This wonderful reading scheme is just perfect for Montessori settings, nurseries & home schools. Created by three speech & language trained teachers the series is based on a clear phonic sequence that is nearly identical to the Montessori Literacy series of pink, blue and green levels. Delightful illustrations and entertaining stories encourage the beginner reader to blend sounds. Each level introduces new sounds and includes only these and the sounds from the previous levels with minimal sight words. Stories up to book 7 are made up of 3 letter words at cvc level (c: consonant, v: vowel) making them easy for early readers to sound out. Later stories/books build on from that. Words are printed on cream background to make the text reader friendly.

PINK/EARLY BLUE LEVEL  (Levels of other Reading Schemes: Initial Phonic Code, 'Letters & Sounds': Levels 2 - 4, Book Band: Pink A/B to Red)

Sets 1 ("Sam"), Set 2 ("A Mat") & Set 3 ("Sit, Sam")

These three sets run paralell to each other. Each Set is made up of 10 books (Units 1 - 10) that introduce the same group of letters/sounds, in the same sequence, as the other two sets, but with a different story. This means that, depending on how much reading practice you think your children need, you can choose to use either one, two or all three sets. If all three sets are used, children will get to read 3 different stories per group of letters/sounds introduced. All books & units at this level follow the same progression as the first 10 units of the Dandelion Launchers Series and can be used in conjunction with them. (Please see bottom of page for difference between Dandelion Readers & Dandelion Launchers and which scheme might be right for you & your children)

Unit 1: s/a/t/i/m

Unit 2: n/o/p

Unit 3: b/c/g/h

Unit 4: d/e/f/v

Unit 5: k/l/r/u

Unit 6: j/w/z

Unit 7: x/y/ff/ll/ss/zz

Unit 8: vcc/cvcc (v: vowel, c: consonant)

Unit 9: cvcc (v: vowel, c: consonant)

Unit 10: ccvcc (v: vowel, c: consonant)

BLUE LEVEL  (Levels of other Reading Schemes: Consonant Digraphs, 'Letters & Sounds': Levels 3 to early 5, Book Band: Yellow)

Set 1 ("Pip Gets Rich") , Set 2 ("Chips")

These two sets run paralell to each other. Each set is made up of 10 books Units 11 - 20) that introduce the same digraph/spelling/sound family, in the same sequence, as the other set, but with a different story. This means that, depending on how much reading practice you think your children need, you can choose to use either one or both sets. If both sets are used, children will get to read 2 different stories per digraph/spelling/sound introduced. All books at this level follow on from the Pink/Early Blue Level Books of the Dandelion Launchers & Dandelion Readers Series and start from Unit No. 11. (Please see bottom of page for difference between Dandelion Readers & Dandelion Launchers and which scheme might be right for you & your children.)

Unit 11: ch

Unit 12: sh

Unit 13: th

Unit 14: ck

Unit 15: ng

Unit 16: qu + ve

Unit 17: wh + 2 syllables

Unit 18: ed + 2 syllables

Unit 19: ing + 2 syllables

Unit 20: le + 2 syllable

GREEN LEVEL

All the books at this level introduce different sounds/spellings and build up on and expand from each other. For consistency, books at this level should be read one after the other.

Level 1, (Vowel Digraphs): ai, ee, oa, ur, ea, ow, oo, igh, oo, or. One book per sound/spelling family, total 10 books, books follow on from the two Blue Level sets

Level 2 (Alternative Spellings): ai/ay/a, ee/e/ea, oa/o/ow, ur/er/ir, ea/e/ai, ow/ou, b/ew/ue, igh/i/y, lk/oul/u, or/a/aw. One book per sound/spelling family, total 10 books, books follow on from Green Level 1 set),

Level 3 (More Alternative Spellings): ai/ay/a/a-e/ea, ee/e/ea/y, oa/o/ow/oe/o-e, ur/er/ir/or/ear, ea as in ae/ee or e, ow as in ow or oe, bt/ea/ue/u-e, igh/i/y/ie/i-e, oo as in boot or look, or/a/aw/au/al. One book per sound/spelling family, total 10 books, books follow on from Green Level 2 set.

Level 4 (Split Vowel Spellings): a-e, e-e, i-e, o-e, u-e, all spellings. One book per spelling family, total 6 books, books give additional practice at split vowel spellings and follow on from the books from Green Levels 1,2 & 3.

Difference between Dandelion Launchers & Dandelion Readers:

Dandelion Launchers: Follow progression of first 10 units of Dandelion Readers series. Each unit has 4 books giving children 4 chances to practice reading a particular set of letters/sounds. Each page has only one line of text at cvc level (c: consonant, v: vowel). Ideal for younger children or those children needing lots of reading practice. Can be used in complement with the Dandelion Readers series.

Dandelion Readers: First 10 units follow same progression of Dandelion Launchers series, but the progression is faster and with more text per page than the Dandelion Launchers series. Ideal for school age children, or children who are already comfortable with the letters introduced and the concept of blending these into words.