Reading Ladders: Leading Students from Where They Are to Where We'd Like Them to Be

Teri Lesesne argues that it isn't enough just to start students reading.  Instead, teachers need to focus on helping students find the next book they'll love... and the next after that, and the next after that.  In addition, while there is plenty to love in books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid or the Gossip Girls series, these are books that don't challenge and nourish readers as much as we teachers and parents wish they would.  Lesesne's solution is the development of reading ladders that gradually and mindfully lead students from one book to the next by focusing on readers' preferences while introducing more challenge or complexity with each selection.  In addition to some spectacular pre-made ladders/ book lists, this book also offers helplful advice for assessment of students' needs, interests, and comprehension.