songlakebooks.com

SongLake Books is a small K-4 guided reading book supplier that sells curated book sets rather than individual titles. Before you order, the practical points are: there is a three-set minimum per order, pricing is handled through a Price List rather than displayed on the site, you order via a Price List and Order Reservation Form, and you can request a Sole Source Letter if your district needs one for procurement approval. You'll also want to confirm which catalogue year you're ordering from, since the site lists both 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 collections.

How ordering works

SongLake Books does not appear to run a standard online checkout. Based on the site's "Prices & Ordering" section, the ordering path is document-based:

1. Get the Price List — the site's ordering page links to a Price List rather than showing prices inline.
2. Fill out the Order Reservation Form — this is the form the site provides for placing an order.
3. Request a Sole Source Letter if needed — useful when a school or district purchasing department requires documentation that the vendor is a sole source.
4. Submit by phone, fax, or email — the contact details listed are:
   • Phone: 888.588.6200 or 315.696.5506
   • Fax: 888.979.1500 or 315.696.0192
   • Email: [email protected]
   • Mail: SongLake Books, LLC, PO Box 208, Tully, NY 13159

Key constraint: there is a three-set minimum per order. If you only need one or two sets, this vendor may not fit your purchase.

What you can actually buy

The catalogue is organized by reading program and by level, not by individual book. Main collection families include:

Sets are sold as singles or 6-packs in some grade levels (for example, Grade K Diversity K Singles and 6-Packs, Grade 2 Diversity 2 Singles and 6-Packs). Which format you need depends on whether you're building a single guided reading group or stocking multiple groups.

Choosing the right collection

The site is explicit that it doesn't take sides in the "reading wars." Instead, match the collection to whatever framework your school already uses:

• Science of Reading district → look at the Phonics Forward set.
• Diversity-focused curriculum → the Diversity Collections, including the K-3 Read-Aloud Collection.
• Reading Recovery → the leveled sets drawn from the official leveling list.
• Addressing summer reading slide or specific level gaps → the Zap the Gap Collections.

Because the catalogue spans both 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 versions, confirm which year's list you're ordering from before submitting the reservation form. Ordering from a superseded catalogue is an easy mistake when two years are listed side by side.

Before you submit

• Confirm your three-set minimum is met.
• Download the current Price List for your catalogue year.
• Complete the Order Reservation Form.
• Request the Sole Source Letter if your purchasing office requires it.
• Verify your level range (A/B through P/Q) matches your students' guided reading levels.
• Decide between singles and 6-packs based on how many groups you're supplying.

If any of these are unclear, the fastest route is to call or email Carol Levine directly using the contact details above.

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:

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.

SongLake Books is a small, independent supplier of guided reading books for children, focused on grades K–4. It selects titles from a range of publishers and organizes them into sets that match common classroom reading programs, so teachers, librarians, and district purchasers can order books by grade level, Reading Recovery level, or diversity theme rather than browsing a general bookstore catalog.

The company describes itself as having been in business for nearly 30 years and says its selections are based on educational research, with input gathered from K–4 teachers and librarians across the country.

Who it serves

SongLake Books is aimed at adults buying for schools and reading programs, not at parents browsing for a single bedtime book. Its catalog is structured around how reading instruction is organized in classrooms:

• Grade-level sets — for example, Grade K Levels A/B, Grade 1 Levels D/E, and Grade 2 Levels J/K, up through Grade 4 Levels P/Q.
• Reading Recovery sets — leveled book sets drawn from the official leveling list, for programs that use that framework.
• Diversity collections — sets featuring only underrepresented races, cultures, and lifestyles, available as singles or 6-packs by grade.
• Program-specific sets — such as Phonics Forward, described as bridging decodables and trade books for districts using the Science of Reading.

