Series Overview: Leveled Readers

At Flying Start Books we believe literacy is the key to success in life, so we’re passionate about giving children a flying start by launching them into literacy. This core belief is at the heart of our Red Rocket Readers Series.

Developed by New Zealand reading specialist and author Pam Holden, this exciting, award-winning reading program offers more than 600 illustrated fiction and photographic non-fiction titles, at meticulously graded levels.

All Red Rocket Readers titles feature colorful, entertaining illustrations that support the text, launch oral discussion and develop student comprehension. The classic story structure (tension, climax and resolution) ensures children will want to engage with the texts.



Foundation Level | Lilac

The Alphabet Explorers Set features individual titles for each letter of the alphabet, plus one each focusing on the key digraphs Ch, Ph, Sh and Th.

Alphabet Explorers presents the correct upper and lower case letter forms together in a highly appealing way, supported by real-life photographic images.

  • Boxed Set of 30 Titles
  • Worksheets (x26) Free Downloadable
  • eBook Editions for all 30 titles
  • Alphabet Frieze

Guided Reading Levels (Correlated)
A
RR Intervention Levels
1

Children need several different means of identifying letters. As well as learning to read and write all letter forms, it’s essential they discover letter names and sounds.

The Red Rocket Alphabet Explorers Boxed Set features thirty 8-page books; individual titles for each letter of the alphabet, plus one each focusing on the key digraphs Ch, Ph, Sh and Th.

Red Rocket Alphabet Explorers will help children to become familiar with all the letters of the alphabet in the following ways:

  • by alphabet names
  • as upper and lower case symbols
  • by word and picture associations
  • by sound associations
  • by sharing rhymes (inside back cover)
  • through practice of letter formation 

Awards

  • Winner – Learning Magazine Teacher’s Choice Award 2012
  • Finalist- AEP Distinguished Achievement 2011

 

Key Digraphs, Upper and Lower Case Letters, Word and Picture Association, Sound Associations


Pre-Reading Level | Pink

Blend Explorers

Red Rocket Blend Explorers reinforce the learning gained with the Alphabet Explorers and take the next step in building understanding of the blends.

  • Boxed Set of 22 New Titles Due May 2023
  • Each title focuses on a specific blend
  • Real-life photographic images
  • Extension Activities: Free Worksheet PDFs for every title
  • eBook Editions for all titles

F&P Guided Reading Levels
A
RR Intervention Levels
1

Once children have individual letter and sound association knowledge secure, the next essential literacy skill is the blending of consonants – to make onset blends.

Red Rocket Blend Explorers introduce 22 common consonant combinations where each individual letter-sound is heard – helping children to become familiar with these initial blends in several ways:

  • by sound associations
  • by letter names
  •  as upper and lower case symbols
  • by word and picture associations
  • by sharing rhymes (inside back cover)
  • through practice of letter formations


Sound Explorers

Red Rocket Sound Explorers reinforce the learning gained with the Alphabet Explorers and Blends and take the next step in building understanding of the digraphs and vowel sounds.

  • Boxed Set of 26 New Titles Due May 2023
  • Each title focuses on a specific Digraph
  • Real-life photographic images
  • Extension Activities: Free Worksheet PDFs for every title
  • eBook Editions for all titles

F&P Guided Reading Levels
A
RR Intervention Levels
1

Some letters commonly make more than one sound. Exploring hard, soft, long, and short letter-sounds and having that knowledge secure is an important skill for emergent students to master.

Red Rocket Sound Explorers introduce the alternative sounds letters can make, along with the unique single-sound some consonant combinations create, and help children to become familiar with these sounds in several ways:

  • by sound associations
  • by letter names
  •  as upper and lower case symbols
  • by word and picture associations
  • by sharing rhymes (inside back cover)
  • through practice of letter formations


Key Letters

An essential first introduction to the basic conventions of print, Pre-Reading Level titles help children get off to a flying start. Unlike traditional ‘ABC’ alphabet books, the letters are presented within a story context so that, using pre-existing letter knowledge and picture clues, children can decode the text and experience first reading success.

