Educators have various instruments they can use to determine a child's reading level. Parents may not be able to access these instruments, which can be expensive, and they may lack the skills needed to interpret results correctly. A test that can be done at home is "The Five Finger Rule." Have a child read a page from a book. If she makes more than five mistakes, including being told a word, the book likely is beyond her reading comprehension. If the child breezes through the first page, she can perhaps enjoy more advanced material.
Children are more likely to read books on topics that interest them. Classroom curriculum topics may be a place to start. What is the child studying in school? Eleven-year-olds often like books about animals, state and local history, and natural science. They may enjoy reading more books by authors they have already read with their classmates.
Children's librarians have special training that helps them evaluate books for children. They can recommend titles that might appeal to an 11-year-old. Talk to the children's librarian at school or your local public library for ideas. You can also look for guidance through the American Library Association, which recommends top kids' picks each year.
Ask for kids' titles at your local bookstore. Certain books and series usually are popular for a reason. Find out titles other 11-year-olds are reading and use that as a starting point.
Ask the parents of your child's friends and classmates. Word of mouth is often how adults find out about interesting reads, and this can work for kids, too. Check with your child's teacher for suggestions on popular reading titles. Browse book order forms, which are usually made available monthly to teachers by Scholastic Inc. and intended to be sent home to families. A variety of inexpensive books are available that could be potential kid-pleasers.