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 (1998)
book, Extensive Reading in the Second Language Classroom. Cambridge University Press.
Hill=s list is based on David Hill=s reading of the books. Others may disagree (I really like Of
mice and men Heinemann Upper Level), but Hill=s list is the most useful systematic starting
point for building a library of graded readers.
300-500 word level
For younger readers
Moore, C.J. Jasper Heinemann=s Children=s Readers: Stage 1
Moore, C.J. Jack and his computer Heinemann=s Children=s Readers: Stage 2
Moore, C.J. The unhappy ghost. Heinemann=s Children=s Readers: Stage 3
Rixon, S. All about us and how I met my friend Boris. Phoenix Readers: Stage 1
Rixon, S. Boris=s quiet walk & Count Horror=s car. Phoenix Readers: Stage 1
Rixon, S. Stone soup and the enormous onion. Phoenix Readers: Stage 1
Rixon, S. The story of Chicken Licken & the three billy goats gruff. Phoenix Readers: Stage 1
Rixon, S. The tortoise and the hare: two stories. Phoenix Readers: Stage 1
Rixon, S. The tug of war & the terrible Aplop@. Phoenix Readers: Stage 1
For older readers (11 years old upwards)
Moore, C.J. Alissa. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 1.
Milne, J. The magic barber. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 1.
Sweetnam, P. Photo finish. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 1.
Shipton, P. Zargon Zoo. Heinemann New Wave Readers: Stage 2.
Viney, P. The locked room. Oxford Storylines: Stage 1.
Laird, E. The garden. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 2.
MacAndrew, R. and Lawday, C. The night visitor. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 2.
Pizante, R. Ali and his camera. Longman Originals: Stage 1.
Laird, E. Ask me again. Longman Originals: Stage 1.
Rabley, S. The Barcelona game. Longman Originals: Stage 1.
Rabley, S. Marcel goes to Hollywood. Longman Originals: Stage 1.
Harvey, P. Surfer! Penguin Readers: Stage 1.
800 word level
For older readers
O=Reilly, E. Another world. Longman Originals: Stage 2.
Vincent, M. Girl against the jungle. Longman Originals: Stage 2.
Vicary, T. The coldest place on earth. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 1.
Vicary, T. Mary Queen of Scots. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 1.
Bassett, J. The phantom of the opera. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 1.
Strange, D. Girl meets boy. Penguin Readers: Stage 1.
Harvey, P. Surfer! Penguin Readers: Stage 1.
1,200 word level
For younger readers
Swan, D. The adventures of Sinbad the sailor. Longman Classics: Stage 1.
Turvey, C. Heidi. Longman Classics: Stage 1.
For older readers
Waterfield, R. Chocky. Penguin Readers: Stage 2.
Colbourn, S. The Canterville ghost and other stories (Oscar Wilde). Heinemann Graded
Readers: Stage 3.
Colbourn, S. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 3.
Cornish, F. A Christmas carol. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 3.
Evans, D. Lady Portia=s revenge and other stories. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 3.
Hodson, P. A river ran out of Eden. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 3.
Tarner, M. A woman in black. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 3.
Axbey, S. Away match. Heinemann New Wave Readers: Stage 5.
Granger, C. Lost in London. Heinemann New Wave Readers: Stage 5.
McLean, A.C. Mystery on Mallorca. Heinemann New Wave Readers: Stage 5.
Cripwell, K. The magic garden. Longman English Library: Stage 2.
Rabley, S. The gold lasso. Longman Originals: Stage 2.
Vicary, T. Grace Darling. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 2.
Hardey-Gould, J. Henry VIII and his six wives. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 2.
Bassett, J. William Shakespeare. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 2.
Viney, P. Sunnyvista city. Oxford Storylines: Stage 3.
Viney, P. A tidy ghost. Oxford Storylines: Stage 4.
Stewart, P. The diary. Penguin Readers: Stage 2.
Hill, L.A. (1977) Elementary Stories for Reproduction.1 & 2. Oxford University Press.
1,600 word level
For older readers
Ullstein, S. The secret garden. Longman Classics: Stage 2.
Swan, D. The adventures of Tom Sawyer. Longman Classics: Stage 3.
Turvey, J. Dracula. Longman Classics: Stage 3.
Attwood, E. and Swan, D. Emil and the detectives. Longman Classics: Stage 3.
West, C. A Christmas carol. Oxford Bookworms Green: Stage 3.
West, C. The secret garden. Oxford Bookworms Green: Stage 3.
Escott, J. The railway children. Oxford Bookworms Green: Stage 3.
Mowat, D. Who, sir? Me, sir? Oxford Bookworms Green: Stage 3.
McGovern, K. The big match. Phoenix Bookshelf: Stage 2.
Taylor, J. Channel runner. Penguin Readers: Stage 3.
Prescott, R. The Bonetti inheritance. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 4.
Colbourn, S. The good earth. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 4.
Tarner, M. Oliver Twist. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 4.
Paine, M. The pearl. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 4.
Milne, J. Shane. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 4.
Davey, J. Things fall apart. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 4.
Tarner, M. Silas Marner. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 4.
Smith, B. The ring. Longman Originals: Stage 3.
Border, R. Go, lovely Rose. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 3.
Vicary, T. Justice. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 3.
Naudi, M. Tales of mystery and imagination. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 3.
Border, R. Tooth and claw. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 3.
Hill, L.A. (1977) Intermediate Stories for Reproduction.1 & 2. Oxford University Press.
1,900 word level
For older readers
Escott, J. The eagle of the ninth. Oxford Bookworms Green: Stage 4.
Escott, J. Little women. Oxford Bookworms Green: Stage 4.
Escott, J. The silver sword. Oxford Bookworms Green: Stage 4.
Mowat, R. We didn=t mean to go to sea. Oxford Bookworms Green: Stage 4.
West, C. Gulliver=s travels. Oxford Bookworms Green: Stage 4.
Bell, F. Great expectations. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 5.
Tarner, M. A man of property. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 5.
Nesbitt. Mine boy. Heinemann Graded Readers: Stage 5.
Jones, L. Rear window. Longman English Library: Stage 4.
Border, R. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 4.
Border, R. Mr Midshipman Hornblower. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 4.
Bassett, J. The songs of distant earth. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 4.
Bullard, N. The thirty-nine steps. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 4.
Hawkins, P. The unquiet grave. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 4.
2,200 word level
Mowat, R. Brat Farrar. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 5.
Border, R. The bride price. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 5.
West, C. David Copperfield. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 5.
West, C. Far from the madding crowd. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 5.
West, C. Great expectations. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 5.
Hill, L.A. (1977) Advanced Stories for Reproduction.1 & 2. Oxford University Press.
3,000 word level
Wyner, N. The citadel. Longman Fiction: Stage 3.
Wear, G. Cry the beloved country. Longman Fiction: Stage 4.
Swatridge, S. The greengage summer. Macmillan Stories to Remember: Stage 2.
Akinyemi, R. Cry freedom. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 6.
West, C. Jane Eyre. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 6.
West, C. Pride and prejudice. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 6.
Nobes, P. Meteor. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 6.
Naudi, M. Night without end. Oxford Bookworms: Stage 6.
Waterfield, R. Misery. Penguin Readers: Stage 6.
Kerr, J. Mrs Packletide=s tiger and other stories. Penguin Readers: Stage 6.
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