indicate how water can bend light. These symbols are integrated into the text. They appear at the end of lines of text to enhance reader understanding of what is happening to the raindrop at different phases of the water cycle and the important science behind it. At the conclusion of the story, the symbols are presented with an explanation and information about what they stand for. This invites the readers to use this important reference while they are reading to enhance their understanding and knowledge of the content. The Great Wall of China (Fisher 1986) is another hybrid text that uses this design feature.

Illustrative Chronology. The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine De Saint-Exupery (Sis 2014) is a beautiful biography that celebrates the remarkable author of The Little Prince, one of the world’s most beloved books. The literary (narrative) text describes the life and times of Antoine De Saint-Exupery from his birth in France to his last courageous flight from which he mysteriously never

returned. In between, he lived an adventurous life always centered on aviation. Among other things, as a young man he learned to fly and then became a pilot. Later, he was hired by a commercial airline to deliver mail. In this job, he created new mail routes in South America and eventually became a pilot in World War II. In 1943 The Little Prince was published.

The informational text is shared through illustrative chronology. This design feature presents a colorful chronology of important events, information, and people related to the narrative text. Many illlustrations are accompanied by single captions, while others are multiple illustrations and captions connected to the text. Still others are full-page, single illustrations without text, such as the work of Peter Sis: Wall (2007), The Tree of Life (2003), Tibet Through the Red Box (1998), Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus (2003).

Fun facts and intriguing questions. Matter: See It, Touch It, Taste It, Smell It (Stille, 2004) is an introduction to the scientfic concept of matter. It describes several characters engaged in real-life situations in which matter is involved in some form or function. Through these situtations, readers learn what matter is, the three kinds of matter, and the changing states of matter.

The literary (narrative) text is accompanied by fun facts located at the bottom of each page. These facts provide entertaining snippets of additional important information about matter. These fun facts are extended at the end of the book with a glossary of important vocabulary words and Matters of Fact, even more snippets that significantly extend readers’ understanding of the concept of matter. Engineering the ABC’s: How Engineers Shape Our World (Novak 2010) stretches significantly beyond fun facts and poses intriguing questions to the reader, hence, it is another hybrid text that effectively uses this design feature.

Notes, words, phrases and definitions. The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History (Yolen & Stemple 2004) is a fascinating account of one of the most tragic and unimaginable, yet true, events in American history. It describes townspeople who lived in Salem Village, Massachusetts, a small Puritan community in 1692. One day, three young girls were apparently afflicted with a mysterious illness. Their symptoms included convulsions, contortions, and shouting unintelligible

words. The local physician diagnosed them as “bewitched”. A witch hunt and trial quickly followed. Based mostly on forced confessions, 141 townspeople were arrested and convicted of witchcraft, and of those, 19 were actually hanged. It took 300 years (1992) for the Massachusetts House of Representatives to pass a resolution acknowledging that the accused had been innocent of witchcraft. This hybrid is a mystery story and informational text about a fascinating time in American history. It uses notes, words, and definitions as a design element.

As a mystery story, it cleverly situates the reader as a detective or super sleuth who must detect and interpret important clues that appear on each double-page spread throughout the story. These critical clues are strategically embedded in the narrative text and require inferential thinking to understand the hysteria around witchcraft at the time. Other clues appear in the informational text as historical notes written in traditional spiral notebooks. In addition, relevant vocabulary words and phrases with definitions are written on different colored post-its and appear on each page. Other hybrid texts that use a similar design element include G is for Googol (Schwartz 1998) and Q is for Quark (Schwartz 2009).

Multiple Data Sources. Mammals Who Morph: The Universe Tells Our Evolution Story (Morgan, 2006) is a literary (narrative) text that is narrated by the universe. Through the voice of the universe, it describes the evolution of mammals on planet Earth before there were any humans. It also describes a time when unique animals, such as rabbit-sized camels, elephants with teeth on the tips of their trunks, and baby bats who cling to their mothers as they fly all roamed the earth. Over time humans joined mammals and evolved with them into a very imaginative species. Today, humans continue their evolutionary adventure but must be careful to take care of planet Earth.

