There are so many books in the Library - and even more in the world! How do you know which books are the best for you or your struggling readers? Try one of these methods:
5 Finger Rule
Open the book to a full page of text. Read the page to yourself. Every time you come across a word you don’t know, hold up a finger. If you hold up 5 fingers before the end of the page, you should find another book. If you hold up 4 fingers or less, the book is right for you.
PICK
Ask yourself these questions to determine whether or not a book is right for you:
- Purpose: Why do I want to read it?
- Interest: What do I like to read about?
- Comprehension: Do I understand it?
- Know: Do I know most of the words?
Personalized Recommendations
Complete the form to request our Children’s team to help you find the perfect book for your reader!
Staff Picks for Kids
See the Library's lists of staff recommended books. We have several themed categories and also offer Too-Good-To-Miss titles for recommendations of stories for children by grade level.
Novelist Plus
Search for stories based on child's interest, age or grade level, or Lexile reading level. This resource is free, but requires logging in with your Library card.
Fry's Readability
Instructions for how to use Fry's Reading Graph, a system that helps determine the reading level of a piece of writing. This page also recommends additional resources for finding leveled reading.
It’s okay to quit a book.
Remember just because someone starts a book doesn’t mean they have to finish it. If your child is stuck reading a book they just don’t like and aren’t motivated to continue, encourage them to select something else. That may seem obvious, but some kids will feel they need permission.