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Hi-Low Books

Where can you find books that will hold the interest of older readers who are still learning to read? What follows are lists of books which librarians & publishers have gathered 'for reluctant readers,' and sites with books specifically written with "hi-low" readers in mind.

Keep in mind that a book for the "reluctant reader" audience may be aimed at a student who is reluctant to read standard topics, but has good reading skills. Also keep in mind that your readers' skills may not be as good as you think they are - take a listen to their reading before you hand them books and say "enjoy!" The only thing worse than having a book that's too hard to read is having an "easy" book that's too hard to read handed to you.

• "Media selection aids" This is a list of books *about* high/low books, including many with lists. It might be right down the street or the hall in the library!

• High Noon Books High-interest, low reading level novels. Sample chapters of books are on the site.

• Start-to-Finish books by Don Johnston -- come in three formats, computer (with highlighted text and speech option), paperback, and audiocassette. For ages 9-17; written at 2nd-3rd grade reading level.

• Capstone Press - nonfiction high-interest easy-to-read books

• "Kids In Between" The books are 5x7, have either 48 or 64 pages and have single plot themes." Worth visiting the page for the cute cartoons about teachers' budgets...

• Jamestown Publishers -- books and supplemental reading materials. Their print catalog has much more information than their site (and easier to find), including adapted classics, and is worth asking for. Some of my favorite materials have come from these folks.

• Michelle Stimson This site has free, downloadable high-interest short stories.

• Saddleback Educational, In. - full range of high-interest materials from adapted classics to adult ed, content areas, and videos that go along with written materials.

• Wieser-ed"an extensive line of high-interest instructional materials specifically designed for their appeal to remedial and special needs students in grades 5 through adult."

• Wise Owl "adapted classics" series, about 6 each at reading levels 1-5, with exercises & questions, too

• L_M Net "L_M Net" is the international school librarian's listserv. They compiled this list of books for reluctant readers from the input of school librarians (which means they may not have had kids with accuracy problems in mind). You can lurk & read what they talk about at http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/(scroll down to the link to the "archives," which seems to be updated daily).

• Orca Soundings - Canadian publishers of hi-low books targeting reluctant readers, with "current issues" for themes.

• Random House Their contribution -- a list of fiction titles that are likely to appeal to reluctant readers. The reading levels of these books are not necessarily accessible to many struggling readers, though.

• Permabound The Perma-bound publishers selected out their "hi-low" book-- however, as you'll see, sthey consider "low" beneath seventh grade level. Many students plateau at between fourth and fifth grade level. Many of these books, however, are at that level or below, and would be good choices.