What is the Playbook® format?

The Playbook® Format is a method of designing a story to be read aloud, like a play, by a small group of readers. Each character's dialogue appears in a different color throughout the story to make it easier for each reader to follow along. Stories are edited into text that is predominantly dialogue. The character roles are carefully written and edited so that they are as balanced as possible, giving the readers equal "stage time." Cue text is also added to help readers use dramatic expression. The Playbook® format introduces stories in such a way that each reader will have his or her own part or parts to "role-play" read, and each reader is intended to read from their own copy of the book. StageBooks™ are specially designed for families utilizing stories designed in the Playbook® Format.

How do I determine my child's Playbook®
Format Reading Level (or Stage)?

Review the Reading Level page and locate your child's age and grade under one of the six Stages. If you don't feel your child is reading at their appropriate grade or age level, you can have your child take our online readability test. This is a quick 2-minute test that will rate your child's Playbook® Format Reading Level. A parent must administer the test with the child. If you are still uncertain, choose a level that you feel your child will be slightly challenged by (versus one that's too low). Remember, you and other readers in the family are part of the reading experience and can help the child with any difficult parts (the benefits of not reading alone). Also, your child's reading skill will continue to improve (not decline).

How do I see what Reading Levels are available in a particular story?

Click on the Browse Stories link and then click on a specific story to see the names, levels, and images of the characters in the story.

How do I match the reading level of my children
to the character roles that are suitable for them?

If your child has a reading level lower than Stage 4, consider Multi-Level Format stories first. In reviewing the character summaries for these stories, see which character is written at or slightly above your child's level. Consider the other readers in the group and their levels. If your children are all Stage 4 and above readers, consider Single-Level Format stories first. As all parts are written at predominately one level, a reader can read any part and aspire to a Stage 5 or 6.

How many Reading Levels are there to choose from?

Usually, there are 3-4 levels within each story. Some span as many as five levels. For stories that have content appropriate for Grades K-3 the levels range from Stages 1-4, for stories for Grades 4-8, levels range from Stages 2-5, and for stories for Grades 9-12, levels range from Stages 4-6.

Can we change character roles around
so we don't always have to read the same character?

Absolutely! Take turns playing different roles. The only limitation might be for young readers under Stage 3 as they may find it too difficult to read a Stage 5 part. Those readers might be limited to parts written at Stage 4 and below.

I have six members in my family. Which story should I choose?

Review the Character Summary for stories that show at least 5 characters in the illustrated character canvas. Most stories also have a narrator for an additional reader.

The Family Set includes 4 copies of the book.
What if we have 6 readers?

You can either purchase a Family Set and then purchase an additional 2 Single Copies shown in the category menus, or purchase 6 Single Copies. Two readers can sit close together and share one book.

What if we have only 4 readers and there are 6 characters?

Simply assign more than one character to each reader. Try to select characters that are close to the same level for each reader.

What is Download-Print format?

Stories purchased in Download-Print format are instantly available online for downloading and printing at home. You save both time and money by purchasing your story in Download-Print format. Stories are formatted into an Adobe Acrobat PDF file, therefore, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher installed on your computer before purchasing a story in this format. You can download Acrobat Reader free by clicking here.

Do I have to have Adobe Acrobat Reader
to purchase a Download-Print story?

Yes. The story will not connect to a link without Acrobat or Acrobat Reader installed.

How much color ink will I use to print a set of Playbooks® at home?

This will depend on the printing preferences you select (either draft/econofast printing or normal/best printing). It will also depend on the length of the story and number of copies you print. In most cases, using a draft print setting, your ink cost will lower than the cost of a set of spiral-bound StageBooks™, but the quality of the document will not be as high as books printed by the publisher.

Can I print the story with just black ink or in gray scale?

Yes. The name of the character that is speaking is shown in the left margin just like a real play script.

What is the difference between Basic (Single-Level) Format
and Advantage (Multi-Level) Format?

Character dialogue in Single-Level Format is predominately written at one reading level (usually the highest level appropriate for the content level of the story; Young-Stage 4, Tween-Stage 5, or Teen-Stage 6).

Character dialogue written at specialized reading levels, called "Stages," is available in (Multi-Level) Format. This added benefit gives your child the ADVANTAGE to succeed. Character roles are written at a variety of reading levels sure to fit your family. Reading dialogue that is written at or near your child’s appropriate reading level will strengthen and encourage their reading confidence.

Should I select only Multi-Leveled Format stories
if my children read at different levels?

Not necessarily, as it depends on your children. Usually if you have a reader below a Stage 3 level, you might need the Multi-Level format. Stage 3 readers can be challenged by Stage 4 text in the Basic Format stories. It is okay for children to read parts below their level as well. In some cases, the reader would then take more than one role.