Recommended graded readers for an extensive reading program

The levels indicated below are approximate because they include readers from a variety of
publishers and series and the different publishers= vocabulary lists are not the same.
This list is extracted from David Hill=s very useful appendix to R. Day and J. Bamford=s (1!"
boo#$ Extensive Reading in the Second Language Classroom. %ambrid&e 'niversity (ress.
Hill=s list is based on David Hill=s readin& of the boo#s. )thers may disa&ree (* really li#e Of
mice and men Heinemann 'pper +evel"$ but Hill=s list is the most useful systematic startin&
point for buildin& a library of &raded readers.
300-500 word level
,or youn&er readers
-oore$ %.J. Jasper Heinemann=s %hildren=s Readers. /ta&e 1
-oore$ %.J. Jack and his computer Heinemann=s %hildren=s Readers. /ta&e 0
-oore$ %.J. The unhappy ghost. Heinemann=s %hildren=s Readers. /ta&e 1
Rixon$ /. ll a!out us and ho" # met my friend $oris. (hoenix Readers. /ta&e 1
Rixon$ /. $oris=s %uiet "alk & Count 'orror=s car. (hoenix Readers. /ta&e 1
Rixon$ /. Stone soup and the enormous onion. (hoenix Readers. /ta&e 1
Rixon$ /. The story of Chicken Licken & the three !illy goats gruff. (hoenix Readers. /ta&e 1
Rixon$ /. The tortoise and the hare( t"o stories. (hoenix Readers. /ta&e 1
Rixon$ /. The tug of "ar & the terri!le Aplop@. (hoenix Readers. /ta&e 1
,or older readers (11 years old upwards"
-oore$ %.J. lissa. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 1.
-ilne$ J. The magic !ar!er. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 1.
/weetnam$ (. )hoto finish. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 1.
/hipton$ (. *argon *oo. Heinemann 3ew 4ave Readers. /ta&e 0.
5iney$ (. The locked room. )xford /torylines. /ta&e 1.
+aird$ 6. The garden. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 0.
-ac7ndrew$ R. and +awday$ %. The night visitor. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 0.
(i8ante$ R. li and his camera. +on&man )ri&inals. /ta&e 1.
+aird$ 6. sk me again. +on&man )ri&inals. /ta&e 1.
Rabley$ /. The $arcelona game. +on&man )ri&inals. /ta&e 1.
Rabley$ /. +arcel goes to 'olly"ood. +on&man )ri&inals. /ta&e 1.
Harvey$ (. Surfer, (en&uin Readers. /ta&e 1.
800 word level
,or older readers
)=Reilly$ 6. nother "orld. +on&man )ri&inals. /ta&e 0.
5incent$ -. -irl against the .ungle. +on&man )ri&inals. /ta&e 0.
5icary$ T. The coldest place on earth. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 1.
5icary$ T. +ary /ueen of Scots. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 1.
Bassett$ J. The phantom of the opera. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 1.
/tran&e$ D. -irl meets !oy. (en&uin Readers. /ta&e 1.
Harvey$ (. Surfer, (en&uin Readers. /ta&e 1.
1,200 word level
,or youn&er readers
/wan$ D. The adventures of Sin!ad the sailor. +on&man %lassics. /ta&e 1.
Turvey$ %. 'eidi. +on&man %lassics. /ta&e 1.
,or older readers
4aterfield$ R. Chocky. (en&uin Readers. /ta&e 0.
%olbourn$ /. The Canterville ghost and other stories 0Oscar 1ilde2. Heinemann 2raded Readers.
/ta&e 1.
%olbourn$ /. 3r Jekyll and +r 'yde. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 1.
%ornish$ ,. Christmas carol. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 1.
6vans$ D. Lady )ortia=s revenge and other stories. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 1.
Hodson$ (. river ran out of Eden. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 1.
Tarner$ -. "oman in !lack. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 1.
7xbey$ /. "ay match. Heinemann 3ew 4ave Readers. /ta&e 9.
2ran&er$ %. Lost in London. Heinemann 3ew 4ave Readers. /ta&e 9.
-c+ean$ 7.%. +ystery on +allorca. Heinemann 3ew 4ave Readers. /ta&e 9.
%ripwell$ :. The magic garden. +on&man 6n&lish +ibrary. /ta&e 0.
Rabley$ /. The gold lasso. +on&man )ri&inals. /ta&e 0.
5icary$ T. -race 3arling. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 0.
