Text Complexity Differentiation Report

for Pura Belpré Awards, 1996-2019

Quantitative Measures

Below is the low, high, and average Lexile® levels for the books in this list. We hope this range shows the variety and differentiation that you want for these titles.

(82 of 109 titles have known Lexile® levels.)

Lexile® Average: 736 (Range: 360 - 1230)

Reading Level and Grade Band Crosswalk

Grade Band	Lexile^®	ATOS	Degrees of Reading Power^®	Flesch-Kincaid	Fountas & Pinnell	Reading Maturity	SourceRater
2-3	420-820	2.75-5.14	42-54	1.98-5.34	I-P	3.53-613	0.05-2.48
4-5	740-1010	4.97-7.03	52-60	4.51-7.72	O-V	5.42-7.92	0.84-5.75
6-8	925-1185	7.00-9.98	57-67	6.51-10.34	U-Z	7.04-9.57	4.11-10.66
9-10	1050-1335	9.67-12.01	62-72	8.32-12.12	Z+	8.41-10.81	9.02-13.93
11-12	1185-1385	11.20-14.10	67-74	10.34-14.20	Z+	9.57-12.00	12.30-14.50

View all grade bands

Source: National Governors Association for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers.[1]

Qualitative Measures (BETA)

This graph reveals the aggregated low, high, and average qualitative measures for the books in this list. We hope this range of information shows the variety and differentiation that you want for these titles.

(74 of 109 titles have known qualitative measurements.)

Qualitative Text Complexity Ranges

= low and high range of submitted values = average of submitted values

Slightly
Moderately
Very
Exceedingly

Meaning

Text Organization

Use of Visual Features

Conventionality

Vocabulary

Sentence Structure

Life Experience/Subject Knowledge

Cultural Knowledge/Intertextuality

Qualitative measures for each title are determined by professional educators who complete the literary or informational text complexity rubrics, and results are crowd sourced for each title. These are relatively new on TeachingBooks, so only a small percentage of all titles have currently been evaluated. Perhaps you can help?

Genre & Curricular Area Measures Summary

Below please find the most common Genres and Curricular Areas for the books in this list. We hope this information shows the variety and differentiation that you want for these titles.

(109 of 109 titles have genres or curricular ares.)

Genres

Nonfiction (39 books)
Biography (30 books)
Realistic Fiction (25 books)
Poetry (20 books)
Holiday (10 books)
Fairy Tales / Folklore (9 books)
Historical Fiction (5 books)
Adventure (3 books)
Sports (3 books)
Concept Book (3 books)
Humor (3 books)
Science Fiction / Fantasy (2 books)
Graphic Novel (1 books)

Genres Not Represented

Curricular Areas

Spanish (92 books)
English Language Arts (92 books)
Social Studies (38 books)
History (19 books)
Art (17 books)
Music (7 books)
Science (5 books)
Physical Education (5 books)
Health (5 books)
STEAM (4 books)
Math (2 books)

Curriculas Not Represented

French

Genre and Curricular Area categories are assigned by TeachingBooks based on professional reviews, authoritative sources, and company guidelines.

Instructional Materials Summary

Below please find a summary of available multimedia texts and instructional materials that enrich and deepen the discussion of the titles on this list.

169 Videos
169 Book Readings
245 Lesson Plans
Total of 1893 resources

View List

Details for Each Book

Below are the titles on . If you wish to see the curricular areas, genres, Lexile® and Qualitative measures, along with the collection of ready-to-use instructional materials, go online to TeachingBooks at: https://www.teachingbooks.net/qlnbrc7

¡Ole! Flamenco

by George Ancona

Curricular Areas: History, Physical Education
Genres: Nonfiction, Sports
Lexile: 900

Qualitative Measures:

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View all instructional resources and text complexity results for ¡Ole! Flamenco

90 Miles to Havana

by Enrique Flores-Galbis

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Social Studies
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Lexile: 790

Qualitative Measures:

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View all instructional resources and text complexity results for 90 Miles to Havana

All Around Us

by Xelena Gonzalez and Adriana M. Garcia

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Math, Spanish
Genres: Concept Book
Lexile: 680

Qualitative Measures:

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View all instructional resources and text complexity results for All Around Us

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Grades Used: 9, 10, 11, 12
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Lexile: 380

