[angie-goldsmith Posts: 9 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hello!

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction to learn more about the process involved in writing and marketing Decodable texts.  (That is, books that focus include only letters and sound combinations a student has learned, most often used in a structured literacy program, like Orton-Gillingham.)   

I'm primarily a picture book writer and would like to take all that I've learned and apply it to the writing of decodable texts, but I'm not an illustrator, so I feel I need to get a sense of how this niche market works. 

Thanks in advance for any advice or leads!
Angie

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 7,068 Status: Offline Language is so cool!]

Often, leveled readers are produced through book packagers or in house at educational publishers. These books are the lowest level. There is a prescribed order to how the letters and sounds are taught. The books can be fiction or non-fiction with a simple story or theme-based. Word counts and length of sentences are prescribed too. And you will have certain words you can use for each level. These will be among the most common sight words, and they are introduced just like the letter-sound combinations. The books come in sets or series so readers build skills as they progress from one to the next. In general, you have to apply to write these books. And you get hired and paid a fee for them. You do not earn royalties or maintain any rights to the books.

[angie-goldsmith Posts: 9 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks Debbie!

[Vijaya Posts: 7,104 Status: Offline Encourage]

Check out Ev's website for some of the companies that have phonics programs: http://evelynchristensen.com/markets.html 
Perfection Learning, Capstone, Houghton Mifflin, Harper Collins all have series of books for early readers who are just getting introduced to sounds. Also check your library to see who else is publishing these kinds of books and go for it. Good luck!

[angie-goldsmith Posts: 9 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

This is really helpful.  Thank you!

[Meghan Wilson Duff Posts: 44 Status: Offline STEM Nonfiction]

If the NM SCBWI does the Ed Publishing webinar series next year, you should look into it. Re: working for book packagers.

[angie-goldsmith Posts: 9 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

If the NM SCBWI does the Ed Publishing webinar series next year, you should look into it. Re: working for book packagers.

Thank you, Meghan!!

[RebeccaL-G Posts: 1,526 Status: Offline RA SCBWI Cen-Cal]

Anastasia Suen has taught online classes on writing decodable text for the educational market.

[angie-goldsmith Posts: 9 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I had no idea - thank you Rebecca!  I'll definitely look her up to see if she has any upcoming opportunities!