Also available in Spanish




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GAYLIA TAYLOR was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a retired Reading Recovery® teacher who is pursuing a full-time career writing children's books. She is the author of Bebop Books' Family Picnic and The Dashiki. When she isn't writing, Gaylia loves to travel. She has one grown daughter and lives in Norfolk, Virginia, with her husband.




ALEXANDRA ARTIGAS was born in Spain but grew up mostly in Venezuela. She received her BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration from the Institute of Design of Caracas, Venezuela. Alexandra works full-time as an illustrator. She lives with her husband and their son in Costa Mesa, California. Her Web site is aleart.com.

Download the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL Guided Reading Lesson Plan by clicking here

Guided Reading Guided reading levels were assigned by certified Reading Recovery® teachers and literacy experts using the guidelines identified in Guided Reading and Matching Books to Readers by Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell (Heinemann).

Intervention Intervention levels were assigned by certified Reading Recovery® teachers and literacy experts and are intended for use in early intervention and one-on-one tutorial programs, including Reading Recovery® programs. These levels are not officially authorized by Reading Recovery®. Reading Recovery® is a registered servicemark of The Ohio State University.

DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) The DRA levels were determined using information in the Developmental Reading Assessment Resource Guide by Joetta Beaver (Celebration Press).

All level placements may vary and are subject to revision. Teachers may adjust the assigned levels in accordance with their own evaluations.