Could This Happen in Real Life?
Some stories are about real things that could really happen. Other stories are pretend — they have magic, talking animals, or things that can't happen in real life. A good reader can tell which is which.
Worked examples
Story: 'A pig wore a top hat and rode a bicycle to the moon.' Is this real or pretend?
Pigs don't wear hats, ride bicycles, or fly to the moon in real life — this is pretend (fantasy).
Answer: pretend
Story: 'Lara walked her dog around the park.' Is this real or pretend?
Walking a dog in the park is something that really happens — this story is real (realistic).
Answer: real
Tips
- •Pretend stories often have talking animals, magic, or impossible things.
- •Real stories show things that could actually happen.
- •Look for clues that don't match real life — that's a sign of pretend.
- •Both kinds of stories can be fun — pretend stories use imagination!
Key words
realpretendfantasyimaginationtrue