A note from Miss Rebecca about suggested reading lists…

Due to popular demand, I have put together this list of books organized by grade. Please keep in mind that these are just suggestions. Many of the books can be enjoyed by readers of various ages. For example, even grown-ups enjoy A.A. Milne’s books about the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh. The humor of the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems appeals to children of all ages, yet the vocabulary and text size make the books accessible to very young readers. Many high school students prefer to read adult bestsellers, and many older adults like to read Young Adult novels.

There are a few different ways to determine reading level. For example, Lexile scores are determined by an algorithm. If the book uses longer words and sentences, it will generally receive a higher Lexile score. The figure below gives an at-a-glance explanation of Lexile scores and their related grade and age levels. To learn more about Lexile and other scoring methods, I recommend the article "Which Text Levels Should We Teach With" by Timothy Shanahan.

A simpler, less scientific, way of judging reading level is the "5 Finger Method." Ask your child to open up a book and start reading. For every word your child does not know, hold up a finger. If there are more than 5 words on a page that your child does not understand, the book may be too challenging. However, if your child is really excited about the book, give it a try! Kids are more likely to enjoy and succeed at reading books they choose themselves.

Make reading a family activity. Being read aloud to is comforting and beneficial to people of all ages. In fact, the Commission on Reading report states "The single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children." You may also want to read the same novels that your children are reading. This way you can talk about the books together and discuss issues, themes, and characters. A great resource to learn more about the importance of reading can be found on the Public Library Association.

The books in the following lists are just suggestions. I have tried to include books of varying reading levels in each grade category. Not every book is right for every child or every family. The very best way to discover great books is to bring your family to the Library and explore the collection together. Librarians are happy to help you find "just the right book."

Have fun exploring our collections, and please remember that grade levels are just suggestions. Read what you like. Read what excites and interests you. Read for the fun of it.

-Rebecca Scotka
Head of Children's and Young Adult Services