What kinds of books it carries

According to the site, the selection process scrutinizes hundreds of books from a variety of publishers, then narrows to a wide range of topics and genres: fiction and nonfiction, favorite authors and illustrators, fairytales, animals, science, social studies, cultures, graphic novels, and stories that prompt conversations about responsibility, decision-making, and friendship.

The stated goal is to appeal to a variety of young readers and build a love of reading, rather than to take a position in the "reading wars." Instead, the catalog is organized so that a district can find a set matching whichever approach it already uses.

How ordering works

The site lists a price list, an order reservation form, and a sole source letter — the last of which is a document school districts often need when purchasing from a single vendor. Contact and ordering details given on the site:

One ordering condition stated on the site: there is a three-set minimum per order. Prices are not shown in the available page evidence, so check the current price list before planning a purchase.

When it's a good fit

SongLake Books is worth a look if you are a teacher, reading specialist, librarian, or district buyer who needs leveled or themed book sets that align with an existing K–4 reading program, and you want a single vendor that has already done the title selection. It is less suited to someone looking for individual titles, current bestsellers, or consumer-level retail ordering, since the catalog is built around classroom sets and program alignment.

Start by matching your school's reading approach to one of SongLake's named collections, then narrow by grade and guided-reading level. SongLake Books is a small K-4 book supplier that has been in business nearly 30 years and selects titles from a range of publishers based on input from K-4 teachers and librarians. Its catalog is organized so that the first decision is pedagogical, not just grade-based: if your district uses the Science of Reading, look at the Phonics Forward set; if it uses Reading Recovery, look at the leveled sets drawn from the official leveling list; if representation is a priority, look at the Diversity sets. From there, use grade and level bands (A/B through P/Q) to pick the exact sets, and decide between singles and 6-packs based on how many students will share a title.

Step 1: Match the collection to your reading approach

SongLake explicitly frames its sets around different instructional philosophies rather than taking a side in the "reading wars." Use that as your first filter:

If your district has not committed to a single approach, the leveled grade sets and the Read-Aloud collection are the most approach-neutral starting points.

Step 2: Narrow by grade and reading level

Once you know the approach, filter by grade band and level. The catalog lists sets by grade and by letter level, for example:

• Grade K: Levels A/B and B/C
• Grade 1: Levels D/E, E/F, F/G, G/H, H/I
• Grade 2: Levels J/K and K/L
• Grade 3: Levels M/N and N/O
• Grade 4: Levels P/Q

Each grade band typically has two adjacent levels, so you can place students who are slightly above or below grade level without leaving the collection. Reading Recovery and Grade 1 materials are grouped together in the catalog, which matters if your first graders are in a Reading Recovery program.

Step 3: Decide between singles and 6-packs

The Diversity Collections are listed in both formats — for example, "Grade K Diversity K Singles" and "Grade K Diversity K 6-Packs," and the same pattern for Grades 1 and 2. Choose based on how the books will be used:

• Singles suit a classroom library, a take-home or book-bag program, or any setting where each title is read by one student at a time.
• 6-packs suit small-group guided reading, where six students read the same title simultaneously.

If you run both guided reading groups and independent reading, you may need 6-packs for instruction and singles for the library.

Step 4: Add supplementary collections where they fit

Beyond the core leveled sets, the catalog includes:

• Grade K-3 Diversity Read-Aloud Collection — for whole-class read-alouds rather than leveled instruction.
• Zap the Gap Collections — aimed at the summer reading slide.
• SongLake Books 2026-2027 "Icing On The Cake" Too New Collection and New Additions 2025-2026 — newer titles if you want to refresh an existing collection.
• Diversity RR Singles and Keystone Collaboration — additional specialized sets.

These are add-ons, not substitutes: use them after the core leveled or approach-specific sets are chosen.

Step 5: Check ordering requirements and get the price list

Two practical points before you finalize:

1. Minimum order. The catalog states a three set minimum per order. Plan your selection in multiples that meet this threshold.
2. Pricing. Prices are not shown in the catalog excerpt; the site provides a Price List and an Order Reservation Form, plus a Sole Source Letter if your district requires one for procurement. Request the price list before committing to a set count.

