Accelerated Reader Books, or as parents and students are most familiar to hearing “AR Books,” is a popular reading program used in elementary and middle schools. AR helps teachers track a students’ independent progress with reading and comprehension. Teachers also use it to help guide reluctant readers to books they can read successfully.

The idea behind AR is that children enjoy reading more when they can select their own books. When a child finishes their book, the teacher may have the child take an online “reading practice” quiz, which you may hear referred to as “AR Quizzes.” Teachers use these tests to track each student’s progress, and set appropriate reading goals for each.

WORK WITH YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BIENVILLE PARISH LIBRARY TO HELP STUDENTS SUCCEED!
Teachers and parents can work with their neighborhood Bienville Parish Library to help track progress and set goals within the AR program. In fact, every branch of the Bienville Parish Library has made it very easy to identify AR books.

On every book in the Beginning Readers, Juvenile Fiction, Non-Fiction and Young Adult sections of the library, you’ll see a lot of books with red dots on their spines (See #1). That indicates this is an AR book and inside the on the front page you’ll find the reading level and AR points for that book (See #2).

Whatever your child’s reading level and whatever your child’s interest, your Bienville Parish Library will have something to spark their imagination and grab their interest level! Here are just a few titles that are on the AR list of books and available at your neighborhood Bienville Parish Library:

• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo – BL: 3.9 – AR Pts: 3.0
• Dogman Series by Dav Pilkey – BL: 2.6 – AR Pts: 1.0
• The Sandman and the War of Dreams, by William Joyce – BL: 5.8 – AR Pts: 4.0
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, by Jeff Kinney – BL: 5.5 – AR Pts: 3.0
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis – BL: 5.7 – AR Pts: 6.0
• Goosebumps Series by R. L. Stine – BL: 2.9 – AR Pts: 3.0

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT!

If you’re curious to know about the books in the library that do not have a red dot, you can still discover the reading level and AR points. You can download the free app to your smartphone using keywords “AR book finder”. Most of the apps are free and are simple to use. Once you’ve downloaded the app to your smartphone, you can flip the book to the back, (See #3) and locate the International Standard Book Number or ISBN barcode. Every book, whether it’s hardcover, paperback, trade, or even an Ebook, has an ISBN barcode. It is how book publishing companies keep track of all the books they produce and sell around the world!

Once you’ve downloaded the AR book finder app, just scan the barcode on the back of the book jacket (ISBN Barcode or type in the ISBN number manually) and it will give you the AR points and book level!

WHAT IF THERE IS NO BARCODE!

Older books printed prior to 1984 and are still in circulation, might not have an ISBN number printed on the book jacket, however you can use the BPL online catalog when you visit your neighborhood library or if you go online, bienvillelibrary.org. You’ll find the ISBN number in the book description and information record. Using your app, manually type in the 10-digit or 13-digit ISBN barcode number to find out if the book is on the AR approved list and has an accompanying AR quiz.

NO WORRIES! ASK YOUR LIBRARIAN AND LOOK FOR THE RED DOTS !

There are a gazillion (maybe not that many!) but a lot — of AR Books that your neighborhood Bienville Parish Librarians have already identified for you with little red dots on the spines. More AR books are added each month to read. When finished, take the AR Quiz, and score tons of AR points! And be sure to ask your favorite librarian to help you find the books that are your favorites! Because, there’s always something great to read at the library! – Come see us soon!

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