Also available in Spanish




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SALLY DERBY was born in Dayton, Ohio. She is a full-time writer who has written many children’s books including The Mouse Who Owned the Sun and King Kendrick’s Splinter. The mother of six grown children, Sally lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband




ADJOA J. BURROWES was born in Chicago, Illinois, and received her fine arts degree from Howard University. She has illustrated puzzles, greeting cards, and many children’s books, including Bebop Books’ EVERYONE WEARS BRAIDS , GO GO GUMBO and LEE & LOW’s MY STEPS and GRANDMA'S PURPLE FLOWERS which she also wrote. Adjoa and her three children live near Washington, DC.



Download the MY STEPS 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.