Reading levels refer to the complexity of texts and the skills required to understand them. They are often categorized into different stages, such as beginner, intermediate, and advanced. These levels help educators and parents select appropriate books and materials that match a reader's abilities, ensuring that the content is neither too easy nor too difficult. Various systems exist to measure reading levels, including the Flesch-Kincaid readability tests and the Lexile framework. These tools assess factors like sentence length and word difficulty to assign a level to a text. Understanding reading levels can enhance literacy development and foster a love for reading.