Mammals Who Morph is packed with informational text that generously complements the literary text through multiple data sources. One data source is a beautiful set of illustrations that are visually appealling and bring the narrative to life. This hybrid text also includes running timelines that appear at the top of each page and timelines at the bottom of each page that identify important science concepts related to evolution. It also includes a richly informative section at the end of the narrative that expands on various concepts and includes colourful photographs for emphasis. Finally, it includes a glossary, suggested related books for children, teachers, and parents, recommended videos, and other resources. Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story (Morgan 2002) and From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth Story (Morgan 2003) are other examples of hybrid texts that use this design feature.

Some Final Thoughts

Hybrid texts offer teachers and students new potentials for learning in the ELA classroom and also across the curriculum. Instead of seeing literary and informational texts as mutually exclusive, hybrid texts treat them as mutually supportive. The literary draw readers into the story world while

REFERENCES

Bintz, W. P. 2015. Using paired text to meet the common core. New York: Guilford Press.

Hybrid Texts

Cheng, C., & Jackson, M. 2013. Python. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. Davies, N. 1998. The big blue whale. London: Walker. Drummond, A. 2011. Energy Island: How one community harnessed the wind and changed their world. New York: Macmillan. Fisher, E. 1986. The Great Wall of China. New York: Macmillan. Florian, D. 2007. Comets, stars, the Moon, and Mars. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Inc. Haiku hike. 2005. By fourth-grade students of St. Mary’s Catholic School. New York: Scholastic. Huber, R. 2013. Flight of the honey bee. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. Johnson, K. P. 2014. No fear for freedom: The story of the friendship 9. Simply Creative Works. Logan, C. 2002. The 5,000-year-old puzzle: Solving a mystery of ancient Egypt. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. Mannis, C. D. 2002. One leaf rides the wind. New York: Viking Press. Martin, J. B. 1998. Snowflake Bentley. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. McKinney, B. S. 1998. A drop around the world. Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publication. Miller, J. 1998. If the earth...were a few feet in diameter. New York: Greenwich Press Ltd. Morgan, J. 2006. Mammals who morph: The universe tells our evolution story. Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publication. Morgan, J. 2002. Born with a bang: The universe tells our cosmic story. Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publication. Morgan, J. 2002. From lava to life: The universe tells our earth story. Nevada City, CA: Dawn Publication. Nelson, M. 2005. A wreath for Emmett Till. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Novak, P. O. 2010. Engineering the ABC’s: How engineers shape our world. Northville, MI: Ferne Press. Rosenstock, B. 2013. Thomas Jefferson builds a library. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek. Rusch, E. 2013. Volcano rising. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. Sayre, A. P. 2006. The bumblebee queen. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. Saxby, C. & Byrne, G. 2015. Big red kangaroo. London: Walker Books. Saxby, C. & Byrne, G. 2015. Emu. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. Schwartz, D. 1998. G is for googol. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle. Schwartz, D. 2009. Q is for quark. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle. Sidman, J. 2010. Dark emperor and other poems of the night. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. Sis, P. 2006. Play, Mozart, play! New York: Greenwillow Books. Sis, P. 1996. Starry messenger. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. Sis, P. 2007. The Wall. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. Sis, P. 2003. The tree of life. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. Sis, P. 1998. Tibet through the red box. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. Sis, P. 2003. Follow the dream: The story of Christopher Columbus. New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. Sís, P. 2014. The Pilot and the little prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. New York: Macmillan. Stille, D. R. 2004. Matter: See it, touch it, taste it, smell it. Minneapolis, MN: Picture Window Books. Thompson, L. 2001. One riddle, one answer. New York, NY: Scholastic. Yaccarino, D. 2009. The fantastic undersea life of Jacques Cousteau. Decorah, IA: Dragonfly Books. Yolen, J. & Stemple, H. E. 2004. The Salem witch trials: An unsolved mystery from history. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.