ESL Literacy Readers

Forty theme-based readers for adult ESL literacy learners

Welcome to the ESL LIteracy Readers. Our collection of forty theme-based readers, along with an instructors guide, will support ESL literacy instructors to create comprehensive, theme-based lessons for adult ESL literacy learners.

The themes were carefully chosen and are both of high interest to learners, and more importantly, relevant to their lives. Every effort was made to ensure the stories would authentically represent learners themselves as well as events and issues that a typical learner may experience.

This project was funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

  • The ESL Literacy Readers are wonderful! How great it is to have such carefully crafted and beautifully produced resources for literacy learners.
    ELL instructor
  • We have used the ESL Literacy Readers in class many times, and the learners really like them. They enjoy the photographs.The instructor guide has been a real help to lesson planning.
    ELL instructor
    Instructor

Instructor Information

Levels A - G

The ESL Literacy Readers are organized into seven levels, suitable for learners at different stages of literacy development. The text, structure, and vocabulary increase in difficulty. At the lower levels, the learner is supported with large photographs and simple sentences. Higher level stories are written in paragraphs with more complex language and ideas.

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Levels A - G

The ESL Literacy Readers are organized into seven levels, suitable for learners at different stages of literacy development. The text, structure, and vocabulary increase in difficulty. At the lower levels, the learner is supported with large photographs and simple sentences. Higher level stories are written in paragraphs with more complex language and ideas.

View PDF

Instructor Guide

The ESL Literacy Readers Guide supports the use of the Readers in the classroom. Included in this guide are pre-reading and extension ideas to enable you to create comprehensive, theme-based lessons for adult ESL literacy learners. The guide also contains a list of best practices for creating ESL literacy stories.

View PDF

Instructor Guide

The ESL Literacy Readers Guide supports the use of the Readers in the classroom. Included in this guide are pre-reading and extension ideas to enable you to create comprehensive, theme-based lessons for adult ESL literacy learners. The guide also contains a list of best practices for creating ESL literacy stories.

View PDF

Learner Audio Books

Visit the ESL Literacy Readers Learner Page to access the Readers with your learners. The simple and uncluttered webpage is designed especially for learners. The Readers are available in a digital book format and all contain audio files.

View Learner Page

Learner Audio Books

Visit the ESL Literacy Readers Learner Page to access the Readers with your learners. The simple and uncluttered webpage is designed especially for learners. The Readers are available in a digital book format and all contain audio files.

View Learner Page

Level A

There are two versions of each of the Readers. The Audio Book allows you to preview the contents of the book. The Print PDF has the book laid out for printing as a booklet. The print settings are listed beside each book. Information on the complexity of the text, structure, and vocabulary for this level of Readers is listed below.

 

Text

  • book with photographs
  • one sentence per page
  • large, print-like font

Structure

  • same or repetitive sentence stems
  • three to four words per sentence
  • simple sentences in the present simple

Vocabulary

  • highly familiar
  • concrete vocabulary
  • no adjectives and times phrases
 

Lien Buys Food

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Inge Cuts Hair

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Mo Stays Warm

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Deng Starts School

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Food From Home

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Level B

There are two versions of each of the Readers. The Audio Book allows you to preview the contents of the book. The Print PDF has the book laid out for printing as a booklet. The print settings are listed beside each book. Information on the complexity of the text, structure, and vocabulary for this level of Readers is listed below.

 

Text

  • book with photographs
  • one sentence per page
  • large, print-like font

Structure

  • varied sentence stems
  • five to six words per sentence
  • simple sentences in the present simple

Vocabulary

  • highly familiar and concrete vocabulary
  • few adjectives and time phrases
 

Mursal on the Bus

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Visiting Friends

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

A Part-Time Job

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Amir Gets Sick

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Andres Needs Gas

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Perminder's Cleaning Day

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Level C

There are two versions of each of the Readers. The Audio Book allows you to preview the contents of the book. The Print PDF has the book laid out for printing as a booklet. The print settings are listed beside each book. Information on the complexity of the text, structure, and vocabulary for this level of Readers is listed below.

 

Text

  • book with photographs and one sentence per page
  • large, print-like font

Structure

  • varied sentence stems
  • five to six words per sentence
  • simple sentences in present simple and continuous

Vocabulary

  • familiar and conrete vocabulary
  • some adjectives and time phrases
 

Mark Goes to the Dentist

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

A Proud Canadian

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: legal sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

A Cold Winter Day

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Lien Goes Shopping

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Sado Goes to School

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

A Problem at Work

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Level D

There are two versions of each of the Readers. The Audio Book allows you to preview the contents of the book. The Print PDF has the book laid out for printing as a booklet. The print settings are listed beside each book. Information on the complexity of the text, structure, and vocabulary for this level of Readers is listed below.

 

Text

  • book with photographs and one to two sentences per page
  • large, print-like font

Structure

  • some compound sentences with because, and, or but, in the present simple and continuous

Vocabulary

  • mostly concrete vocabulary with some thematic words
  • adjectives and time phrases
 

Jiadeep's Big Fall

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Andres' Speeding Ticket

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Maria Gets Sick

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Spending Too Much Money

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Pooja Finds a Job

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Mursal's Trip to School

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, landscape, double sided, flip on the short side

Level E

There are two versions of each of the Readers. The Audio Book allows you to preview the contents of the book. The Print PDF has the book laid out for printing as a booklet. The print settings are listed beside each book. Information on the complexity of the text, structure, and vocabulary for this level of Readers is listed below.

 

Text

  • one page story with one photograph and two paragraphs
  • medium, print-like font

Structure

  • compound sentences in present and future simple and continuous

Vocabulary

  • mostly concrete vocabulary with some thematic and abstract words
 

Perminder Looks for a Home

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

Ali Chooses a Leader

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

Natasha's Trip to Canada

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

A Relaxing Weekend

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

A Terrible Toothache

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

Level F

There are two versions of each of the Readers. The Audio Book allows you to preview the contents of the book. The Print PDF has the book laid out for printing as a booklet. The print settings are listed beside each book. Information on the complexity of the text, structure, and vocabulary for this level of Readers is listed below.

 

Text

  • one page story with one photograph and three paragraphs
  • authentic font

Structure

  • compound sentences and dialogues in simple, continuous, and perfect tenses

Vocabulary

  • some concrete vocabulary and some themactic and abstract words
 

Duang's Big Scare

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

Marie's Path to a New Job

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

A Woman's Rights at Work

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

Prepared for Winter

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

Level G

There are two versions of each of the Readers. The Audio Book allows you to preview the contents of the book. The Print PDF has the book laid out for printing as a booklet. The print settings are listed beside each book. Information on the complexity of the text, structure, and vocabulary for this level of Readers is listed below.

 

Text

  • two page story with one photograph and four to five paragraphs
  • authentic font

Structure

  • complex compound sentences and dialogue in simple, continuous, and perfect tenses

Vocabulary

  • many thematic and abstract words
 

Pooja's New Beginning

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

An Expensive Lesson

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

Bola Gets Sick

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

Mursal Plans Ahead

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

A Home of Their Own

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

A Trip to the Dentist

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided

Fun on the Weekend

Audio Book

Print PDF

Print settings: letter sized paper, portrait, double sided