If you want to spark a lifelong love of reading in your child, choosing books that match their reading level can make a big difference. When talking with your child's teachers, you may hear the term "Lexile levels." This system helps match books to your child’s current and developing reading skills.
“Using Lexile levels is a good start because it lets you know your child’s reading ability, and you can then use that Lexile level to find books aligned with your child’s interests that will be best suited for them,” says Dr. Amanda Alexander, Chief Academic Officer at Scholastic. But keep in mind: “A Lexile level is only one measure of your child’s holistic reading ability,” she adds.
But what exactly is a Lexile level, and how can they be used to help develop a natural love of reading? Here’s a closer look.
What Is a Lexile Level?
A Lexile level is a number that shows a student’s reading ability or a book’s difficulty. Schools use this measure to help find age-appropriate books. Developed by MetaMetrics© with research support from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Lexile Framework evaluates two main factors:
- Text complexity: How challenging a text is based on its vocabulary and sentence structure.
- Reader's ability: How well your child can understand that text.
How Are Lexile Levels Determined?
Your child’s Lexile measure usually comes from a school assessment or another standardized reading test. For example, if your child’s measure is 550L, that number represents their reading level — not a score, but a guide to help them choose the right books. If you’re not sure about your child’s Lexile measure, you can consult their teachers.
Books also receive a Lexile measure. MetaMetrics© evaluates a text’s difficulty — often by examining word frequency and sentence structure — to assign a measure (for example, 600L). You can typically find a book’s Lexile level in its product details online. When you’re browsing for books at The Scholastic Store, you can see its Lexile Measure in the Product Details section on a product page, or you can filter a range of titles by Lexile Level.
Putting Lexile Levels to Work
For the best reading experience, try to match your child’s Lexile level with books that have a similar Lexile measure. If your child is at a 770L level, choose books around 770L.
However, it's important to remember that reading levels are just one consideration when it comes to matching readers and reading materials. There are many other factors — such as your child’s interests, grade, and favorite book genres — that go into matching a child with books that will inspire them to love to read and to grow as a reader.
The best books for beginning readers? Try these expert-approved book series.
Finding Books on Your Reader's Lexile Level
Using the Lexile Framework gives you a starting point to pick books your child can read comfortably. When the right challenge meets your child’s interests, reading becomes both fun and skill-building.
“Having that knowledge as to where your child is along their reading journey allows you to help chart the course for them,” explains Dr. Alexander, “It’s always led by the child’s interest. We cannot make reading something that isn’t fun, and the best way we can make reading fun for kids is to make sure that it’s something that they actively want to read.”
Shop the Lexile leveled books from 10L to 1200L below! You can find all books and activities at The Scholastic Store.
About Our Expert
Amanda Alexander, Chief Academic Officer at Scholastic: Dr. Amanda Alexander has direct oversight of the Education Solutions’ Research & Validation and Professional Learning teams. She and her team focus on professional learning offerings for educators, ensuring the efficacy of the division’s educational products, and advancing research to inform both product development as well as the broader industry to help improve academic and social emotional outcomes for all children. Additionally, Amanda is responsible for strategically bringing to practice the learnings and expertise of the Yale Child Study Center-Scholastic Collaborative for Child and Family Resilience.
