It can be a challenge to find the right book for a child. Like Goldilocks, you don’t want something too challenging, and you definitely don’t want something your kiddo will find boring. You want something just right. So, what’s the best way to find the perfect page-turner?
Things to Consider
Reading Levels
Reading levels are used in different ways to both track the development of reading skills and to find a book to match those reading skills. These metrics can be useful to make sure you’re not handing an incredibly hard book to a novice reader, but are not always the best way to find a book that will engage your reader.
Teachers may use different reading level systems in their classroom. This chart from Scholastic looks at how the various systems might compare to one another. Psychology Today has an in-depth article about common myths about reading levels and how best to navigate them.
Choice
One of the most important elements in developing a love of reading is choosing what to read. So, when choosing books, especially for someone else, having a variety of options that might engage your reader is key.
According to researchers Richard Allington and Rachael Gabriel, “The research base on student-selected reading is robust and conclusive. Students read more, understand more, and are more likely to continue reading when they have the opportunity to choose what they read.” These findings are echoed in such articles as “Reading Motivation: What the Research Says” from Reading Rockets and “How to Foster a Love of Reading Through Choice” by Fountas and Pinnell Literacy.
Tools and Useful Tips
The Canton Public Library’s team of librarians work hard to bring the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement to life. This means that we offer over 80,000 items within the Children’s Library alone. While this allows readers a wonderful selection to find the perfect book at the perfect moment, it can be a little daunting to navigate. Here are some tips for narrowing down your search.
Suggested Reading Lists
Our librarians love to create up-to-date recommended reading lists for readers by grade level and by topic.
Lexile Search
If you know your child's Lexile reading level, you can use our advanced search option to narrow your results to include books that are just right.
NoveList
If you click on a title within our catalog, scroll down and you will find an “Explore Further” section with related titles and an option to “View all from NoveList.” NoveList is a database that contains all kinds of useful information about books, including links to similar titles, similar authors, similar themes and detailed information about the book itself. (Be patient: it can take a moment to load this extra content, but it's worth the wait.)
Scholastic Book Wizard
The Scholastic Book Wizard can help you figure the Guided Reading Level of a particular book. If your child is a beginning reader, the I Like to Read series often has the Guided Reading Level printed directly on the cover.
Ask a Librarian
Librarians are always available at the Children’s Desk to help you pick out your next book or navigate the catalog to make searching easier in the future. If you’d like a personalized list for your reader (or yourself), fill out a May We Suggest request.
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