Just-Right Books
As you may know, there are many ways to measure book difficulty. I am using the Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Leveling system which spans from A to Z. One of the first assessments teachers do in the classroom is to find out what books a child can read comfortably using that leveled system. This is important because research teaches us that when children are reading books that make them feel comfortable – ones they can read smoothly, with understanding, and when they know almost all of the words – they thrive.
Think about yourself as a reader. When the text is too difficult what do you do? Re-read a lot, loose interest, or feel confused. When it’s too easy you might feel bored and unchallenged. This is why it’s important to provide children with books that are “Just-Right”. There is one important way for children to progress from the book level they can read to the next level and it is this: the child must read lots and lots and lots of books at his or her level. The child will do best if he or she can talk about those books with someone who also loves reading.
Please remember that this is not an exact science and your child could still thoroughly enjoy books that are a level below or above their Independent Reading Level. Here are a few resources to help you find books at your child’s level. I use the Scholastic Book Wizard to level the books in my classroom library and I’ve come across other lists that can be helpful if you’re looking for specific titles or a good series to load on your handheld or pack in your suitcase. 
