What Kinds of Books Does SongLake Books Select for Young Readers?

Updated

SongLake Books selects titles for grades K–4 by gathering input from K–4 teachers and librarians across the country, then scrutinizing hundreds of books from a variety of publishers. From that pool, it chooses a wide range of topics and genres—fiction and nonfiction—intended to appeal to many kinds of young readers and to build a love of reading. The selections are described as based on solid educational research, and the company positions itself as not taking sides in the "reading wars," focusing instead on how to help young readers achieve.

The selection process

SongLake Books describes its method in three steps:

  1. Gather input from K–4 teachers and librarians nationwide.
  2. Scrutinize hundreds of books from a variety of publishers.
  3. Select a wide range of topics and genres, fiction and nonfiction, that appeal to young readers.

The company says it has been in business for nearly 30 years and describes itself as "small, but mighty," innovative without compromising core values.

What the selections include

According to the site, the chosen books span:

  • Favorite authors and illustrators
  • Fairytales
  • Animals
  • Science
  • Social studies
  • Cultures
  • Graphic novels
  • Stories that encourage conversations about responsibility, making good decisions, and being a good friend

The stated goal is to "select best books that appeal to a variety of young readers and instill a love for reading."

Matching collections to your reading program

Because reading programs vary, SongLake Books offers different set types rather than a single lineup. The site names three program alignments:

If your district embraces… SongLake Books offers…
Science of Reading Phonics Forward set, described as bridging decodables and trade books
Diversity Diversity book sets featuring only underrepresented races, cultures, and lifestyles, so children can see themselves reflected in the books they read
Reading Recovery Leveled book sets from the official leveling list

The site also mentions Zap the Gap collections and a Summer reading slide focus, though the excerpt cuts off before detailing those.

Collection structure you'll see when browsing

The catalog is organized by grade and reading level, which matters if you're matching books to a specific classroom or intervention group. Listed collections include:

  • Diversity Collections by grade: Grade K (Singles and 6-Packs), Grade 1 (Singles), Grade 2 (Singles and 6-Packs), and a Grade K–3 Diversity Read-Aloud Collection
  • Leveled sets by grade and level: Grade K Levels A/B and B/C; Grade 1 Levels D/E, E/F, F/G, G/H, and H/I; Grade 2 Levels J/K and K/L; Grade 3 Levels M/N and N/O; Grade 4 Levels P/Q
  • Reading Recovery & Grade 1 sets
  • Zap the Gap Collections
  • SongLake Books 2026–2027, "Icing On The Cake," "Too New Collection," and "New Additions 2025–2026"
  • Diversity RR Singles and a Keystone Collaboration

Practical notes before you order

  • Three-set minimum per order. The site lists this under its ordering information, so plan your selection accordingly.
  • Ordering documents are provided. The site references a Price List, an Order Reservation Form, and a Sole Source Letter—useful if your district requires sole-source justification.
  • Contact and location: SongLake Books, LLC, PO Box 208, Tully, NY 13159; phone 888.588.6200 or 315.696.5506; fax 888.979.1500 or 315.696.0192; email [email protected].

If your main question is whether the books will fit your program, the fastest check is to compare your approach—Science of Reading, Diversity, or Reading Recovery—against the matching set above, then confirm current titles and pricing through the Price List and Order Reservation Form rather than assuming the catalog is static.