Books for every reading level

🦉 Nineteen levels, from first books to sound out (level 0) to long stories for strong readers (level 18). Pick yours, or try the three questions below.

Which level? Three questions

Ask your reader to read each line aloud, one after another. Stop at the first one that is hard going.

“Ben can jump. Meg can jump. "Jump, jump, jump!" said Ben. Look! A frog on a log. "Can the frog jump?" said Meg. "Jump!" said Ben. The frog sat.” (from Jump, Jump, Jump!, level 2)
Read it smoothly? Try level 3 or higher, and go on to the next line. Not yet? Levels 0 to 2 are the first books to sound out.
“An old lighthouse stood by the bay. No one lived in it. It was dark and still.” (from The Blinking Lamp, level 6)
Smooth? Try level 7 or higher, and go on to the last line. Bumpy? Levels 3 to 6: pattern books and short stories.
“THE OFFICIAL LOG OF COMPLAINTS, kept by Hollis Pratt, age eleven and four-fifths, of Room 9. Property of Hollis Pratt.” (from Complaints Department, level 10)
Smooth, and they could tell you what happened? Levels 11 and up. Hard going? Levels 7 to 10: whole paragraphs, still in everyday words.

It is a rough guide, and a child's level changes quickly. A book that feels easy is good practice; one that is too hard is better read together. For a closer look, grown-ups can use Peabody Teach's level finder.

The levels, and the school grades they usually match

Level 0: Before or at the start of kindergarten: the first books a child sounds out · 14 free stories
Level 1: Before or at the start of kindergarten: the first books a child sounds out · 16 free stories
Level 2: Before or at the start of kindergarten: the first books a child sounds out · 16 free stories
Level 3: Usually kindergarten · 23 free stories
Level 4: Usually 1st grade · 29 free stories
Level 5: Usually 1st grade · 23 free stories
Level 6: Usually 1st grade · 11 free stories
Level 7: Usually 2nd grade · 44 free stories
Level 8: Usually 3rd grade · 92 free stories
Level 9: Usually 4th grade · 42 free stories
Level 10: Usually 5th grade · 90 free stories
Level 11: Usually 6th grade · 54 free stories
Level 12: Usually 7th grade · 27 free stories
Level 13: Usually 8th grade · 77 free stories
Level 14: Past the school grades: strong teen and grown-up readers · 35 free stories
Level 15: Past the school grades: strong teen and grown-up readers · 18 free stories
Level 16: Past the school grades: strong teen and grown-up readers · 10 free stories
Level 17: Past the school grades: strong teen and grown-up readers · 13 free stories
Level 18: Past the school grades: strong teen and grown-up readers · 9 free stories

The levels are Peabody's own, measured from the words and sentences of each story; they are not a school's colour levels or a test score. The grades are the usual match, not a rule.

Checked 30 October 2026 · Free, no account, nothing you do here leaves this device · v0.4.0

📚 Books for every reading level

Which level? Three questions

The levels, and the school grades they usually match

Books for every reading level