Frequently Asked Questions

Step 1: Sign-up for a membership plan which best suits your child’s needs

Step 2: Your child takes an online computer adaptive assessment

Step 3: Based on the assessment, a diagnostic report is generated highlighting your child’s Independent Reading Level score

Step 4: Based on your child’s Independent Reading Level score, we create a personalised list of books that are best suited for your child

Step 5: Using the app, choose from the personalised list of fiction and nonfiction books handpicked for your child

Step 6: The selected books are delivered to your doorstep

Step 7: Once your child finishes reading a book, he/she completes the online quiz (multiple choice questions) and the feedback form

Step 8: BookGuru picks up the old books from your doorstep and delivers new books based on your membership plan

Step 9: We carefully monitor your child’s reading progress and move your child to the next Reading Level when ready

Step 10: BookGuru’s fun Rewards Program and exclusive book club keeps children motivated to read regularly and with comprehension

For more information please refer to the ‘How We Work!’ web page of this website.

BookGuru caters to children from Nursery to Grade 6.

We have a number of membership plans to suit the needs of individual readers. Each membership plan differs in the number of books and the length of the membership. For more information on the different member plans offered, please refer to the ‘Membership Plans’ web page of this website.

We are a mix between a well curated library and a levelled reading program. Each book in our library is given a Reading Level, which is matched to the Independent Reading Level of the child. The Independent Reading Level of the child is assessed through a computer adaptive assessment which is conducted at the time of enrolment. Therefore, each child gets books which are ‘Just Right’ every time, i.e. books at the right difficulty and interest level. ‘Just Right’ books motivate and engage children for a deeper reading experience, fuelling a lifelong love for reading. 

Additionally, to ensure that the child has understood the books he/she has read, there is a short multiple choice online quiz for each and every book provided by BookGuru. 

There is a set schedule for delivery/pick-up of books which makes sure that the child always has fresh and engaging reading material. 

BookGuru adopts methods of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Children are acknowledged and rewarded when they achieve certain reading milestones.

There are multiple factors which differentiate BookGuru from a levelled reading program. Unlike a levelled reading program, where the books are written specifically for the program and with particular Reading Levels in mind, we pick books written by authors all around the world and then level the books. Therefore the books read by our readers are rich in both writing style and content. 

Readers are encouraged to try out the vast variety of both fiction (all 16 genres) and non-fiction books which are available in our library.

Unlike many levelled reading programs, our company ethos is to provide physical copies of the books (to minimize screen time), which are delivered to your doorstep.

We adopt both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation tools to further enhance the joy for reading in our readers.

You can enrol your child into BookGuru’s personalised library at any time. We have a number of membership plans to suit the needs of individual readers. Each membership plan differs in the number of books and the length of the membership. For more information on the different member plans offered, please refer to the ‘Membership Plans’ web page of this website.

www.BookGuruOnline.com.

We have thousands upon thousands (and we are adding every day) of handpicked, highly rated books in our database. What is just as important as having a large inventory of books, is that each book in our database has a corresponding quiz (multiple choice questions), completion of which tells us how well our readers have understood the book (i.e. their comprehension levels).

Our books span across all genres of fiction (including: poetry, realistic fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, comedy, mystery, romance, folktale/myth/legend, tragedy, graphic novel, adventure and drama) and non-fiction (including: biography and autobiography).

Books are handpicked, and only those books which are rated 3.5 (out of 5) or higher in international ratings (reviews) make their way onto BookGuru’s shelves and into our reader’s hands.

In today’s day and age children are exposed to digital screens in various facets of their lives. We do not want to add one more ‘screen-time’ element to their day. Based on global research, positive feedback, survey results and our own company ethos; we plan on continuing to provide physical books only.

Children’s ‘Reading Levels’ also known as ‘Independent Reading Levels’ vary based on each child’s  reading practices, habits and exposure (i.e. reading abilities). Reading Level is the level at which a child can read independently. Our journey with our reader start at the Independent Reading Level (RL) he/she is at currently.

RLs range from 0.1 to 12.9 (in increments of 0.1).

International standard benchmarking state that, for examples:

A child in his/her 4th month of 3rd grade should be at a RL 3.4

A child in the 7th months of 2nd grade should be at a RL 2.7

A child in the 8th month of 5th grade should be reading at a RL 5.8

Note, any two children in the same grade at school can have very different RLs due to their reading abilities. Irrespective of the starting RL of a child, our aim is to improve each child’s RL seamlessly, whilst focusing on developing an intrinsic interest for reading.

Upon joining BookGuru, your child will be required to go through a short online computer adaptive assessment (taking 20-30 minutes). Based on his/her performance, a Diagnostic Report will be share with you (within 24-48 working hours) highlighting your child’s Independent Reading Level and other assessment results. The assessment is internationally accredited.

