Guide to Understanding Book Bands
What are Book Bands?
Book Bands are a structured system for categorising books based on reading levels. Originating from The Institute of Education's publication, Book Bands for Guided Reading (Bickler et al, 1998), these bands ensure children have access to a variety of texts tailored to their reading abilities. Publishers, educational book suppliers, and literacy consultants work together to level books within reading schemes (a series of precisely levelled and skilfully written books that support reading development) and ‘real’ books (the kind of children’s books found in bookshops).
How are books levelled?
Books are levelled with Book Bands through a process that involves assessing various factors such as vocabulary, sentence structure, complexity of plot, and themes. This flexible levelling process follows a best-fit approach, aiming to find the closest match between the book and the band level. This approach ensures that the book is appropriately challenging while still being accessible to readers within that band level.
What are the Book Band colours?
The colour bands typically start at Lilac band (for Reception-aged children beginning to engage with wordless books) and extend up to Black+ level (for super-confident Year 6 readers). The table below displays each book band level and their equivalent reading age. Most children will work through the levels during the year, so for example, in most schools, a Reception child, working at expected levels would end the year on Yellow band.
|
Book Band |
Age* |
Emerging |
Expected |
Confident |
Super Confident |
|
Lilac Band (Level 0) |
4 |
Reception |
|
|
|
|
4–5 |
|
Reception |
|
|
|
|
4–5 |
Year 1 |
Reception |
|
|
|
|
5 |
Year 1 |
Reception |
|
|
|
|
5–6 |
|
Year 1 |
Reception |
|
|
|
5–6 |
Year 2 |
Year 1 |
Reception |
|
|
|
6 |
Year 2 |
Year 1 |
|
|
|
|
6–7 |
|
Year 2 |
Year 1 |
|
|
|
6–7 |
|
Year 2 |
Year 1 |
|
|
|
6–7 |
|
Year 2 |
Year 1 |
|
|
|
6–7 |
Year 3 |
Year 2 |
Year 2 |
|
|
|
7 |
Year 3, Year 4 |
|
Year 2 |
|
|
|
7–8 |
Year 4, Year 5 |
Year 3 |
Year 2 |
|
|
|
8–9 |
Year 5, Year 6 |
Year 4 |
Year 3 |
Year 2 |
|
|
9–10 |
Year 6 |
Year 5 |
Year 4 |
Year 3 |
|
|
10–11 |
|
Year 6 |
Year 5 |
Year 4 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
Year 6 |
Year 5 |
|
|
11+ |
|
|
|
Year 6 |
* These age ranges are approximate and can vary based on individual student progress and school curriculum.
Why use Book Bands?
Book Bands not only facilitate literacy development but also support teachers in monitoring students' progress effectively. By offering an engaging array of books spanning different genres and topics, the progression of book band colours encourages students to engage with reading in an enjoyable and achievable way. Children have the autonomy to choose what they read, boosting engagement and ownership of their reading journey. This approach ensures they select their next read from books that match their reading ability, reducing the risk of becoming disengaged with a book that is either too easy or too difficult for them. Schools must have a good range of books to suit children’s interests at each level so that they can find books that are enjoyable and encourage reading for pleasure. Poor selections of books can limit pupil choice and discourage new and emergent readers so access to affordable banded books can help schools support pupils on their reading journey.
Buying books according to their Book Band level streamlines the purchasing process, helping teachers focus their budget on acquiring books that precisely meet the needs of their pupils’ reading levels. Current stock can be used, and gaps are easily plugged with individual colour-banded packs. Parents may also want to encourage their children to read at home and our smaller levelled packs are great for encouraging the reading habit. Buying from School Bargain Bookshop gives you savings of up to 50% off publishers RRPs, helping to stretch budgets even further! Browse all of our Book Band Collections today.
Do we need Book Bands if we already have an SSP programme?
