Accelerated Reader Levels by Color

Here’s a list of Accelerated Reader levels by color. Find AR books according to your child’s reading level and purchase them for less here too!

Our school, as well as many others around, use a reading program called Accelerated Reader (AR we call it). I have three children and once they hit the second grade they were tested.

Then they were assigned a color according to their reading level, and chose books in that color (colors typically shown with a sticker on the spine as you see here).

What is book level in Accelerated Reader?

Reading Levels Explained

Once they are done with their book they can take tests on the computer that test their comprehension of the book and if they pass they earn points, they love that!

• Well as a parent when your first child comes home and says “I’m a yellow reader,” you aren’t quite sure what that means.

Yes there are AR reading levels and each is associated with a book color.

After some time you learn a bit about AR, but being as though it is a school program it is hard to know what books you should be buying for your child to read at home (that was my question anyway).

There is more extensive information about the AR program here if you want to go into depth. I was curious to find books in my children’s levels so…….I went searching.

• Here is a free printable ar reading levels sheet you can keep handy too. 

Accelerated Reading Levels Chart

If you are curious, and haven’t seen an ar reading level color chart is shown above. The number correlates to the level reader they are. F

or example, my daughter is in the first grade yet she is a “yellow reader”, meaning she is reading at a 2.6-3.0 grade level (second grade in the 6th month of school to 3rd grade reading level).

Most children don’t participate in Accelerated Reading until the second grade so if yours are in Kinder or first you may not have encountered this yet but you will and you can keep this as a resource for yourself next year.

What do the AR reading levels mean?

Every book that has an AR reading quiz is given a point value. Points are based on the difficulty of the book, and length (number of words). AR points are ways of measuring how much reading practice children are getting.

How do I find the AR level of a book?

There are a few websites and APPs you can use.

• Lexile can help match readers with texts
• Accelerated Reading APPs
  • Levelit and Literacy Leveler
  • Level It Books can organize, level, and track books too

AR Reading

Teachers usually have libraries in their classrooms with rows upon rows of books with different colors so there are great choices for each leveled reader.

Each series is typically the same level. Such as, most Junie B. Jones books are in the yellow level (yes, I hear about this curious girl every day!), but some are not such as some of the Magic Treehouse books you see here.

Some are in the yellow category and some are in the pink level (slightly different).

• Here are some popular chapter book series in each level. Great for Christmas presents and stocking stuffers.

It’s always fun to get a new book and finding one in their reading level is best so they aren’t frustrated or choosing something that is below their ability.

Click on the box / book in the intended level to search books in that color and purchase.

I hope this helps in your quest to find and understand AR reading levels or Accelerated Reader levels by color.

Then you can purchase appropriate books for your child. Starting at the correct level is important for them to feel successful. Slowly, have them work toward the higher levels as time and they progress. 

• To make reading really fun create a reading nook at home. They’ll love it.

Accelerated Reader Levels by Color

• Light Blue Level .1-1.5 

Find Books here

• Light Green 1.6-2.0

AR books here

• Bright Orange 2.1-2.5

Accelerated reader books here

• Yellow 2.6-3.0

Books here

• Pink 3.1-3.5

Magic Treehouse Books here

• Red 3.6-4.0

A to Z Mysteries Books here

• Orange 4.1-4.5

Books here

• Dark Blue 4.6-5.0

Books here

• Dark Green 5.1-6.9

Books here

• Black 7.0+

Books here

You can search for more selections here on arbookfind.com and there is another resource here with lists of books at each level,.

Scroll down to search a new level. Montclair Public Schools have also put together a LONG list of books in each level and color for you to refer to here.

If you are looking for even more ideas for your child in each accelerated reading level.

Before you go I want you to sign up for my free newsletter!! You will get all my new recipes emailed to you a few times a week that will help with meal planning for the week.