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • Printable Worksheets for all titles
  • Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)

F&P Guided Reading Levels
A-B
RR Intervention Levels
1
Lexile Measure
BR40L-290L

Key Letter Readers allow students to use their letter knowledge to read text, and:

  • use bold letter font and additional word spacing
  • introduce and build phonemic awareness and phonic knowledge
  • introduce the upper and lower case letters together
  • use red highlighting to emphasize focus letters and punctuation
  • feature exciting visual story spreads to give clues for word recognition and launch oral discussion and critical thinking
  • Extension Activity: Key Letter Flashcards (inside back cover)

Recurring Characters, Upper and Lower case Letters, Engaging and Diverse Content, Vibrant Photographic illustrations.


Emergent Level | Magenta

Emergent Level Readers engage students with wonderful fiction and non-fiction texts, fully supported by attractive illustrations and photographs.

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • 4 Big Book Editions
  • 4 Spanish Adaptations
  • 16 te reo Māori Adaptations
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)


F&P Guided Reading Levels
A-C
RR Intervention Levels
1-2
Lexile Measures
BR100L-240L

Emergent Level Readers engage students with wonderful fiction and non-fiction texts, fully supported by attractive illustrations and photographs, and:

  • ensure the learner reader builds control of a bank of high-frequency words that can be recognised automatically
  • provide text layout to support phrasing and reading fluency
  • introduce the upper and lower case letters together
  • use red highlighting to emphasize punctuation
  • feature exciting visual story spreads to give clues for word recognition and launch oral discussion and critical thinking

FICTION STRAND

  • introduces more than 20 high-frequency words
  • Extension Activity: Key Word Flashcards

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • promotes literacy from cover-to-cover via topics that align with the curriculum
  • creates visual interest with stunning full-colour photography
  • Extension Activity: Key Word Flashcards 

Text Support, speech bubbles and signs, strong non-fiction themes, stunning photography. High impact photographs capture student interest and support textual understanding.


Rainbow and World Explorers | Magenta

Our new series – Rainbow and World Explorers – has been developed as a direct response to demand for more Emergent Level titles in the Red Rocket Readers series. Rainbow Explorers look at Colors, and World Explorers looks at everyday experiences.

The 16 new Explorers help children observe and categorize the things they see in the world around them, laying the foundations for literacy by building vocabulary, developing book handling skills, and recognizing word and picture associations.

  • 16 Titles
  • Photographic Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles


F&P Guided Reading Levels
A-B
RR Intervention Levels
1-2
Lexile Measures
BR70L-100L

Early Level 1 | Red

Red level texts consolidate and build on the basic conventions of print learning introduced in the earlier levels. Red level texts provide level appropriate challenges, such as meeting new controlled language sight-words within slightly longer storylines.

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • 7 Spanish Adaptations
  • 16 te reo Māori Adaptations
  • 4 Big Book Editions
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)


F&P Guided Reading Levels
B-D
RR Levels
3-5
Lexile Measures
BR80L-390L

Through a carefully controlled sequence of challenges at the Early levels of Red, Yellow, Blue and Green, students will:

  • increase control of print conventions (supported by the red highlighting of punctuation until the end of the Red level)
  • increase control of phonological patterns and phonic knowledge in context
  • master control of increased complexity in syntactic and sentence structure
  • further develop their oral language, comprehension and critical thinking skills

FICTION STRAND

  • enjoy a wide range of entertaining fiction stories, including popular traditional tales
  • master more than 20 new words
  • Extension Activity: Key Word Flashcards

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • build familiarity with non-fiction features such as tables of contents, glossaries and captions
  • develop skills for reading informational, expository text
  • Extension Activity: Glossary


