High Interest/Low Vocabulary (HILV)
Category: Language/Reading
Grade Level: Grade 3 to 12; Adult literacy s
1. What is the purpose of the
High/Low Materials?
HILV materials have been designed to
make the world of the written word more
readily available to poor and nonreaders. They are books designed to
attract the potential reader by virtue of
their interesting content. At the same
time they are designed to be easily
readable.
2. With whom can they be used?
These materials are intended for
reluctant, disabled, and disinterested
readers of all age and grade levels.
3. What considerations should go into
choosing High/Low Materials?
There are three sets of factors to
consider: (a) presentation; (b) readability
and (c) content.
PRESENTATION
 Short chapters.
 Normal sized print.
 Average sized book, written on
regular paper (i.e., the book should
not stand out in appearance from
those of the reader's peers).
 Often a paperback
READABILITY
 Text vocabulary and syntax should
be at the instructional level of the
intended reader.
CONTENT
 Fast-paced with a simple, but
relevant, storyline.
 One well-developed main character,
few others.




Short time span, lots of action.
No wordiness, mostly dialogues.
Snappy conclusion.
Content difficulty should not be
confused with reading difficulty; the
former will be desirable for the older
readers, the latter will not.
4. In what types of settings should the
High/Low materials be used?
They are meant for individual use or for
use by small groups of readers in any
setting.
5. To what extent has research shown
the High/Low Materials to be useful?
Provided that the materials are
appropriate to meet the readers interests
and needs the research seems to indicate
that this is a very useful approach to
enticing poor and reluctant readers to
read. Keith Stanovich and others have
shown that reading proficiency is related
to amount of reading practice.
References
1. Crames, W. and Dorsey, S. (1978).
Read-ability books for junior and
senior high school students.
Portland, Maine: J. Weston Walch.
2. Dubrovin, V. (1979). The new hi/lo
books: Stepping stones to reading
success. Curriculum Review. 18,
384-385.
3. Groves, M., Boettcher, J. and
Randall, R. (1979). Easy reading:
book series and periodicals for less
abled readers. Newark, Delaware:
International Reading Association.
4. LiBretto, E. (1981). High/low
handbook: books, materials and
services for the teenage problem
reader. New York: R.R. Bowler.
5. New York Public Library, Office of
Young Adult Services. (1979). Easyto-read books for teenagers. New
York: Author.
6. Thypin, M. (1979). Selection of
books of high interest and low
reading level. Journal of Learning
Disabilities, 12, 75-77.
7. White, M. (1979). High interest-easy
reading for junior and senior high
school students (3rd ed.). Urbana,
Illinois: National Council of
Teachers.
HI-LV Scholastic Reading Materials
Second Chance Reading Series (gr. 2 8)
Sparklers
Reading Level gr. 1-2
Interest Level gr. 3-4
Super Doopers - High interest chapter
books with simple stories and lots of art
Reading Level gr. 2-3
Interest Level gr. 4-6
Triple Play - fast action mini series
Reading Level gr. 3-4
Interest Level gr. 5-8
Fact Meets Fiction
Reading Level gr. 4-6
Interest Level gr. 6+
Sprint Plus
Level 200 (gr. 1.5-2.0)
Level 300 (gr. 2.0-2.5)
Level 400 (gr. 2.5-3.0)
Level 500 (gr. 3.0-3.5)
Level 600 (gr. 3.0-3.5)
Level 600 (gr. 3.5-4.0)
Level 700 (gr. 4.0-5.0)
Interest Levels are not reported
Read XL
Reading Level gr. 6-8
Interest Level unknown
High Interest Magazine
Action
Reading Level gr. 3-5
Interest Level gr. 7-12
Scope
Reading Level gr. 6-8
Interest Level gr. 7-12
Other High Interest/Low Vocabulary
Titles from Scholastic (gr. 4-6)
Blue Willow
Captain Underpants and the Perilous plot
of Professor Poopypants
Daniel’s Story
A Dinosaur Named Sue
Do You Want Fries With That?
Finding the Titanic
Hiroshima
The Hundred Dresses
Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest
Wild Weather: Tornadoes