Jumping into Fall Leaves and Chapter Books, Please!

Person in light green cardigan reading a book with a child in a library setting.

As the leaves start to fall, many children are diving back into school, homework, and nightly reading logs. But what do you do when your child, who is used to picking out a Level 2 or 3 about their favorite character, or easily reading through an Elephant and Piggie favorite, hits a roadblock when making the jump into the Juvenile chapter books? Finding the right book for your child can be challenging, but the Mercer County Library System is full of resources that can help you discover enjoyable books that grow their reading muscles!

Schools use different systems to check a child’s reading or comprehension proficiency, often leaving parents and caregivers wondering what the level, number, or letter even means. Many are familiar with the Step Into Reading, I Can Read!, and DK Super Reader Easy Reader series, with levels from 1 to 4. But what happens when your child has graduated from the Easy Reader section? Most of the Easy Reader series do have Level 4 books, which contain the same amount of text as beginner or early chapter books. These are often shelved in the chapter book, or Juvenile, section of the library.

There are both fiction and nonfiction titles at this level, including books like Bat, Cat & Rat: A Great Fall by Anne Dyckman and Mark Teague. This book is part of the Bat, Cat & Rat series, which means your child might already be familiar with the characters and be more willing to give it a try. Other Level 4 titles include Are Sea Monsters Real? by Ginjer L. Clarke, as well as L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, adapted for young readers.

Early and illustrated chapter books are a wonderful way to encourage growing readers as they gain reading stamina and vocabulary. There are many popular series that incorporate exciting illustrations and a balanced amount of text. Sally Rippin’s Hey Jack! and Billie B. Brown series each have short books with a few chapters, large print, and illustrations. Other series, like Judy Moody and Friends, incorporate bright illustrations and large text to appeal to growing readers. As kids get more confident, series like Nick Bruel’s Bad Kitty introduce familiar characters in brightly colored, longer chapter books sure to grab their interest. There are plenty of options, including nonfiction books with tons of facts, or even biographies about pop stars or athletes. Your child is more likely to be motivated if they are interested in the topic or book. Picking a book within their reading level allows them to build confidence and proficiency skills.

It can feel like a big step to venture into chapter books, especially if your child is nervous about reading a longer story. But there are a few ways to make sure you find an interesting book that is just right. Use the library catalog to search by your child’s Lexile or Accelerated Reading Level, as well as using the “Explore Series, Reader Reviews, and more” tab to connect you with other similar titles. You can also use your library card to access NoveList K-8 Plus, searching by reading level, subject, series, author, and more. These tools can help you create a list of options for your child to choose from before heading over to the library.

But how can you help your child pick an appropriate book in the moment, whether at the library or from your family’s bookshelf at home? One popular tool is known as the “Five Finger Rule,” as described by Scholastic. The goal of this tool is to help your child pick a book that strengthens their reading muscles without pushing them too hard. When your child picks out a book that looks interesting, have them open it to the first page. Have them scan or read through the page, and hold up a finger for each word they don’t know. If your child is holding up 0 or 1 fingers when they reach the end of the page, the book is probably a little easy for them. If they are holding up 2 or 3 fingers, the book is probably right around their reading level. If they are holding up 4 or 5 fingers, the book might be stretching their reading skills, and be a book they might need a little help to read. This tool is just a way to quickly estimate whether a book might be a good fit for your reader, especially if they are overwhelmed by the amount of text on the page when they first start reading longer books.

It can be a little scary to make the jump from the Easy Readers to Juvenile Fiction, but there is something for everyone. Kids can build their reading skills while having fun, and there are always new adventures to discover. As intimidating as it can be to help your child make that leap, there are lots of tools here at the library to point you and your child in the right direction. As always, don’t forget to ask your branch’s Youth Services librarian. We are always here to help you and your child find a good book!

Here are some great early chapter books to try at your local branch!