The nature of our high-low books means that they are ideal for supporting the teaching of English as a second language (ESL). Below you can find out more about our range of resources that will help you engage – and empower – ESL learners of all ages.
There are many benefits to ESL learners reading a real book in English.
For one, it allows them to get hands-on with the English language and apply the skills they’ve developed outside of a textbook. Reading real books also develops reading fluency and provides great opportunities to learn vocabulary and grammar in context.
But the English reading age of most ESL learners is lower than their actual age. Books at the right level for them are intended for a younger audience and likely to leave them disengaged, while the books that are designed for their age group are too difficult and likely to leave them demoralised.
That’s where we come in.
We are the leading publisher of high interest, low ability books – books that can be simultaneously level-appropriate and age-appropriate. With our high-low titles, ESL learners of all ages can enjoy the empowering moment of finishing a book in English (and all the benefits that come with reading it) again and again.
Our books are informed by 20 years of experience in high-low publishing. From pitching language at just the right level to careful design, you can be confident our titles are expertly tailored to the needs of those learning to read English.
We strive to have something for everyone. Our extensive list of titles covers a variety of ‘interest age’ and ‘reading age’ combinations – as well as a variety of interests, topics and tastes.
Thanks to our wide range (and the structured nature of many of our series), leaners of ESL can progress onto new books with gradually more complex texts as their language skills improve – a highly motivating experience.
We work with the best high-low authors around. They never let the limitations of simple, low-level language get in the way of a book being a rewarding read that has readers enjoying (and motivated to continue with) their ESL sessions.
A number of our series offer titles which are ideal for ESL learners.
The following is a breakdown of some of our favourites, as well as links to browse other suitable titles from our renowned list of high-low books.
A structured phonics programme that is centred around the international topic of football. This series is hugely successful at engaging ESL learners who are getting to grips with the basics of English.
A series of dramatic first-person accounts of adrenaline-fuelled sports, stunts and missions. The low-level text is accompanied by jaw dropping photographs on every page, providing plenty of scope for discussion.
A collection of short, illustrated chapter books about a group of friends who call themselves ‘The Sisters’. This series is for slightly more advanced learners with an English reading age of 7-8 years and has relatable content for readers from every background.
A structured programme of phonics and book-banded readers (including both fiction and non-fiction titles) that has been carefully designed to develop literacy skills in teens and adults who are learning to read English.
A structured programme of phonics and book-banded readers (including both fiction and non-fiction titles) that has been carefully designed to develop literacy skills in teens and adults who are learning to read English.
A great choice for slightly more advanced students with an English reading age of 8-9, this series of quick, stand-alone reads covers a range of older topics and themes. At around 3000 words each, they are a great length for building reading stamina in English.
No, we do not have any books that offer text in two different languages side-by-side. We do, however, offer titles from PIG (one of our bestselling series) in Polish or Lithuanian.
These books can be used alongside the English versions for a dual language reading experience – or they can simply offer Polish and Lithuanian students the chance to ‘meet PIG’ and read for pleasure in their native language.
Though we strive to keep all our titles culturally sensitive, a small number may not be appropriate in some cultural contexts
(To give an example, our Thunderbolts series features a book on ghosts and ghouls, which may be considered an inappropriate topic in some cultures.)
If you have any concerns about the books you would be receiving when buying one of our packs, please don’t hesitate to get in contact. We have lots of experience in selling books around the world and are more than happy to talk you through the contents of a pack and/or adjust the contents of a packs to ensure it fits your needs.