Early Level 2 | Yellow

At Yellow Level, progress is seen as children work through a carefully controlled sequence of challenges, meeting controlled language high-frequency words and taking the vital early steps into literacy. Children will further develop their oral language, comprehension, and critical thinking skills

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • 7 Spanish Adaptations
  • 16 te Reo Māori Adaptations
  • 4 Big Book Editions
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)


F&P Guided Reading Levels
C-G
RR Intervention Levels
6-8
Lexile Measures
110L-370L

Through a carefully controlled sequence of challenges at the Early levels of Red, Yellow, Blue and Green, students will:

  • increase control of print conventions 
  • increase control of phonological patterns and phonic knowledge in context
  • master control of increased complexity in syntactic and sentence structure
  • further develop their oral language, comprehension and critical thinking skills

FICTION STRAND

  • enjoy a wide range of entertaining fiction stories, including popular traditional tales
  • master more than 20 new words
  • Extension Activity: Key Word Flashcards

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • build familiarity with non-fiction features such as tables of contents, glossaries and captions
  • develop skills for reading informational, expository text
  • Extension Activity: Glossary


Early Level 3 | Blue

At Blue Level children meet and master more complex vocabulary and print conventions – all while enjoying a wide range of entertaining fiction stories and developing skills for reading informational, expository text.

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • 7 Spanish Adaptations
  • 16 te Reo Māori Adaptations
  • 4 Big Book Editions
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)


F&P Guided Reading Levels
D-H
RR Intervention Levels
9-11
Lexile Measures
150L-490L

Through a carefully controlled sequence of challenges at the Early levels of Red, Yellow, Blue and Green, students will:

  • increase control of print conventions
  • increase control of phonological patterns and phonic knowledge in context
  • master control of increased complexity in syntactic and sentence structure
  • further develop their oral language, comprehension and critical thinking skills

FICTION STRAND

  • enjoy a wide range of entertaining fiction stories, including popular traditional tales
  • master more than 20 new words
  • Extension Activity: Key Word Flashcards

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • build familiarity with non-fiction features such as tables of contents, glossaries and captions
  • develop skills for reading informational, expository text
  • Extension Activity: Glossary

 


Early Level 4 | Green

Green level text focuses on more challenging vocabulary, print conventions, phonological patterns, and phonic knowledge in context. Mastering control of the strategies at green will lay the foundations for a successful launch into fluency levels.

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • 7 Spanish Adaptations
  • 4 Big Book Editions
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)


F&P Guided Reading Levels
F-K
RR Intervention Levels
12-14
Lexile Measures
250L-510L

Through a carefully controlled sequence of challenges at the Early levels of Red, Yellow, Blue and Green, students will:

  • increase control of print conventions
  • increase control of phonological patterns and phonic knowledge in context
  • master control of increased complexity in syntactic and sentence structure
  • further develop their oral language, comprehension and critical thinking skills

FICTION STRAND

  • enjoy a wide range of entertaining fiction stories, including popular traditional tales
  • master more than 20 new words
  • Extension Activity: Key Word Flashcards

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • build familiarity with non-fiction features such as tables of contents, glossaries and captions
  • develop skills for reading informational, expository text
  • Extension Activity: Glossary


Fluency Level 1 | Orange

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • 4 Spanish Adaptations
  • 4 Big Book Editions
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)


F&P Guided Reading Levels
H-M
RR Intervention Levels
15-16
Lexile Measures
310L-600L

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

With the Red Rocket Fluency levels of Orange, Turquoise, Purple and Gold students will:

  • reinforce the reading strategies of earlier levels
  • be encouraged to apply newly acquired skills to more challenging texts
  • focus on more challenging vocabulary, print conventions, phonological patterns and phonic knowledge in context
  • further develop thinking skills and comprehension

FICTION STRAND

  • master more than 50 new words at each colour level
  • Extension Activity: Word Whiz

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • explore high-interest topics and reinforce and extend subject area content
  • further develop non-fiction literacy skills with more complex text
  • Extension Activity: Glossary


