Reading Level of Books on Sample Book List

[StephanieU]

I was wondering about how the reading level was determined? Is it what the sources listed? I was going through the Level 2/3 books last night, and I noticed some that are used by HOD for storytime listed as Level 2/3. Carrie lists the reading levels higher in the Book Shop (Stuart Little, Little House in the Big Woods, and Rabbit Hill). I don't mind checking the reading level, but I just want to confirm that I probably should. It looks like some might be better suited for "storytime" than for my daughter to read herself.

[Nealewill]

There are several website that give a reading level for book and the level does vary.

As for the level 2/3 books - The books listed in the book list will still fall into that category but some may be better suited to your child than others. I find that a book like Charlotte's Web is something my 4th grader could read fine. I think it was listed as a level 3 book. But my oldest, she got overwhelmed if a book was too long, not necessarily the type of words.

For my youngest, she can be the same way. She can read a very high level challenging book that has fewer pages because she finishes it sooner. But if it is lengthy, even if he words are easy, she may just decide to not finish it.

I think a lot goes into to picking books for DITHOR. For me, I have found that I seem to know the types of books my kids like the most and I know how long they are willing to read the book. These are the only two things I really take into consideration when selecting books. Other than that, I do go by the level Carrie put on the book in the list. As kids get older, it seems like they aren't quite as finicky about number of pictures and print size - as they are when they younger. I felt like the level 2/3 was probably one of the more difficult levels to decide on. Now that my oldest will read pretty much whatever, I just pick her books based on her preference, not length or print size.

[StephanieU]

Thanks Danaelle. We will finish the ER books today and we have the DITHOR Level 2 books already (received on Monday ). But, I know I will need more books for her, as she can be a voracious reader! She read at least two Imagination Station books in under 2 days around Christmas. I thought she was finishing her first book when she was actually finishing her second in the car on a trip.
The last two nights I have gone through all of the Level 2/3 books on the Sample Book List and marked the ones our library has. Then I have written what Scholastic has the reading level at if I could find it. So I will just use those numbers to help me move her from simple to harder as we go.

[MomtoJGJE]

I just want to make sure when you are saying Level 2/3 you aren't thinking GRADE level. Level 2 books are a 3rd grade level overall, with a couple of 4th grade books at the end. Level 3 books are anywhere from the end of 3rd grade through the beginning of 5th grade.

Now, storytime books are intended to be a bit above that... so while you might be doing level 2 readers in DITHOR with Bigger, you'd be reading a higher level book in storytime.

If you already knew all that, ignore me

[StephanieU]

Yes, I know that Level 2 DITHOR books are 3.0-4.1 reading levels, and Level 3 is higher than that (up to 5.1). Carrie has Rabbit Hill as a Bigger storytime book and lists the reading level as 6.4. Scholastic lists the reading level at 5.4. So, even if we take Scholastic's level, it is on the very upper end of the Level 3 reading level for DITHOR. That what was motivated me to finding the reading level of all of the books at our library. I want to move my daughter forward with reading difficulty, but I don't want to push too hard. I know reading levels aren't a science (there are so many factors involved), but I found a few that seemed like they might be better placed in the 4/5 reading level.

[Rice]

Reading levels can be found in the HOD Bookshop - as mentioned, the system that Carrie used is different than Scholastic's. Either click Bookshop at the top of the HOD main screen and select the reading level of choice along the RH side or go to any of the guide pages and click on DITHOR, then the link for the level.

Blessings,