Selecting "Just Right" Books

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Too Easy:	Just Right:	Too Hard:

You read the story too fast There are no "tricky" words	It's comfortable to read You can figure out "tricky" words You understand the book and think about what you read the whole time You read at a good pace - not too fast and not too slow *You enjoy the book	You have a hard time reading the words (5 or more on a page) It's difficult to understand You read very, very slowly You have to reread a lot

Too Easy:

Just Right:

Too Hard:

*You read the story too fast

*There are no "tricky" words

*It's comfortable to read

*You can figure out "tricky" words

*You understand the book and think about what you read the whole time

*You read at a good pace - not too fast and not too slow

*You enjoy the book

*You have a hard time reading the words (5 or more on a page)

*It's difficult to understand

*You read very, very slowly

*You have to reread a lot

Where to Find Books/ Where to Find Out More About Good Books to Read

Your local public library
The school libraries
www.amazon.com
The Reading Teacher - www.reading.org/Resources/Booklists/ChildrensChoices.aspx
The Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy - www.reading.org/Resources/Booklists/YoungAdultsChoices.aspx
Booklinks - Subscription required - newly published books and part of the American Library Association
Newberry Award Winners - www.ala.org/alsc/newbery.html
Caldecott Award Winners - www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html
www.bookmuse.com
www.childrenslit.com
www.guysread.com
www.bookadventure.com

Helping Your Child Choose Books

1. What are your child’s interests?

2. Consider classic books that you loved as a child.

3. Have your child get to know characters in Series Books like Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House.

4. Look for books with the same author or illustrator.

5. If your child likes fairy tales, look for different versions of a favorite.

6. Select books with repeated text for beginning readers like The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

7. Consider books that have won awards such as Caldecott (best illustrator of the year), and Newbery (best story of the year). Medal winners, see www.ala.org for lists of award winning books.

8. Check with your school or public library for more ideas.

9. Involve your children in choosing books to read!