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Very Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Slightly Complex
Conventionality: Very Complex
Vocabulary: Moderately Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Life Experiences: Very Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Arrorró mi niño: Latino Lullabies and Gentle Games

by Lulu Delacre

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Music, Physical Education, Spanish
Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry
Lexile: Unknown

Qualitative Measures:

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View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Arrorró mi niño

Barrio: Jose's Neighborhood

by George Ancona

Grades Used: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Curricular Areas: Art, English Language Arts, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Nonfiction
Lexile: 920

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Moderately Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Moderately Complex
Intertextuality: Very Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Barrio

Baseball in April and Other Stories

by Gary Soto

Grades Used: 4, 5
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Physical Education, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Sports
Lexile: 830

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: N/A
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Life Experiences: Moderately Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Baseball in April and Other Stories

Becoming Naomi Leon

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Grades Used: 4, 5, 6
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Health, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Lexile: 830

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Very Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: N/A
Conventionality: Very Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Life Experiences: Very Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Very Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Becoming Naomi Leon

Before We Were Free

by Julia Alvarez

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Social Studies
Genres: Historical Fiction
Lexile: 890

Qualitative Measures:

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View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Before We Were Free

Book Fiesta!: Celebrate Children's Day/Book Day / Celebremos El Dia de Los Ninos/El Dia de Los Libros

by Pat Mora and Rafael López

Grades Used: pk, k, 1, 2
Curricular Areas: Spanish
Genres: Holiday
Lexile: 490

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Slightly Complex
Text Organization: Slightly Complex
Use of Visual Features: Moderately Complex
Conventionality: Slightly Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Life Experiences: Moderately Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Book Fiesta!

The Bossy Gallito: A Traditional Cuban Folktale / El gallo de bodas

by Lucia M. Gonzalez and Lulu Delacre

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish
Genres: Fairy Tales / Folklore
Lexile: 590

Qualitative Measures:

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View all instructional resources and text complexity results for The Bossy Gallito

Breaking Through

by Francisco Jiménez

Grades Used: 8, 9
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction
Lexile: 750

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: N/A
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Moderately Complex
Intertextuality: Very Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Breaking Through

The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred

by Samantha Vamos and Rafael López

Grades Used: k, 1, 2, 3, 4
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Science, Spanish
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Lexile: Unknown

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Slightly Complex
Text Organization: Slightly Complex
Use of Visual Features: Moderately Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Life Experiences: Very Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Very Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred

Cesar: Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can!

by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand and David Diaz

Grades Used: 5
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, History, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Biography, Poetry
Lexile: Unknown

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Slightly Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Slightly Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Slightly Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Moderately Complex
Intertextuality: Slightly Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Cesar

Chato and the Party Animals

by Gary Soto and Susan Guevara

Grades Used: 5
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish
Genres: Holiday
Lexile: 620

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Slightly Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Life Experiences: Very Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Very Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Chato and the Party Animals

Chato's Kitchen

by Gary Soto and Susan Guevara

Grades Used: pk, k, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish
Genres: Humor
Lexile: 740

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Moderately Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Moderately Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Life Experiences: Moderately Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Chato's Kitchen

Cuba 15

by Nancy Osa

Grades Used: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Lexile: 750

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Very Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: N/A
Conventionality: Very Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Very Complex
Life Experiences: Very Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Very Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Cuba 15

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin

by Duncan Tonatiuh

Grades Used: pk, k, 1, 2, 3
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Lexile: 610

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Moderately Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Moderately Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Life Experiences: Moderately Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Dear Primo

Diego Rivera: His World and Ours

by Duncan Tonatiuh

Grades Used: 1, 2, 3, 4
Curricular Areas: Art, English Language Arts, Spanish, STEAM
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction
Lexile: 1040

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Slightly Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Slightly Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Moderately Complex
Intertextuality: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Diego Rivera

Diego: Bigger Than Life

by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand and David Diaz

Grades Used: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Curricular Areas: Art, History, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Poetry
Lexile: 760

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Very Complex
Text Organization: Exceedingly Complex
Use of Visual Features: Very Complex
Conventionality: Exceedingly Complex
Vocabulary: Exceedingly Complex
Sentence Structure: Very Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Exceedingly Complex
Intertextuality: Exceedingly Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Diego

Doña Flor: A Tall Tale about a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart

by Pat Mora and Raúl Colón

Grades Used: 3, 4
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Biography, Fairy Tales / Folklore, Poetry
Lexile: 650

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Very Complex
Use of Visual Features: Moderately Complex
Conventionality: Very Complex
Vocabulary: Moderately Complex
Sentence Structure: Very Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Very Complex
Intertextuality: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Doña Flor