Hardey;2ould$ J. 'enry 4### and his six "ives. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 0.
Bassett$ J. 1illiam Shakespeare. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 0.
5iney$ (. Sunnyvista city. )xford /torylines. /ta&e 1.
5iney$ (. tidy ghost. )xford /torylines. /ta&e <.
/tewart$ (. The diary. (en&uin Readers. /ta&e 0.
Hill$ +.7. (1==" Elementary Stories for Reproduction.5 & 6. )xford 'niversity (ress.
1,600 word level
,or older readers
'llstein$ /. The secret garden. +on&man %lassics. /ta&e 0.
/wan$ D. The adventures of Tom Sa"yer. +on&man %lassics. /ta&e 1.
Turvey$ J. 3racula. +on&man %lassics. /ta&e 1.
7ttwood$ 6. and /wan$ D. Emil and the detectives. +on&man %lassics. /ta&e 1.
4est$ %. Christmas carol. )xford Boo#worms 2reen. /ta&e 1.
4est$ %. The secret garden. )xford Boo#worms 2reen. /ta&e 1.
6scott$ J. The rail"ay children. )xford Boo#worms 2reen. /ta&e 1.
-owat$ D. 1ho7 sir8 +e7 sir8 )xford Boo#worms 2reen. /ta&e 1.
-c2overn$ :. The !ig match. (hoenix Boo#shelf. /ta&e 0.
Taylor$ J. Channel runner. (en&uin Readers. /ta&e 1.
(rescott$ R. The $onetti inheritance. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e <.
%olbourn$ /. The good earth. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e <.
Tarner$ -. Oliver T"ist. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e <.
(aine$ -. The pearl. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e <.
-ilne$ J. Shane. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e <.
Davey$ J. Things fall apart. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e <.
Tarner$ -. Silas +arner. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e <.
/mith$ B. The ring. +on&man )ri&inals. /ta&e 1.
Border$ R. -o7 lovely Rose. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 1.
5icary$ T. Justice. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 1.
3audi$ -. Tales of mystery and imagination. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 1.
Border$ R. Tooth and cla". )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 1.
Hill$ +.7. (1==" #ntermediate Stories for Reproduction.5 & 6. )xford 'niversity (ress.
1,900 word level
,or older readers
6scott$ J. The eagle of the ninth. )xford Boo#worms 2reen. /ta&e <.
6scott$ J. Little "omen. )xford Boo#worms 2reen. /ta&e <.
6scott$ J. The silver s"ord. )xford Boo#worms 2reen. /ta&e <.
-owat$ R. 1e didn=t mean to go to sea. )xford Boo#worms 2reen. /ta&e <.
4est$ %. -ulliver=s travels. )xford Boo#worms 2reen. /ta&e <.
Bell$ ,. -reat expectations. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 9.
Tarner$ -. man of property. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 9.
3esbitt. +ine !oy. Heinemann 2raded Readers. /ta&e 9.
Jones$ +. Rear "indo". +on&man 6n&lish +ibrary. /ta&e <.
Border$ R. 3r Jekyll and +r 'yde. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e <.
Border$ R. +r +idshipman 'orn!lo"er. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e <.
Bassett$ J. The songs of distant earth. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e <.
Bullard$ 3. The thirty9nine steps. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e <.
Haw#ins$ (. The un%uiet grave. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e <.
2,200 word level
-owat$ R. $rat :arrar. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 9.
Border$ R. The !ride price. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 9.
4est$ %. 3avid Copperfield. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 9.
4est$ %. :ar from the madding cro"d. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 9.
4est$ %. -reat expectations. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e 9.
Hill$ +.7. (1==" dvanced Stories for Reproduction.5 & 6. )xford 'niversity (ress.
3,000 word level
4yner$ 3. The citadel. +on&man ,iction. /ta&e 1.
4ear$ 2. Cry the !eloved country. +on&man ,iction. /ta&e <.
/watrid&e$ /. The greengage summer. -acmillan /tories to Remember. /ta&e 0.
7#inyemi$ R. Cry freedom. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e >.
4est$ %. Jane Eyre. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e >.
4est$ %. )ride and pre.udice. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e >.
3obes$ (. +eteor. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e >.
3audi$ -. ;ight "ithout end. )xford Boo#worms. /ta&e >.
4aterfield$ R. +isery. (en&uin Readers. /ta&e >.
:err$ J. +rs )ackletide=s tiger and other stories. (en&uin Readers. /ta&e >.