A heart to heart from the editor to educators,

Let me start by thanking you for checking out what Sylvan Dell Publishing has to offer you. Our company's mission is to provide fun-to-read picture books with underlying educational themes. The “For Creative Minds” educational section in the back of each book is designed for use at home or in the classroom and we hope that the activities encourage children to extend the learning of the book and the underlying subject.

Over the last few years, we have listened to and taken to heart everything that teachers have shared with us about what they need to really use books in the classrooms. Please know that we are always interested in hearing from you about how you use the books, subjects that are needed in picture books, or about how we can continue to meet your needs. Feel free to e-mail me directly at DonnaGerman@SylvanDellPublishing.com. Listed below are some concerns that we are trying to address to make our books as useful as possible to you in the classroom:

• A classic educator concern is that there is not enough time to cover everything necessary. We can’t give you any more hours in a day but we can help you with cross-curricular, integrated teaching. We have taken advantage of some of the seminars while exhibiting at various educational trade shows (Science Teachers Associations and Reading Associations in particular) and have spent the summer revising each of our free, on-line teaching activities to include recommended methods to better use trade books as integrated curriculum books. Each of the teaching activities includes between 25 and 50 pages of before and after reading questions, language arts, science, math, geography, and other learning fun. There is a wide range from which to choose and use as best fits your needs. The “For Creative Minds” section and safe learning links are also available for each title and may be found from each title’s homepage or from the “teacher and librarian” page.

• Teachers are now required to prove how books and classroom activities align to state standards. We understand how the record-keeping can be stressful and want to help as best we can. We started by aligning each title to the nationally recognized standards for science and math. While that may be somewhat helpful to you, we acknowledge that what you really needs is an alignment of each book to your state standards. This is a huge, daunting task, but is one that we are working on. Even though we “only” have 25 books currently in print, we have ten in production for 2008 and ten more in the selection stage for 2009. Each title has to be aligned to 50 (plus Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, etc) states. We have received requests from some school districts to align titles for district-wide purchases but we are trying to reach a wide geographic range. Keep checking the website for state alignments or let us know if you are in dire need.

• AR, Lexile codes, and Reading Counts are used as reading motivators. All titles are covered and information is found on our website. A recent e-mail from Accelerated Reader verified that, with the exception of In Arctic Waters, all titles have either had the quizzes developed or are in development. Their editors did not think they could prepare an adequate quiz for In Arctic Waters but we have asked them to re-look at the issue for us.

• Teachers are concerned about accuracy. Because of our strong mission to provide learning opportunities through fun-to-read books, we have each book checked for accuracy by experts in the field prior to publication. You won’t find a Sylvan Dell book with a polar bear and a penguin as though they live together!

• Some teachers have asked for a list of titles by subject or animal.

• Teachers want to know which authors/illustrators live in their area.

• School media specialists need publisher’s cataloging in publication data (PCIP) and MARC records. We are currently printing the PCIP on each title page and the information for earlier books can easily be found on the librarian page. Cataloging is also available. Some media specialists prefer library binding on the hardcover books. We have been assured that our binding (glued and sewn) on 157 GSM paper (much thicker than most) meets minimum library requirements. However, we have also been working with various rebinders, (Penworthy and Permabound) and re-bound books may be purchased through them.

To see and printout our Library Processing order form, please (click here)

To see a description of the various Library Cataloging products, please  (click here)

How to Order our books

• Through our school and library sales representives located throughout the US and Canada. Please (click here) to find a sales representative in your area.

• Through all major Trade Wholesalers and many fine School and Library Distributors. Please (click here) to see a list of those carrying our books.

• To purchase directly from Sylvan Dell, please complete this School & Library (& Not for Profit) Order Form and send to us by either: fax, email or regular mail. (Forms are in pdf format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader).

  - If you do order direct and would like library cataloging and processing, please complete the Library Processing Order Form and send along with your purchase order.  Basic processing (Bar code labels, spine labels, spine label protectors and MARC records) is free with orders of 15 or more different, hard cover titles.  Orders will ship when processing is complete for all titles.

976 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Suite 3
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
OFFICE: 877-958-2600, 843-971-2600

FAX: 843-216-3804