Fluency Level 2 | Turquoise

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • 4 Spanish Adaptations
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)


F&P Guided Reading Levels
H-M
RR Intervention Levels
17-18
Lexile Measures
360L-590L

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

With the Red Rocket Fluency levels of Orange, Turquoise, Purple and Gold students will:

  • reinforce the reading strategies of earlier levels
  • be encouraged to apply newly acquired skills to more challenging texts
  • focus on more challenging vocabulary, print conventions, phonological patterns and phonic knowledge in context
  • further develop thinking skills and comprehension

FICTION STRAND

  • master more than 50 new words at each colour level
  • Extension Activity: Word Whiz

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • explore high-interest topics and reinforce and extend subject area content
  • further develop non-fiction literacy skills with more complex text
  • Extension Activity: Glossary

 


Fluency Level 3 | Purple

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • 4 Spanish Adaptations
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)


F&P Guided Reading Levels
J-O
RR Intervention Levels
19-20
Lexile Measures
460L-800L

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

With the Red Rocket Fluency levels of Orange, Turquoise, Purple and Gold students will:

  • reinforce the reading strategies of earlier levels
  • be encouraged to apply newly acquired skills to more challenging texts
  • focus on more challenging vocabulary, print conventions, phonological patterns and phonic knowledge in context
  • further develop thinking skills and comprehension

FICTION STRAND

  • master more than 50 new words at each colour level
  • Extension Activity: Word Whiz

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • explore high-interest topics and reinforce and extend subject area content
  • further develop non-fiction literacy skills with more complex text
  • Extension Activity: Glossary

 


Fluency Level 4 | Gold

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

  • 48 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles
  • 4 Spanish Adaptations
  • Worksheets, Lesson Briefs and Running Records available for all titles
  • Lesson Plans available for some titles. (Others in production)


F&P Guided Reading Levels
J-N
RR Intervention Levels
21-22
Lexile Measures
490L-880L

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

With the Red Rocket Fluency levels of Orange, Turquoise, Purple and Gold students will:

  • reinforce the reading strategies of earlier levels
  • be encouraged to apply newly acquired skills to more challenging texts
  • focus on more challenging vocabulary, print conventions, phonological patterns and phonic knowledge in context
  • further develop thinking skills and comprehension

FICTION STRAND

  • master more than 50 new words at each colour level
  • Extension Activity: Word Whiz

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • explore high-interest topics and reinforce and extend subject area content
  • further develop non-fiction literacy skills with more complex text
  • Extension Activity: Glossary


Advanced Fluency Level 1 | Silver

Scaffolding on knowledge and skills acquired in the earlier Red Rocket levels, the new Advanced Fluency levels of Silver, Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire will increase students’ reading ability and boost their confidence by engaging interest using a variety of appealing text types and genres.  

  • 16 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles


F&P Guided Reading Levels
L-P
RR Intervention Levels
23-24
Lexile Measures
520L-1220L

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

  • Increased complexity of structural formats
  • Level-appropriate challenges for advanced readers
  • Use of a more sophisticated font
  • Increased variation in text placement
  • Phrasing that challenges fluency 

FICTION STRAND

  • compelling storylines and clearly defined characters, some of whom recur throughout the levels
  • master more than 50 new words at each colour level
  • Extension Activity: Word Power

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • feature all the components commonly found in non-fiction; a contents page, a glossary and an index
  • Enhanced further by the inclusion of visual communicators such as inset maps, charts and photos and the use of lists, numbering, bold and italic text and bullet points to reinforce and deliver additional impact in a memorable way.
  • Extend non-fiction literacy skills with complex text types and genres
  • Explore, reinforce and extend subject area knowledge in the key learning contexts of People and Places, Natural World, Technological World and Numbers at Work
  • Extension Activity: develop index skills


Advanced Fluency Level 2 | Emerald

Scaffolding on knowledge and skills acquired in the earlier Red Rocket levels, the new Advanced Fluency levels of Silver, Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire will increase students’ reading ability and boost their confidence by engaging interest using a variety of appealing text types and genres. 

