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This guide is produced in partnership with Blue Peter.

You are History, written by Greg Jenner and illustrated by Jenny Taylor, is the tenth title in the Blue Peter Book Club. Discover all the fun, silly and sometimes shocking stories of the objects you use every day. Toilets, alarm clocks and an interesting way people styled their hair. This book has it all!

You can get a sneak peek of the book over on Blue Peter.

Did the interesting facts in You are History make you think more carefully about the things you use every day?

You are History is a non-fiction book, full of facts.

But what's the difference between fiction and non-fiction?

Fiction is made up, you need to use your imagination when you are writing or reading it. Types of fiction include stories, plays and poems.

On the other hand, non-fiction books are all about facts; you can't just make it up.

There are many different type of non-fiction writing including:

• newspapers
• adverts
• brochures
• biographies
• information books like You are History

To learn more about the difference between fiction and non-fiction visit this KS2 Bitesize English guide.

Did you spot the writing at the start of each new topic? This is called an introduction and has been used very effectively throughout You are History.

An introduction is used to show where something new in your writing starts. In You are History, introductions are used to make it clear that a new topic (subject) is starting.

The introductions in You are History are also written in a friendly style, as if Greg (the author and guide throughout the book) is talking to you. For example:

This writing style makes you feel like the guide (Greg) is talking directly to you! Using this friendly, welcoming tone in the introduction makes you feel familiar with the topic that you are reading about.

When you feel familiar and comfortable with a topic, it makes it easier for you to learn more about it!

You can write from different point of view. A point of view is the voice that something is written or read in.

We call these points of view the:

• first person
• second person
• third person

You are History is interesting because it is written from all three viewpoints - first, second and third person!

First person

When you write in the first person, you put yourself inside the writing by describing how you felt and what you were doing using 'I'.

Greg, the author of You are History, does this lots!

'I bang into stuff in the dark, ouch!' (page 46)

Second Person

When writing in the second person, you talk to the reader directly using 'you' and 'your'. This type of writing feels personal to the reader as it makes you feel more included and involved in the book.

You are History uses second person point of view writing very well in the introductions to each topic.

'You've finished school and it's stopped raining, so you hop on your bike and pedal home.' (page 92)

Third Person

When you are writing in the third person, the writing is about other people.

Use the name of the person you are writing about or pronouns such as 'he', 'she' or 'they'.

' John Logie Baird was a brilliant inventor born in 1888…he connected a telephone system to connect his bedroom to his friends' houses.' (Page 130)

Discover more about first, second and third person point of views with this Bitesize guide.

Did you notice that You are History is written in a very friendly, chatty way?

We call this tone of writing informal because it is casual and less serious. Depending on the words used, we might also call this 'Non-standard English.'

But how is this different to writing in a formal tone?

A formal tone is written in a serious, less friendly way with few feelings. Sometimes you might also call this tone 'Standard English.'

You are History is different to lots of other informative non-fiction books because if its informal writing tone. Usually, information books like this are written in a serious, formal way!

Explore more about formal (Standard English) and informal (Non-standard English) tones of writing with this KS2 Bitesize English guide.

Now that you know the difference between formal and informal tones of writing, it's time to try some yourself!

Look back at the rather informal introduction from page 24 about underwear.

Your challenge is to re-write that introduction in a formal tone.

Remember: A formal tone is serious and less chatty. Imagine you are writing as if you were talking to your Head teacher or even King Charles!