Start with the age or grade guidance
The age or grade shown on a book page comes from the list that included it. Use it as a starting point, not a promise that every child in the group will be ready for the book.
Your child may read it alone, prefer to listen, or enjoy taking turns. Interest in the subject matters too. A child who loves space, animals, or mysteries may stay with a challenging book longer than a book that looks easier on paper.
Read the opening pages
Read the description, then try the opening pages. Notice the sentence length, the amount of unfamiliar vocabulary, and whether the story makes sense to your child. No single detail can tell you how the reading experience will feel.
Illustrations, a graphic format, verse, and nonfiction page design can change the way a child moves through a book. Page count and word count add context, but they do not tell you how much support a reader will need.
Let the choice change
Read the opening pages together. Notice whether your child follows the story, reads comfortably, and wants to continue. It does not need to feel like a test.
You can start by reading aloud, take turns later, and let your child read alone when it feels comfortable. A book that needs support today may become an independent read after more experience with the subject or format.