Welcome!
- Are you having trouble choosing books for your beginning reader?
- Are you confused by all those "levels" and which company is the best?
- Should you buy that Dora the Explorer easy reader, or stick to classics?
- Are you tired of saying "sound it out" but don't know how else to help?
This site will help you select beginning readers for your child, and offer a few tips and tricks to help both you and your child be successful and have fun!
Primers
What's a "primer"?
A "primer" is commonly referred to as an "easy reader"*. It's a small book, usually softcover, that contains pictures and a very short simple story. It is usually leveled 1, 2, 3 (and sometimes 4 and 5). Books such as "Biscuit" and "Amelia Bedelia" are popular examples. *I'm hesitant to call them "easy readers" because, well, reading isn't easy.
What do the levels mean?
The levels correspond to how challenging the books are. 1=easiest and with each level, the difficulty increases. However, each company "levels" their books differently and even within the same company, levels may not be consistant. I cannot stress this enough.
Where can I find a primer?
Primers are available at many bookstores and for sale online. Of course, your local library should carry many readers too. Often, your child will be able to borrow readers from their school library and/or classroom.
See the page Choosing a Reader for tips on choosing and book recommendations.