Here’s a frequent question that librarians receive:  “What can I give my first grader to read if she is reading at a fourth grade level?”

Sometimes kids still enjoy books even if they can read well beyond them (Harry Potter and Mr. Putter and Tabby can live companionably on one child’s reading pile, I know from experience).  Still, it is really great to be able to provide kids with a reading experience that is at their level, but not more than they are prepared to deal with in terms of their social/emotional development. 

Lucky for us, the American Library Association and the Children’s Book Council teamed up to provide Reading Beyond booklists.  There are three lists, each with a mix of genres and diverse titles:  for kindergarten through first graders reading at a third-grade level; second and third graders reading at a fifth-grad level; and fourth and fifth graders reading at a seventh grade level.  Each list contains 25 titles, chosen from more than 600 submitted by publishers and librarians.

The lists are fully annotated, and an amazing tool for librarians, teachers, parents, and kids themselves!