Show All Answers

1. What is a reading level?

Most schools use leveled reading or guided reading to match up a child with a book at the correct reading level for them. Leveled reading uses various assessment tools to determine how well your child reads, and then matches her to books that are challenging enough for her to make progress. Books are categorized into levels of difficulty.

Among the more popular systems for reading assessment are The Lexile® Framework for Reading, Accelerated Reader (AR), Fountas and Pinnell and DRA. If you don't know your child's reading level, you can ask the teacher.

At the public library, our books are not organized by reading level, but you can find information about Accelerated Reader and Lexile levels, by using our online library catalog.

2. How can I find a book’s reading level at the public library?

You can look up a book's reading level by simply searching for the title in our online catalog, clicking on the name of the book, and then scrolling down to the Lexile or AR information.

You can also search for books by reading level:

To search by Lexile measure, start here.
To search by AR or ATOS range, start here.
Browse our AR Booklist of Early Readers

Accelerated Reader (AR)

Accelerated Reader levels are listed using the following formula:

• AR
• Interest Level : LG (Lower grades K-3); MG (Middle grades 4-8); MG+ (Middle grades 6-8) or UG (Upper grades 9-12)
• Book Level
• Points available
• Quiz Number

Further Resources

• Other places to search for books by reading level
• AR Bookfinder Tool

3. What if my child’s school doesn’t use Accelerated Reader or Lexile?

If your child's school doesn't use one of those leveled reading systems, you can still use them to help you find books for your child. This correlation chart gives you the equivalent.

For example, if your child's school uses a DRA reading level, you would simply find that number on the correlation chart, look at the equivalent Lexile or Accelerated Reading level, and search for books using one of those measures.