Homeschoolers love books.  We are the kind of people who value a bookshelf over a dozen roses for Valentines day.  Still, it amazes me how many books I can call my favorite.

I have already shared my little lady’s list of favorite Modern Era Picture Books, and today I have for you a Modern Era list focusing on our favorite leveled readers.

If you go straight to the list scroll down, but I know someone will ask me to explain what leveled readers are, and what purpose they serve, so I’m going to start there.

What are Leveled Readers?

Many people misunderstand the word “Leveled” to mean that the phonics in level 1 will be easier so sound out than those in the higher levels.  This is not necessarily true.  There is a completely different system used to categorize books leveled by phonetic skills for dyslexic students and others still working on decoding.  I’ll try to post more information about how those work next week.  Click the subscribe button on the right to make sure you don’t miss it.

Leveled readers are a collection of books organized by difficulty from easiest (lower numbers) to longer and more complex books (higher numbers). Each publisher has their own system of ranking, so a level one is not the same across the board, but it is a helpful guide for children who are beginning to read for information rather than simply decode.

Any book, if analyzed, can be placed in a level.  It is not something magical or different about the book itself, but a system of evaluating the book’s characteristics along  a gradient of difficulty.  Many factors are considered:

• Length — Not just the number of pages, but the number of words on each page.
• Language — Words are analyzed to determine the number/difficulty of high-frequency words, irregular spellings, and repeated words. In addition, the length and complexity of sentences and number of clauses is evaluated.
• Layout — Font size, and amount of white space plays a large part in making a book easy to read.  Clear typography, and conventional (sentences start on the left) layout are considered.
• Literary Structure — Amount of repetition in words or theme, complexity of plot, use of metaphor, and chronology are evaluated to determine difficulty of  comprehension.
• Illustrations — Early readers use context cues and images to help them understand the meaning of the text.  Higher levels have fewer images, and/or the images are more abstract.
• Theme — Children of different ages have different interests.  Readers are evaluated for familiarity and approachability of content.

So, now that we know what leveled readers are, here are my favorites for the Modern Time period.    *These are affiliate links, which means that, should you choose to purchase after clicking, I will (at no cost to you) receive a percentage of the sales.  As always, I only recommend products that we actually use and love in our home.  Thanks for your support.

Modern Era Leveled Readers:

~ In (approximate) chronological order ~

The Trail of Tears – Level 5

“In 1838, settlers moving west forced the great Cherokee Nation, and their chief John Ross, to leave their home land and travel 1,200 miles to Oklahoma. An epic story of friendship, war, hope, and betrayal.”

Wagon Wheels – Level 3

“The Muldie boys and their father have come a long way to Kansas. But when Daddy moves on, the three boys must begin their own journey. They must learn to care for one another and face the dangers of the wilderness alone.” – A true story of survival.

Time For Kids: Harriet Tubman: A Woman of Courage – Level 2

“As a teenage slave, Harriet Tubman stood up to an overseer who was trying to harm another slave. From that time forward, Tubman  fought against unfairness and for what she believed was right. She helped hundreds of African Americans escape on the Underground Railroad.  Harriet Tubman’s courage and ideals have inspired generations of Americans to fight for equal rights and to stand up for their convictions.”

Civil War Sub: The Mystery of the Hunley – Level 4

“In 1864, during the Civil War, the C.S.S. Hunley became the first submarine in the world to sink an enemy ship. The Hunley and its crew mysteriously vanished. What happened on that cold winter night? After over a century, scientists finally have some of the answers.” – This one is one of my son’s absolute favorite books.  He keeps it on his nightstand despite having read it regularly for 3 years straight.

Time For Kids: Clara Barton: Angel of the Battlefield  – Level 2

“Take a close-up look at Clara Barton, who bravely nursed soldiers during the Civil War. Interviews with experts and lively writing deliver accurate reporting. Historical and contemporary photographs capture the life of this caring woman and show how her legacy—the American Red Cross—assists people today.”

The Long Way to a New Land – Level 3

“It is 1868, and Carl Erik’s family faces starvation in Sweden. As their hopes fade, they must endure a journey over land and sea to reach a better life in a new country thousands of miles away.”

Listen Up!: Alexander Graham Bell’s Talking Machine  – Level 3

“It is 1876 and the whole country is celebrating the 100th birthday of the United States. The biggest party is in Philadelphia at the World’s Fair, where the latest and greatest inventions are on display for all to see. Alexander Graham Bell is headed to the fair to demonstrate his invention – a talking machine he calls the telephone. But will anyone come to see him at the world’s most important science fair? And more importantly, will his machine work?”

Thomas Edison: The Great Inventor – Level 4

“The story of the greatest inventor of the modern age, and how his creations have changed our world.”  Includes lots of amazing historic photographs and side notes that my crew found fascinating. – Another one loved by my son.  Includes stories of not just the lightbulb, but many of Edison’s other inventions.

Eat My Dust! Henry Ford’s First Race (Step into Reading) – Level 3

“It’s 1901 and Henry Ford wants to build a car that everyone can own. But first he needs the money to produce it. How will he get it? He enters a car race, of course.”

Titanic: The Disaster that Shocked the World! – Level 3

“Stunning photographs combine with lively illustrations and engaging age-appropriate stories in DKReaders, a multi-level reading program guaranteed to capture children’s interest while developing their reading skills and general knowledge.”

First Flight: The Wright Brothers  – Level 4

“The story of Orville and Wilbur Wright is told, taking readers back to the brothers’ childhood in rural Ohio where they were fascinated by all kinds of vehicles. Dreaming of flight, they were convinced they could build a machine that a man could pilot–and they did.”

Dust for Dinner – Level 3

“Jake and Maggy lived on a farm where they loved to sing and dance to the music from Mama’s radio. Then terrible dust storms came and ruined the land. The family had no choice but to auction off the farm and make the long, hard journey west to California-away from the dust storms, where the land is still green.”

The Story of Anne Frank – Level 3

“Thirteen-year-old Anne Frank went into hiding from the Nazis with her family in 1942. Read the remarkable story of her life, death, and legacy. The 48-page Level 3 books, designed for children who can read on their own, contain more complex sentence structure and more detail. Information boxes highlight historical references, trivia, pronunciation, and other facts about words and names mentioned.”

Pearl Harbor  – Level 3

“This excellent introduction to Pearl Harbor and World War II opens with Secretary of State Cordell Hull angrily greeting Japanese representatives on December 7, 1941, even before news of the attack has reached him. What he does know is that Japan has been deceiving the U.S. Krensky goes on to describe the history of Japan’s economic and political expansion in Asia, the European war, President Roosevelt’s willingness to assist the Allies, and how continuing recovery from the Depression limited the U.S.’s full participation in the war prior to Pearl Harbor. He explains the purpose of the attack and Japan’s belief that the U.S. would be unable to retaliate. The pen-and-ink and pastel-wash illustrations on every spread are realistic and detailed; the scenes of destruction leave no doubt about the devastation, but are not disturbingly graphic.”

D-Day Landings: The Story of the Allied Invasion – Level 4

“How did the Allies plan and execute the most massive and daring invasion in military history? Read all about it in the DK Reader that explains in thrilling detail how the Nazis were defeated on the beaches of France.  Stunning photographs and engaging, age-appropriate stories.”

Moonwalk – Level 5

“The story of Apollo II‘s historic flight, from lift-off, through ‘The Eagle has landed,’ to splashdown and quarantine. Donnelly does a good job of setting the stage with chapters on the history of the idea of flight to the moon, astronaut selection and training, and look at the flight’s effect on people in general.”