Contact details for questions: 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].

A quick decision path

1. Identify your program: Science of Reading → Phonics Forward; Reading Recovery → official leveled sets; representation focus → Diversity; general guided reading → grade-level leveled sets.
2. Pick the grade and level band (A/B through P/Q).
3. Choose singles (library/independent reading) or 6-packs (small-group instruction).
4. Add Read-Aloud, Zap the Gap, or new-title collections only if they serve a specific need.
5. Confirm you meet the three-set minimum and request the current price list and, if needed, the Sole Source Letter.

If you are still unsure, the most reliable move is to request the price list and describe your program to SongLake directly — the company states its selections are based on input from K-4 teachers and librarians, so it can point you to the set that matches your approach.

SongLake Books lists several direct contact channels and ordering documents on its Prices & Ordering page. You can call 888.588.6200 or 315.696.5506, fax 888.979.1500 or 315.696.0192, email Carol at [email protected], or write to SongLake Books, LLC, PO Box 208, Tully, NY 13159. The same page links to a Price List, an Order Reservation Form, and a Sole Source Letter.

Contact Options at a Glance

If you are unsure which collection fits your program, phone or email is the more practical route — the site describes the company as gathering input from K-4 teachers and librarians, so a conversation can narrow the choice before you commit to a set.

Documents You Can Request or Find on the Site

The Prices & Ordering section is the starting point for procurement paperwork. It references:

• Price List — current pricing for the collections.
• Order Reservation Form — for reserving an order.
• Sole Source Letter — a document districts often need when justifying a single-source purchase.

These are the three items most relevant to a school or district buyer. The site does not state whether the Price List is downloadable directly or must be requested by phone or email, so if you cannot find it on the page, ask Carol directly.

What to Have Ready Before You Contact Them

SongLake Books sells book sets rather than individual titles, and the catalogue is organized by reading level and program type. Before calling or emailing, it helps to know:

• Your grade band — the catalogue is built around K-4, with sets labeled by grade (Grade K through Grade 4).
• Your reading program orientation — the company explicitly says it does not take sides in the "reading wars" and instead offers sets matched to different approaches:
  • Science of Reading — the Phonics Forward set, described as bridging decodables and trade books.
  • Diversity — sets featuring only underrepresented races, cultures, and lifestyles.
  • Reading Recovery — leveled book sets from the official leveling list.
• Your level range — sets are listed by level, such as Grade K Levels A/B, Grade 1 Levels D/E, Grade 2 Levels J/K, Grade 3 Levels M/N, and Grade 4 Levels P/Q.

Knowing these three things lets you ask a specific question ("I need Grade 1 Levels E/F in the Diversity collection") instead of a general one.

Ordering Notes Worth Knowing

• Three-set minimum per order. The site states a "Three Set Minimum Per Order," so a single set is not an orderable quantity.
• Collections are grouped thematically. Beyond grade and level, the catalogue includes named collections such as Zap the Gap, Icing On The Cake, Too New, New Additions 2025-2026, Diversity RR Singles, and a Keystone Collaboration, plus a Grade K-3 Diversity Read-Aloud Collection.
• Singles and 6-packs are separate listings. For example, Grade K Diversity K Singles and Grade K Diversity K 6-Packs appear as distinct items, so specify which format you need.

A Practical Sequence

1. Identify your grade band and reading level range.
2. Decide which program orientation applies (Science of Reading, Diversity, or Reading Recovery).
3. Check the Price List and Order Reservation Form on the Prices & Ordering page.
4. If you need a Sole Source Letter or can't locate the Price List, contact Carol by phone or email with your grade, level, and collection in mind.
5. Confirm the three-set minimum before submitting.

SongLake Books describes itself as a small company in business for nearly 30 years, so direct contact is a normal part of the process rather than a fallback.