Understanding Leveled or Easy Readers
One of the most asked question for a children's librarian is how to find books in a child's reading level. Parents, caregivers, and children will frequently come to us with a Leveled Reading list or instructions from their teachers to find books for AR (Accelerated Reading).
Here are a few ways to find great books for your child:
1. Ask a Children's Librarian.
We pride ourselves on knowing great children's literature and enjoy making recommendations. We will usually begin by asking you or your child what kinds of books you've read recently and whether those books felt "just right" or not. We can help you find similar titles, ones that are a little harder, or a little easier.
2. Check out our Easy Reader section.
For children just learning to read on their own, a great place to browse is in our Easy Reader area. These books, also known as beginning readers, are designed to help newly emerging readers recognize common vocabulary, anticipate rhyming words, construct meaning through carefully placed illustrations, and build confidence. These are arranged by Levels 1-3. Our books will typically have the AR point value and reading level written on the inside front page.
3. Use the Five Finger Rule.
What do the levels really mean? It can be frustrating for both parents and children to locate books on their assigned reading level. Oftentimes, the lists given to parents contain titles that are out of print or unavailable.
One simple and effective way to judge whether any given book is too hard or too easy is The Five Finger Rule. Here's how it works:
- Ask your child to start reading a page from the book. Anytime they come to a word that they cannot pronounce or don't understand, hold up a finger.
- One finger means the book in question is probably too easy.
- Four or five fingers means the book in question is probably too hard.
- Two or three fingers means the book is probably JUST RIGHT.
Happy Reading!