  • 16 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles


F&P Guided Reading Levels
M-R
R/R Intervention Levels
25-26
Lexile Measures
560L-1100L

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

  • Increased complexity of structural formats
  • Level-appropriate challenges for advanced readers
  • Use of a more sophisticated font
  • Increased variation in text placement
  • Phrasing that challenges fluency 

FICTION STRAND

  • compelling storylines and clearly defined characters, some of whom recur throughout the levels
  • master more than 50 new words at each colour level
  • Extension Activity: Word Power

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • feature all the components commonly found in non-fiction; a contents page, a glossary and an index
  • Enhanced further by the inclusion of visual communicators such as inset maps, charts and photos and the use of lists, numbering, bold and italic text and bullet points to reinforce and deliver additional impact in a memorable way.
  • Extend non-fiction literacy skills with complex text types and genres
  • Explore, reinforce and extend subject area knowledge in the key learning contexts of People and Places, Natural World, Technological World and Numbers at Work
  • Extension Activity: develop index skills


Advanced Fluency Level 3 | Ruby

Scaffolding on knowledge and skills acquired in the earlier Red Rocket levels, the new Advanced Fluency levels of Silver, Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire will increase students’ reading ability and boost their confidence by engaging interest using a variety of appealing text types and genres. 

  • 16 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles


F&P Guided Reading Levels
N-T
Lexile Measures
560L-1240L
RR Intervention Levels
27-28

The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

  • Increased complexity of structural formats
  • Level-appropriate challenges for advanced readers
  • Use of a more sophisticated font
  • Increased variation in text placement
  • Phrasing that challenges fluency 

FICTION STRAND

  • compelling storylines and clearly defined characters, some of whom recur throughout the levels
  • master more than 50 new words at each colour level
  • Extension Activity: Word Power

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • feature all the components commonly found in non-fiction; a contents page, a glossary and an index
  • Enhanced further by the inclusion of visual communicators such as inset maps, charts and photos and the use of lists, numbering, bold and italic text and bullet points to reinforce and deliver additional impact in a memorable way.
  • Extend non-fiction literacy skills with complex text types and genres
  • Explore, reinforce and extend subject area knowledge in the key learning contexts of People and Places, Natural World, Technological World and Numbers at Work
  • Extension Activity: develop index skills


Advanced Fluency Level 4 | Sapphire

Scaffolding on knowledge and skills acquired in the earlier Red Rocket levels, the new Advanced Fluency levels of Silver, Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire will increase students’ reading ability and boost their confidence by engaging interest using a variety of appealing text types and genres. 

  • 16 Titles
  • Fiction and Non-Fiction
  • eBook Editions for all titles


F&P Guided Reading Levels
O-U
Lexile Measures
630L-1280L
RR Intervention Levels
29-30


The mastery of more complex strategies will enable students to read with increased pace, flow, phrasing and intonation, freeing their attention to the meaning within text.

  • Increased complexity of structural formats
  • Level-appropriate challenges for advanced readers
  • Use of a more sophisticated font
  • Increased variation in text placement
  • Phrasing that challenges fluency 

FICTION STRAND

  • compelling storylines and clearly defined characters, some of whom recur throughout the levels
  • master more than 50 new words at each colour level
  • Extension Activity: Word Power

NON-FICTION STRAND

  • feature all the components commonly found in non-fiction; a contents page, a glossary and an index
  • Enhanced further by the inclusion of visual communicators such as inset maps, charts and photos and the use of lists, numbering, bold and italic text and bullet points to reinforce and deliver additional impact in a memorable way.
  • Extend non-fiction literacy skills with complex text types and genres
  • Explore, reinforce and extend subject area knowledge in the key learning contexts of People and Places, Natural World, Technological World and Numbers at Work
  • Extension Activity: develop index skills