- Look at the cover and read the summary at the back of the book. See if it is something that would interest you.
- Flip through a few pages and do the "five finger test." If there are 5 or more words/phrases that are difficult to understand, then the book is too challenging. If there are no words or phrases that seem difficult, then the book might be too easy. You want to look for a book somewhere in the middle.
- Read a page out loud. If you can read through it and understand it without struggling then it is likely a good book for you. Sometimes we miss things when we are reading in our head, that we wouldn't miss when we read out loud.
- Consider the genre and/or subject matter. Is it a topic or style that you are interested in?
What is your method for choosing a "just right book?" Or do you do a combination of the steps above?