Easy Readers Design, Content, Levels, Trends. Books for Beginning Readers Picture Books EASY READERS Transitional Books.

Easy Readers

Design, Content, Levels, Trends

Books for Beginning Readers

Picture Books

EASY READERS

Transitional Books

History

The Cat in the Hat (Seuss)

Little Bear (Minarik)

Frog and Toad (Lobel)

Like Chapter Books

Gives children a sense of accomplishment and pride.

Helps them feel like a big kid.

Stories conclude at the end of a chapter.

Vocabulary

Use sight words and short words.Use compound words.Pair long words with picture clues.Use words that are part of the child’s oral

language.

Sentence Length

Use short sentences.Vary length to give time to rest.Use sensible line breaks.

Plot

Attention grabber on the first page.Use lots of action.Quickly moving plot.Familiar main characters.

Illustrations

Provide clues.Should compliment text rather than

distract from it.Use white space.

Lines

2-10 words per lineSentences should begin on a new line.Longer sentences should break at a

logical point:

I got on the school bus

with my lunch box.

Design Elements

Lines per page vary with level.Line placement should be consistent in

lower levels.Use an 18 point typeface.White space is essential.

Content

Predictable, with humorous surprises.

Repetition.

Unpredictable actions should be linked to pictures.

Trends for Beginning Readers

A Splendid Friend, Indeed (Bloom, Suzanne)

Benny and Penny in the Big No-No (Hayes, Geoffrey)

Not a Box (Portis, Antoinette)

One Boy (Seeger, Laura Vaccaro)

Little Mouse Gets Ready (Smith, Jeff)

There is a Bird on You Head (Willems, Mo)

Selection

Does the design support the reader?

Does the content support the reader?

Does the plot support the reader?

Do the illustrations support the reader?

Does the work as whole engage the reader?

Levels at AHML

Pre-emergent 10 words or less per page

EmergentMore than 10, with repetition

Early-fluentLonger

FluentVery long, or chapter books

I Can Read! Product Architecture and Design

Contact Information

Lindsay Huth

Early Learning Specialist

Arlington Heights Memorial Library

[email protected]