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Welcome! The grade levels and ages listed here are estimates, simply meant to guide you. You know your kids and students best—every reader grows at their own pace. Many books are wonderfully universal and work well across multiple age groups, and some titles remain a perfect fit for readers who may still be developing their skills, especially with a bit of guidance or support. And remember: nonfiction picture books can be powerful tools at any age—even in high school—as supplements, mentor texts, or just great stories worth encountering. Thank you for sharing books with young people, embracing beautifully diverse stories, and keeping the magic of reading alive.

Feel free to use and share any of the educator materials provided here—just kindly credit Room 228, and please note that none of our resources are permitted for resale. Read away!

CCSS Guide Grades K – 3 : Random House on Reading Aloud, Reading Together and Reading Alone

Titles are clustered in groups of picture books, early readers, chapter books and informational books to suit the specific needs of your classroom. With multimedia links, suggestions for books to use while teaching math and science and activities that help young people explore fiction and nonfiction – this guide is brimming with fun and challenging activities that will inspire your students to read, read and read!

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CCSS Guide Grades 3 – 6: Random House on Reading with Purpose and Understanding

In grades 3-6 young people are beginning to understand more complex themes and concepts. Help your students explore how authors use point of view, details and other techniques as tools to say something that is important to them. Help your students learn to use their own writing and their own voices to say something big!

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Educator’s Guide: Fairy Tale Retellings

Full of magic, greed, power struggles and mystery. By burrowing into these books and activities your students will examine relatable topics – whom to trust, what path to follow, why do certain groups hold the power in their worlds? These stories lend themselves to natural comparisons to traditional fairytales and a myriad of cultures. Step into the woods…if you dare.

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Reading Group Guide: Far Far Away By Tom McNeal

A page turner to use in the classroom that is full of fairytale allusions, suspense, and hope. A wonderful springboard resource to teach the craft of writing. McNeal’s technique is definitely worthy of study and critical exploration. We simply love this novel and know that young people will too.

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Teacher’s Guide: The Port Chicago 50 – Disaster, Mutiny, And The Fight For Civil Rights by Steve Sheinkin

Steve Sheinkin’s award winning books explore fascinating topics – and Port Chicago 50 is no exception. Help students examine the prejudice and lack of human rights that black men and women experienced in America during World War II – even as they fought to defend that same country. This guide offers content specific vocabulary, multimedia and supplemental materials, and thoughtful activities to analyze the hows and whys of the Port Chicago 50 tragedy.

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