The Dreamer

by Pam Muñoz Ryan and Peter Sís

Grades Used: 4, 5, 6
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, History, Social Studies
Genres: Biography
Lexile: 650

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Slightly Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Moderately Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Very Complex
Intertextuality: Very Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for The Dreamer

Dreamers

by Yuyi Morales

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Social Studies
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction
Lexile: 480

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Slightly Complex
Text Organization: Slightly Complex
Use of Visual Features: N/A
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Moderately Complex
Sentence Structure: Slightly Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Moderately Complex
Intertextuality: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Dreamers

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music

by Margarita Engle and Rafael López

Grades Used: pk, k, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Curricular Areas: Music, Social Studies
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Poetry
Lexile: Unknown

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Slightly Complex
Text Organization: Slightly Complex
Use of Visual Features: Moderately Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Moderately Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Moderately Complex
Intertextuality: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Drum Dream Girl

El único destino

by Alexandra Diaz

Curricular Areas: Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Lexile: Unknown

Qualitative Measures:

Submit your own

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for El único destino

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir

by Margarita Engle

Grades Used: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Poetry
Lexile: 1120

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Very Complex
Text Organization: Very Complex
Use of Visual Features: Slightly Complex
Conventionality: Exceedingly Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Very Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Exceedingly Complex
Intertextuality: Exceedingly Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Enchanted Air

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

by Pablo Cartaya

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Lexile: 750

Qualitative Measures:

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Esperanza Rising

by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Grades Used: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Lexile: 750

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Slightly Complex
Conventionality: Moderately Complex
Vocabulary: Moderately Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Life Experiences: Very Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Very Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Esperanza Rising

Esquivel!: Space-Age Sound Artist

by Susan Wood and Duncan Tonatiuh

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Music, Spanish
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction
Lexile: 910

Qualitative Measures:

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Family Pictures / Cuadros de familia

by Carmen Lomas Garza

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish
Genres: Nonfiction
Lexile: 660

Qualitative Measures:

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Federico García Lorca

by Georgina Lázaro and Enrique S. Moreiro

Curricular Areas: History, Spanish
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction
Lexile: Unknown

Qualitative Measures:

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View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Federico García Lorca

Fiesta Babies

by Carmen Tafolla and Amy Cordova

Curricular Areas: Spanish
Genres: Holiday
Lexile: 470

Qualitative Measures:

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The Firefly Letters: A Suffragette's Journey to Cuba

by Margarita Engle

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, History, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Poetry
Lexile: 1230

Qualitative Measures:

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View all instructional resources and text complexity results for The Firefly Letters

First Day in Grapes

by L. King Perez and Robert Casilla

Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Health, Spanish
Lexile: 570

Qualitative Measures:

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The First Rule of Punk

by Celia C. Perez

Grades Used: 2, 3, 4, 5
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Music, Spanish
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Lexile: 670

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Slightly Complex
Use of Visual Features: N/A
Conventionality: Slightly Complex
Vocabulary: Slightly Complex
Sentence Structure: Slightly Complex
Life Experiences: Moderately Complex
Cultural Knowledge: Moderately Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for The First Rule of Punk

Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos

by Monica Brown and John Parra

Curricular Areas: Art, History, Spanish, STEAM
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction
Lexile: 780

Qualitative Measures:

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Frida: Viva La Vida! Long Live Life!

by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand

Curricular Areas: Art, English Language Arts, Spanish, STEAM
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Poetry
Lexile: 750

Qualitative Measures:

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View all instructional resources and text complexity results for Frida

From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems / Del ombligo de la luna y otras poemas de verano

by Francisco X. Alarcon and Maya Christina Gonzalez

Grades Used: 3
Curricular Areas: English Language Arts, Spanish
Genres: Nonfiction, Poetry
Lexile: Unknown

Qualitative Measures:

Meaning: Moderately Complex
Text Organization: Moderately Complex
Use of Visual Features: Very Complex
Conventionality: Very Complex
Vocabulary: Very Complex
Sentence Structure: Moderately Complex
Subject Matter Knowledge: Moderately Complex
Intertextuality: Very Complex

View all instructional resources and text complexity results for From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems / Del ombligo de la luna y otras poemas de verano

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras

by Duncan Tonatiuh

Grades Used: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Curricular Areas: Art, English Language Arts, History, Spanish, Social Studies
Genres: Biography, Holiday, Nonfiction
Lexile: Unknown