How to Choose Age-Appropriate Books

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Each student is an individual and it is not possible to directly map their reading level to their grade-level in school. A better way to find an age-appropriate book is to use a measure of word and sentence difficulty.

Step 1: Check report card
Check the child's report card to see whether it lists a Lexile reading score. If it doesn't, ask the student's teacher whether the school determines Lexile reading scores for its students.

Tip
Lexile is used in some way in all 50 states and by 150 publishers.

Step 2: Examine current reading matter
Monitor the books the child currently reads to find out their Lexile text measures if they have not received a Lexile score. You can still connect them with age-appropriate books by looking for books with similar Lexile scores.

Step 3: Check a book catalog
Check a catalog of books to see whether it includes Lexile text measures. Many libraries and online booksellers list Lexile measures.

Step 4: Compare the Lexile score
Compare the child's Lexile reading score with the Lexile text measure for any book the child is interested in. A book is considered to be appropriate for a child as long as the text measure is within the range of 100 Lexile units, or L, below to 50L above the child's reported Lexile measure.

Tip
Lexile reading scores can range from a low of 5L to a high of 2000L. Higher Lexile measures represent a higher level of reading ability. Readers who score at or below 5L receive a measure of BR for Beginning Reader.

Step 5: Monitor reading progess
Monitor the child's reading ability over time by comparing his or her Lexile scores.

Did You Know?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has a Lexile text measure of 880L.