A leveled book is merely a book that has been assigned a gradient for readability. The gradient may be:
Leveled books may be:
Certain publishers have leveled book programs created especially for them. These contain pre-leveled titles and are usually accompanied by a Teacher's Guide. Typically, they include book titles that are not "well-known" but are designed to be read quickly, easily and successfully by children who are learning to read.
Leveled book programs include multiple copies of titles (4-6 each) for use with guided reading/small groups. They may have a leveling system that is unique to that publisher.
The TMC has many titles contained within leveled book programs (these have a TMC Text call number prefix) located at the Leveled Book Station. We also have many of the Teacher's Guides for certain programs. We have cataloged them individually for ease in choosing a title or titles for the child with whom you are working.
For detailed instructions on using NoveList Plus, visit the NoveList Plus Page or the Help Videos page: Using NoveList. Alternatively, watch a specific help video linked below.
NoveList Plus is a database of literature that provides synopses and reviews of books, teaching ideas, and a Lexile Ranking (independent readability).
Watch the NoveList Plus Overview video to learn about how to find NoveList on the Milner website and an overview of the main features on NoveList.
Watch the Basic Search for a Title Video to learn about how to search for a book by title on NoveList Plus.
Watch the Determining Readability of a Text/Lexile Levels Video to learn about where to find a book's lexile number on NoveList Plus and how to convert that to an approximate grade level.
Watch the Advanced Searching Video in NoveList to get an overview of search limits (date, audience, grade, awards, etc.), how to narrow results, and find related lists and articles.
Remember that if you find a book on NoveList you will have to check our online catalog to make sure that Milner Library owns that title (there is an embedded Library Catalog link in the record for a particular book).
Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) includes thousands of titles that have been leveled for you. The alphabetical gradient is located in the front cover of the book and gives you a grade-level range for the ranking. The front half of book sorts books by title and the back half of the book sorts books by level.
To use:
1. Consider the relevant grade level in school.
2. View the suggested alphabetical levels in the front cover of F&P for the appropriate grade level (usually a range of 3-4 levels per grade level).
3. Either go to the front half of F&P to find books by title and the corresponding level. Or, go to the second half to find books by level.
4. Search Milner's catalog to check if we have a particular title. Watch a video to see how.
5. If a book isn't in F&P, check NoveList Plus for a Lexile Level equivalent.
At the TMC Leveled Readers Station, leveled readers are sorted into bins based on the Fountas and Pinnell system, there are print-outs that explain how to choose an appropriately-leveled book for your needs. Please note that many books not within these bins are leveled. To find these, use either option one or two mentioned above.
If you would like to search for an appropriate leveled book from one of these bins online, use the following process.
Milner Library
Illinois State University
Campus Box 8900
201 North School Street
Normal, Il 61790-8900
(309) 438-3451
Contact Us
Have comments or questions about our guides?
Please contact Instruction and Student Engagement:
liblearn@ilstu.edu