Levels A & B
Print appears at the same place on each page.
Ample space appears between each word.
Words may be repeated throughout text.
Pictures match the words.
Focus on a single idea.
Reading behaviors: book handling front to back, turning pages, pointing at words one by one, self-monitoring.
Examples: Have You Seen My Duckling?, wordless books, Hats Around the World
Level C
Simple Story Lines
Slightly longer stories/sentences than level B
Story supported by picture, but text is becoming more important.
Print appears on both left and right pages.
Oral language structures are used and often repeated.
Patterns and repetition of words.
Predictable sentences are used.
Reading behaviors: using pictures to predict meaning and words, predicting events that will come next
Examples: I Want a Pet, Rainbow of My Own
Level D
Stories continue to become slightly more complex, but still easy for child to understand.
Illustrations are supportive, but more attention to print is required.
2-6 lines of print per page.
Full range of punctuation.
Vocabulary starts to contain inflectional endings such as -ing, -ed, -s.
Reading behaviors: moving away from finger pointing, using patterns and repetition to read with phrasing, rereading to problem solve
Examples: Bears on Wheels, Footprints in the Snow, Sleepy Dog
Level E
3-8 lines of print per page.
Text placement may vary.
Ideas in stories require more interpretation.
Problem-solving is needed to figure out new words and to relate the pictures and texts.
Words are longer and more complex; many need to be "taken apart".
Books may look "easy" but require more control of aspects of print.
Reading behaviors: tracking print w/eyes, reading fluently, self-correcting, predicting and confirming, using known words to problem-solve
Examples: Go Dog Go, It Looked Like Spilt Milk, Wacky Wednesday
Level F
Print becomes smaller than previous levels.
3-8 lines of print per page.
Variety of frequently used words continues to expand.
Story lines include more episodes and characters begin to develop.
Text has a distinct beginning, middle, and end.
Dialogue becomes more advanced.
Word analysis is more common.
Reading behaviors: being aware of punctuation, fluent phrasing and attention to meaning, moving quickly through text, self-correcting using multiple sources.
Examples: Cookie's Week, A Bug, A Bear, and a Boy, Itchy, Itchy, Chicken Pox, Rosie's Walk
Level G
Contains more challenging ideas and vocabulary.
4-8 lines of print per page.
Natural language is more common.
New vocabulary is introduced.
Stories have more events.
Reading behaviors: solving new words using word analysis, monitoring reading, self-correcting almost all errors, rereading to check and search.
Examples: The Carrot Seed, Biscuit, Sheep in a Jeep
Level H
Contains more challenging ideas and vocabulary.
4-8 lines of print per page.
Natural language is more common.
New vocabulary is introduced.
Stories have more events.
Less repetition.
Reading behaviors: discussing characters with understanding and interpretation, making meaningful connections
Examples: Goodnight Moon, One Fish, Two Fish...
Level I
Variety of texts
Story structure is more complex and elaborate, themes are varied and sophisticated.
Illustrations provide low to moderate support, and assist child in interpretation.
Readers may be asked to understand differing points of view.
Specialized vocabulary may be present.
Problem-solving will be needed only for a few unfamiliar words.
Reading behaviors: fluent and phrased reading, competent problem-solving, character empathy, self-correction w/o rereading.
Examples: Leo the Late Bloomer, Apples & Pumpkins, Dragon Gets By, Noisy Nora