The Importance of High/Low Books in Building Reading Stamina
High/low books, or books written at a lower reading level but with content that appeals to older students, serve a crucial role in bridging gaps in literacy. They provide struggling readers with engaging content that matches their developmental level, but still challenges them with complex themes or vocabulary. This is essential for students who may be reading below grade level but are emotionally or intellectually ready for more mature topics.
According to research by the International Literacy Association (2020), offering high/low books can significantly boost students' confidence and help them develop the reading stamina needed for more advanced texts. By incorporating high/low books into the curriculum, educators can ensure that all students are supported and challenged in ways that meet their individual needs.
To help you get started, here are 10 great high/low book series from Lerner Publishing Group that will engage and inspire your students.
Unbelievable! (UpDog Books ™)
Interest Level: Grade 3 - Grade 5
Reading Level: Grade 1
The universe is full of fascinating, incredible facts. From sports arenas to the oceans to the deepest reaches of space, readers will learn high-interest, educational facts that they’ll want to share with their friends.
Dangerous Jobs (UpDog Books ™)
Interest Level: Grade 3 - Grade 5
Reading Level: Grade 1
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have one of the world’s most dangerous jobs? Go to work with some of the people who risk their lives every day to do what they love in this engaging series.
Buzz Books
Interest Level: Grade 4 - Grade 6
Reading Level: Grade 2
This dynamic series is designed to appeal to older or struggling readers.
Not all kids enjoy fiction, but almost all have a thirst for knowledge and want to know more about stuff that interests them. Buzz Books is designed to capture the attention of even the most reluctant readers. Each book has a measured word count of 850 words. Short and simple sentences enhance comprehension with simple vocabulary, while eye-catching photography gives visual clues to the meaning of the words.
STEM to the Rescue
Interest Level: Grade 5 - Grade 8
Reading Level: Grade 3
The future is uncertain. Can science save us?
STEM to the Rescue is a series for young readers that highlights innovations in science. Can the same great minds who thought up the internet, cloning, and missions to Mars come up with new ways to keep our homes running smoothly? Every day, there’s new tech on the horizon. Sidebars showcase how scientists are thinking, inventing, creating, and doing. And an activity challenges readers to use their minds to think into the future.
Hoops Academy
Interest Level: Grade 6 - Grade 12
Reading Level: Grade 4
Hoops Academy is a basketball high school known for turning out pro players. But mysteries also lurk on its campus. Each athlete must face the unknown and rise above new obstacles in this page-turning series.
Sinkhole
Interest Level: Grade 6 - Grade 12
Reading Level: Grade 4
Ever since the first sinkhole appeared in Foggy Creek, Texas, weird things have been happening. Unexplained phenomena—power surges, a purple mist, a glowing coin—seem to precipitate strange behaviors in this creepy, paranormal series, sure to hook reluctant and striving readers.
Road Trip
Interest Level: Grade 6 - Grade 12
Reading Level: Grade 4
The road trips in this series don’t go quite as expected. To deal with problems ranging from natural disasters to personal drama, characters have to rely on their instincts and quick thinking.
AI High
Interest Level: Grade 6 - Grade 12
Reading Level: Grade 4
Six months after the US government has officially recognized a group of androids with artificial intelligence as a race of living beings, Fitzgerald High School has started a pilot program to integrate human and android students, earning it the nickname AI High. The goal is for both groups to learn how to live and work together, but whether they’re human or android, teenagers will always have drama.
League of the Paranormal
Interest Level: Grade 6 - Grade 12
Reading Level: Grade 4
Team traditions and legends aren’t just superstitions in this paranormal sports series. Encountering everything from ghosts of varsity teams past to haunted playbooks, teens in this series use their athleticism and instincts when going against the supernatural.
Kick!
Interest Level: Grade 6 - Grade 12
Reading Level: Grade 4
For high school soccer players, the drama of the next big game is rivaled only by the everyday drama of their lives. In these fast-paced stories, players grapple with challenges on and off the field. Dynamic scenes keep readers engaged with a balance of page-turning soccer action and real-world stakes.
