Pre-Reading

0-4 years

Books that are appropriate for reading aloud to the very young. They should have simple plots, a certain degree of rhythm and repetition and attention-grabbing illustrations. There is little non-fiction for this age but what there is will rely mostly on illustrations supported by simple statements.

Beginning Readers

5-8 years

Books suitable for reading aloud to or reading alone by early independent readers. They should have fairly simple plots or content, familiar characters and vocabulary, sometimes with appealing illustrations. Non-fiction at this level will be minimal in text and heavily illustrated. Text will use simple language, explanations will be clear but basic.

Younger Readers

9-12 years

Books for children who have a good grasp of their reading skills and want strong narratives, interesting characters. This is the period where children should be reading quantities of good literature and non-fiction that introduces them to the world around them - facts, relationships, people. Non-fiction at this level will be heavily illustrated, the text broken into small chunks or short paragraphs with many subheadings. Auto/biographies will be simple in language and linear in structure, providing basic information with some interesting or eccentric details to grab reader attention.

Older Readers

13-16 years

Books suitable for capable readers who have a good general knowledge, vocabulary and comprehension. Non-fiction has a reasonable amount of text which is still broken into smaller chunks - paragraphs or columns, fairly short chapters, clear subheadings etc. Text is fairly linear, descriptive, clear explanations and descriptions with appropriate diagrams and illustrations/photographs. Auto/biographies at this level will be mostly linear, not requiring or provoking much involvement from the reader but providing a clear window into the events of a person's life.

Challenging

> 16 years

Books suitable for advanced readers who enjoy complicated or multiple plots; deeper exploration of familiar concepts/ideas; thought-provoking character/s. Non-fiction books are likely to have dense text, high language level and explore complex ideas or connections between events or people. Auto/biographies at this level move far beyond the linear and look at cause and effect relationships and events in a person's life and the impact that person has had on their world. 

Books that include dialects, jargon or context-specific invented words. Sentence structure or phrasing may be idiosyncratic or unusually complex.

Books that include unusual characters, relationships or contexts. The book may deal with simple concepts in a complex way or concepts that may be unfamiliar or disturbing to an average reader.