How to Choose the Right Book

Reading is foundational to the academic success of your child…plus it can be great fun!  Introducing your young child to reading is giving them the gift of adventure, mystery, and excitement.  This series is designed to help you and your young reader flourish while working together.  Read on!

How to Choose the Right Book

Posted by Jennifer Benoit

Not every book is created equal...even ones that have levels and stages on them.  Here are some ways to choose books that may be helpful for you as you journey through reading.  

• Choose award-winning books.  Two well-known awards for children’s books are the Newbery Medal and the Caldecott Medal.  Books that win these awards often have a sticker on the front cover.

• Check out some books that are on the right level for your child.  

The Lexile Framework for Reading is a way that many schools use to rate a child’s reading level.  They also provide a way to search for books based on your child’s need.  See it here. 

The Book Wizard by Scholastic shows you the grade equivalent of a book.  Just put in the name of the book and it will tell you the grade level.  That does not mean a third grader cannot read Anne of Green Gables (at grade level of 6 in Scholastic), but it means that there may be more extensive vocabulary or concepts.  See it here.

On the website www.hoagiesgifted.com, the author gives another way to check out the level of a book.  “The easiest way to find the reading level of a children's paperback book is to turn it over. Many books include the reading level, in various forms. Some books might say RL3 for reading level 3, or RL5.9 for reading level 5.9. Less specific designations might say 007-009 for ages 7 to 9, or 0812 for ages 8 to 12. These publishers designations are confusing, particularly when you pick up one copy of a Roald Dahl book in the bookstore and see it designated as 0812, and pick up another version of the very same book and see it designated as 0712. And reading levels are generally only printed on the paperback versions of books.”

The very best way to tell is if your child is struggling to read the book on every page.  That may be too advanced.  Also, see the Five Finger Method below.

 

• Keep in mind that as you look at books, just because your child enjoys books that are one, two or even several levels above, does not mean there is complete comprehension or understanding of vocabulary.  Many parents may misread this as a sign that their child is very advanced.  Not necessarily, but that can still enjoy the books!

• Don’t worry about the pictures.  Just because a book is classified as a “picture book” or early reader does not mean that the story isn’t valuable.  Think Dr. Seuss.  Read together stories your child finds interesting.  Don’t worry if the book has pictures…or doesn’t!  Read for content.  Pictures only enhance.

• Reading a book and being read to can be very different ways of selecting books.  Make sure you do both.  Reading to your younger child is good, but having books that she can read independently is also helpful.

• Choose books that inspire curiosity. What you really want to find is a book that stirs interest and generates more questions.

• Choose a book on the child’s reading level and a little above. Some children read well compared to others their age. Others struggle just to keep up. A book needs to provide a bit of challenge—but not be so difficult that your child fails.

• Ask a librarian for age appropriate suggestions and get a library card with your child.  Often they have lists that match the child’s grade level of recommended books.  Local public libraries have large resources of materials…and you can order the book online and simply pick it up!

• What are your child's interests?   While it is nice to expand your child's interests through reading, involve your child by giving reading materials on subjects that your child already enjoys.

• Pick up a book and have your child flip through the first few pages.  Oftentimes, your child can tell you if there is too much text or if the words are too big.

• Choose books from authors they know.  Recognize authors your child has read and enjoyed before and see if they have other books.

• Choose books you enjoyed at their age.  Look for stories you as a parent might have enjoyed at your child's age.

• Use the Five Finger Method.  Students select a page from the middle of the book. As they read the page, they open a finger from their fist for each word they stumble over. If they miss 3 - 5 words on the page, they should think about getting another book.

• Have fun looking at books!  Spend some time together in the bookstore or the library looking at books that might be of interest and decide what books to purchase or check out.