Now that we’ve decided to make it a summer of reading adventures, here are a few tips to finding books that fit their interest and reading levels.

Sound hard? Trust me it isn’t… you don’t need a college diploma to know which books are perfect for your child’s reading level. All you need are your eyes, ears and a little parental discernment.

Don’t fall for the hype – When you’re combing the library shelves for books for your early reader, don’t go for the books on the latest movie craze. Spiderman, Cars the Movie or Ninja Turtles are full of names, characters and plot twists that are sure to have your early reader struggling. These books are written to promote the movie or toys, not help your child learn to read. Green Eggs and Ham is always going to beat Pokémon in helping children learn to read.

Librarians can be your best resource – Librarians know everything. And whatever they don’t know, they know how to find. Our son was ready for simple chapter books in third grade, but my experience after three daughters, left me unsure of what to suggest for him. I headed to the library and a wise and experienced librarian introduced me to Matt Christopher books. They were ‘just right’ length chapters and all written with sports minded boys in mind, perfect for our son. So whether you’re searching for the right level of book or subject matter that will engage your reader, librarians have the experience and resources to help you find ‘just the right’ books.

Follow the ‘just right’ rules- This free download has the information you need to help you or grandma find books that suit their current reading level. You don’t want your child skating by with easy books, you don’t want them struggling with difficult books… you want your child perfectly suited with a book that is ‘just right’.  And yes, that’s a Goldilocks reference. Click to download!

Remember, it takes a lot to learn to read and it’s going to take time. Keep it positive. Make it fun. Praise and encourage them, just like when they were learning to speak. Be careful not to get impatient or upset. Keep calm and carry on. They’ll get there. And always, while they’re learning to read for themselves, keep reading to them. Let them relax in the comfort of a good story and the sound of your voice.