FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BY PARENTS
What is a Playbook®? What is Playbook® format?
A Playbook® is a story designed and formatted 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. Playbooks® introduce 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.
What is the difference between a Basic (Single-Level) Format Playbook® and an Advantage (Multi-Level) Format Playbook®?
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 Advantage (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.
How do I determine my child's Playbook® Readability Level (or Stage)?
Review the Readability 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® 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 levels are available in a particular story?
Click on one of two links to see the Character Summary for a particular story. The first link is on the canvas of character illustrations and the second is a link labeled "Select this Story" and on the next page you'll see a text link for "See Story Characters and Levels."
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 Advantage 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 Basic 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.
In Advantage Format, 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.
Should I select only Advantage Format stories if my children read at different levels?
Not necessarily. Only if you have a reader below a Stage 3 level would you need Advantage format. Stage 3 readers can be challenged by Stage 4 text in the Basic Format stories. It is OK for children to read parts below their level as well. In some cases, the reader would then take more than one role.
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 does a set of spiral-bound Playbooks cost?
Playbooks have been priced especially for families with a lower price for each of 5 additional copies in a set. The first book is priced at a regular bookstore price, but each additional book (up to a total of 6) is priced lower so that families can afford to purchase a copy for each reader.
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 Playbooks®, 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?
No. Without the color, your readers will not know which character is speaking in the story.
