by the end of K, DD(now 8) teacher was getting books from 2nd grade for her in class...I honestly would be mad if my child was not allowed to check out ANY book they want from the library and I DO think the teacher should get the right level books for him when it's independent reading (that's what the bin is for, right?)
In DD's classroom, the bins have a range of books, all FAR below her level, but she enjoys them and reads much heavier stuff at home. They also do guided reading in class...the 3rd grade is reading The Boxcar Children...again WAY below her level, but she hasn't complained...
BTW-I don't think the K teacher EXPECTS him to talk character and development...even at 3rd grade, they haven't gotten to that. I always loved reading, but it was not interesting at school until HIGH SCHOOL for me and even then, I had read at least half the assigned books before freshman year!
