That sounds really frustrating. DD had to do a book report on
Chester the Worldly Pig (a Bill Peet picture book.) I asked her why she doesn't do one on
Little Women (which she is currently reading) and she said they were only allowed to choose books with full color illustrations ???

Whatever.
With reading I just have the kids rocket through the school reading and then they read to me at their challenge levels for 15 minutes. Also, I read to them from literature above their challenge levels at bedtime.