Book Bands complement Structured Synthetic Phonics (SSP) programmes by providing a levelled system for assessing and selecting reading materials based on students' phonics knowledge and reading fluency. While SSP programmes focus on teaching students the relationship between sounds and letters to decode words, Book Bands offer a framework for applying these skills in the context of real reading experiences. Teachers can use Book Bands to ensure that students have access to a broader range of books that align with their phonics knowledge, allowing them to practice and reinforce newly acquired skills in a meaningful way. By integrating Book Bands with SSP programmes, educators can create a comprehensive approach to literacy instruction that supports students' development as confident and proficient readers and encourages pleasurable reading experiences. Book bands are also ideal for providing some structure post-phonics, so children build progressive fluency with books that are at the right level for them.
What support do Book Bands offer for readers in Key Stage 2?
While initially designed for Key Stage 1 pupils, the demand for comprehensive assessment and progression tracking has expanded Book Bands to include levels up to Year 6 (Black+). Using banded real books in KS2 not only supports teachers in tracking students’ reading levels but also optimises resource allocation and ensures books are closely aligned with students’ needs and abilities. Given a good selection of high-quality banded real books, teachers can confidently rely on this structured system for fostering engagement with reading, empowering pupils to make choices about what they want to read and helping them get the most out of reading for pleasure.
How can Book Bands help schools make the most of their budgets?
Stretching school budgets and maximising spending is becoming increasingly important in schools. That's where Book Bands come in handy. By working within a Banded reading system, schools can maximise their resources without compromising on quality. Rather than investing in costly new reading materials, educators can leverage existing stocks and supplement them with affordable options. With School Bargain Bookshop's range of banded books, from Pink band for beginner readers in Reception, right up to Black+ for super-confident Year 6 readers, schools can provide students with a diverse selection of reading materials while staying within budget constraints. Although schools may be looking for cheap book banded bundles, we offer high-quality collections that feature ‘real’ books to support Book Band reading programmes AND are discounted by up to 50% off the publishers' RRP. Browse our Banded Collections below:
Can Book Bands provide stimulating, age-appropriate reads for confident and very able readers?
Confident and very able readers require books that challenge their intellect and keep them excited about reading. Enter Black and Black+ banded levels. Designed for super-confident Year 6 readers, these levels offer a curated selection of books that push the boundaries of traditional reading materials. School Bargain Bookshop's rigorous screening process ensures age-appropriate content, so educators can confidently provide stimulating reading materials for their advanced students.
How do I source cheap book bands for school or home?
Buying books in bulk can save teachers and parents time in selecting individual titles and some suppliers offer discounts for bulk purchases. However, you will want to ensure that the books supplied are levelled by a reputable, experienced supplier and that they are of a high quality. School Bargain Bookshop offer banded collections at up to 50% off publishers’ RRP, levelled by a team with years of experience in teaching, educational book supply and levelling.
Browse our bulk buying options today!
Can Book Bands help to promote reading for pleasure?
Yes! — Book Bands aren't just about levelling books; they're about fostering a lifelong love for reading. By embracing Book Bands as a progressive reading framework, schools can provide students with a structured pathway to literacy success. From early Reception years to the upper echelons of Year 6, Book Bands offer a cohesive and comprehensive approach to reading development and fluency. With each stage carefully mapped out to cater to students' evolving abilities and interests, Book Bands empower educators to create a reading environment that is both enriching and enjoyable.
Ensure your banded library is kept well-stocked with a wide range of story and non-fiction books, covering a variety of genres and topics. Having a feast of books to choose from, at just the right level, will mean there will be something to engage and enthuse every young reader, keeping them coming back for more.
School Bargain Bookshop offers great value Book Band bundles to provide a choice of high-quality, appealing books at every book band level.
Book Band Collections
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Pink Banded PackOut of stock10 books at book band level Pink. Book bands are a structured system used in schools to categorise reading books by difficulty level so that childr...
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Pink B Banded Pack — Reading Planet GalaxyIn stock8 Reading Planet Galaxy reading books for Reception, book band level Pink B. These books are highly decodable and are aligned with the progression ...
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Pink B Fiction Banded Pack — Collins Big CatIn stockEncourage reading at home with these popular Collins Big Cat Pink B fiction books. These engaging titles are perfect for children in Year R. Book B...
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