The computer adaptive assessment which is conducted to determine the child’s Independent Reading Level evaluates various parameters including:

– Phonemic awareness (for younger grades)

– Graded vocabulary

– Number of monosyllabic, disyllabic, tri-syllabic and polysyllabic words understood

– Comprehension of text levelled by complexity

– Literal, implied and applied comprehension

– Fluency

– Inference

We need to know the child’s Independent Reading Level so that we can provide the right levelled books to our reader (i.e. ‘Just Right’ books for the child’s current Reading Level). Without this knowledge, the books provided may be too easy or too challenging.

Yes. A Diagnostic Report will be shared with you (within 24-48 working hours of your child completing the computer adaptive assessment) highlighting your child’s Independent Reading Level and other assessment results.

We strongly recommend not sharing Reading Levels with children as our focus with our readers is to inculcate or enhance the love of reading. We provide our readers with appropriate levelled text and encourage them to read with maximum comprehension.

Reading Level enhancements are monitored closely by the BookGuru team in the background in order to ensure improvement in reading capabilities. This information is shared with parents/guardians.

Using a three pronged approach, we target all three aspects of reading: fluency, vocabulary and comprehension:

i. By providing ‘Just Right’ books, the child is able to read the books without finding them too difficult or too easy. This is turn motivates the child to read more, which increases fluency levels.
ii. Books at the child’s Independent Reading Level have 3-5% of new words. Therefore, the reader is able to understand the new words through context. Hence, vocabulary improves.
iii. Every book provided by BookGuru has an online quiz (multiple choice questions) associated with it which allows us to monitor comprehension levels.

These are books at the child’s Independent Reading Level; neither too difficult nor too easy. They are ‘Just Right’. Books which are too difficult for a child result in frustration and those which are too easy are not challenging enough. Therefore, ‘Just Right’ books have the correct mix of new vocabulary and concepts for that particular Reading Level, keeping the reader engaged.

There are multiple parameters which are considered when determining the Reading Level of a book. Book assessment criteria include:

– Number of words in a book

– Number of words in a sentence

– Number of monosyllabic, disyllabic, tri-syllabic and polysyllabic words

– Graded vocabulary

– Sentence composition and complexity

– Use of punctuation

– Maturity level of subject/content

– Text/Illustrations ratio

After reading each book, our reader is expected to complete the online quiz for the book (multiple choice questions, taking 5-15 minutes to complete) which allows us to monitor comprehension levels.

The target is to achieve at least 80% comprehension level. High averages are associated with the greatest reading gain.

Login credentials for the quizzes are provided upon enrolment.

Once our reader completes a minimum of 5 books in a particular Reading Level with an average of 80% comprehension (minimum), he/she is promoted to the next Reading Level seamlessly.

Parents can refer to the ‘Reading History’ page of the app, where the following information will be available for each book read:
i. Title and author of book
ii. Genre/Topics covered
iii. Quiz scores
iv. Book rating given by the reader

Overall Reading Level performance can be accessed on the Progress Tracker page of the app.

We strongly recommend not sharing Reading Levels with our readers as it takes away from our focus with them; which is to fuel a lifelong love of reading.

Book exchange is the process of returning the old book(s), and receiving the new book(s).

Book exchange day is the day on which the old book(s) is picked-up and the new book(s) is delivered.

Book exchange cycle is the duration of time our reader can keep the book(s). The exchange cycle varies depending on the membership plan, e.g. 2 weeks or 4 weeks.

The BookGuru logistics team delivers and picks-up the books.

For readers who have not enrolled through school, books are delivered/picked-up between 9am-9pm on a pre-scheduled book exchange day. The book exchange takes place at your doorstep. Note, there are no off-cycle deliveries/pick-ups.

For readers who are enrolled through school, books are delivered/picked-up at a specific time (during school hours) on a pre-scheduled book exchange day. The book exchange takes place in school. Note, there are no off-cycle deliveries/pick-ups.

The number of books delivered, frequency and dates of book delivery/pick-up are all based on the membership plan selected.

We have a number of membership plans to suit the needs of individual readers. Each membership plan differs in the number of books and the length of the membership. For more information on the different member plans offered, please refer to the ‘Membership Plans’ web page of this website.

Once enrolled, the details of book delivery/pickup dates will be clearly communicated to you, and can also be accessed via the app.

Yes, books are delivered/picked-up at your doorstep.

However, for schools, the delivery/pick-up of books takes place at the school premises.

All information related to book exchange cycles (i.e. deliveries/pick-ups) is clearly communicated upon enrolment. This information is also accessible via the app.

