Early chapter books for reluctant readers are kind of my jam. I’m an elementary school librarian, the mother of two extremely reluctant readers, and an instructor for a company that runs virtual book clubs where children practice debating skills. I spend my days elbows-deep in the world of early and reluctant readers. Finding books that spark joy in book lovers is easy—that’s who I am. The more nuanced task is finding stories that hook those who are disinterested or find reading discouraging.

When matching books to reluctant readers, two key considerations are interest and ability. There is a sweet spot where a great subject, a comfortable reading level, and an approachable structure meet, though that will vary among readers. The publishing world offers a category called “Hi-Lo” (high interest, low reading level) that targets older readers developing their skills with engaging storylines, simpler sentences, and accessible vocabulary. This is a dependable search term to help you gather recommendations.…