If on books exchange day, at any time between 9am-9pm no one is available at the location of exchange, you have the following options:

1. Leave the book(s) due for exchange safely in a box outside your door. We will pick-up the old book(s) and leave the new book(s) in the same location
2. Leave the book(s) at your apartment/villa security and let us know accordingly. We will conduct the exchange
3. Leave the book(s) with a neighbour and let us know accordingly. We will conduct the exchange

For those children who are a part of BookGuru from school, we deliver/pick-up books from the school premises.

For children who have enrolled independently (i.e. not through school) deliveries/pick-ups take place at the reader’s doorstep.

There are no off-cycle deliveries/pick-ups, therefore the book exchange will take place on the next exchange cycle.

No, we do not typically allow this. However, if there are strenuous circumstances please email us at info@bookguruonline.com or call/WhatsApp us at +91 9008431843 so that we can discuss further.

For those readers who have enrolled through school, an address change is not possible.

For students who have enrolled directly with BookGuru, we can change the address once (if the change of address is within the same city).

We offer various membership plans based on the child’s reading needs/capacity. Therefore, if a child can read more than one book per week, membership plans are available to cater accordingly.

Book delivery/pick-up dates and time is as per schedule and communicated to you upon enrolment, and can be accessed on the app. There are no off-cycle deliveries/pick-ups, therefore the book exchange will take place on the next exchange cycle.

If you are not able to finish reading a book by the scheduled pick-up date, and would like to finish it, you can re-issue the book to yourself through the app and keep it for an additional cycle. The frequency of exchange cycles vary depending on the membership plan selected. Your exchange cycle details will be communicated to you upon enrolment, and can be accessed on the app.

Note, books kept for additional cycles are recounted towards the total number of books allocated per your membership plan.

Yes, the book you have finished can be marked as ‘return’ in the app, and the one you have not finished reading (and would like to finish) can be marked as ‘reissue’ in the app. The book marked for return will be picked-up/exchanged on the book exchange day/date, and the book marked for ‘reissue’ will be set for return/exchange the following exchange cycle. Note, books kept for additional cycles are recounted towards the total number of books allocated per your membership plan.

Yes, the book can be returned at the next exchange cycle. Note, books will be counted towards the total number of books allocated per your membership plan.

Our aim is to expose our reader to various different forms of writing and topics. Therefore, there may be times when our reader doesn’t enjoy the text provided as he/she may not have been exposed to a particular form of writing/topic previously. However, our guideline is for our reader to complete at least 30% of the book before making a decision on whether he/she likes or dislikes a book. Once our reader has read 30% of the book, and still doesn’t like the text, then we will exchange the book in the next exchange cycle and our reader doesn’t need to attempt the online quiz (kindly note this in the feedback form).

We adopt methods of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to engage our readers.

Intrinsic motivation is enhanced when a child is provided ‘Just Right’ books, which are neither too easy nor too difficult (i.e. at their Independent Reading Level). The books provided are highly rated on international review boards, which also has a positive correlation to reading motivation.

BookGuru’s Rewards Program which works as an extrinsic motivator. It lets our readers know that their accomplishments do not go unnoticed; for every 5 books read at level with 80% comprehension or more our reader’s receive awards and certificates.

At this time BookGuru offers books only in English.

Developing reading as a habit, and then as pleasure, is best done at a younger age through exposure to diverse and engaging reading material, and by providing ‘Just Right’ books at the child’s Independent Reading Level.

Our studies have found that by the end of grade 6, if a child has not already formed the habit/love of reading, then developing that habit is very challenging. This is because by grade 7 the time commitment for both academic and other activities increases exponentially, leaving little time or will to read. Should a child beyond grade 6 already enjoy reading and read regularly, then he/she can pick-up any appropriate books he/she desires (our guidance is not needed).

Should you want to ‘try us out’ we do offer a ‘Taster’ membership plan. However, once you have committed to a membership plan by making full payment, we do not offer any refunds.

We have a number of membership plans to suit the needs of individual readers. Each membership plan differs in the number of books and the length of the membership. For more information on the different member plans offered, please refer to the ‘Membership Plans’ web page of this website.

As our personalised library is very child-centric and moulds to the needs to each reader, we cannot offer any sibling discounts.

As our personalised library is very child-centric and moulds to the needs to each reader, we cannot offer any group discounts.

BookGuru has key intrinsic and extrinsic motivational features which will attract children once they start reading. The books provided are at the child’s Independent Reading Level which means the child will not find the book ‘too easy’ (i.e. fear of getting bored) or ‘too hard’ (i.e. fear of frustration). The books provided in the BookGuru library have all been rated a minimum of 3.5 out of 5, so the likelihood of the child enjoying the material is very high. Additionally, based on the child’s Independent Reading Level, the child will be able to select his/her own books from the app (as per the genre of his/her choice). At an extrinsic level, each child is recognized for his/her efforts once certain milestones are achieved.

However, if your child still refuses to read then there are a few parent interventions and ‘Reading Partner’ sessions which can help. We would be happy to guide you to through those.