NEWS RELEASES > FEBRUARY 7, 2017
MCHENRY, IL – Follett announced today it has formed a partnership with New Zealand-based Wendy Pye Publishing to provide more than 300 fiction and nonfiction titles for K-2 classrooms. Pye’s company introduced Sunshine Classics in the USA in the 1980s, and the popular reading program has been revived with updated print options for learners and educators.
The features that made Sunshine Classics popular – timeless titles that draw on children’s experience and view of the world, loveable characters and engaging stories, leveled and constructed to specifically support to K-2 readers – all have returned. The titles have been edited and modernized to reflect current topics and interests to today’s young students, as well as to provide question stems that help teachers correlate them to state standards.
In addition, nonfiction texts have been added to the K-2 set, which provide important language skills based around scientific vocabulary and range in topics from outer space to animals to science and technology. The content is designed to engender new interests in young readers.
Dame Wendy Pye, CEO and publisher of Sunshine, said she is looking forward to working with Follett’s team to bring Sunshine Classics, featuring authors such as Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy, to elementary classrooms throughout the country.
“This partnership brings together the best of Sunshine resources and the marketing vision and expertise of Follett,” said Pye, who has earned many awards and accolades for helping to improve learning outcomes in literacy through ongoing partnerships. “We are very excited to bring back the gold standard in leveled and guided reading. Whether educators are looking for solutions for guided reading, shared reading, and take-home books or to support ELL/DLL students, students at risk of reading failure, or intervention, Sunshine Classics supports instruction with a systematic, authentic reading approach.”
Pye added Sunshine Classics’ authors are skilled at writing stories for beginning readers by providing just the right amount of support and challenge. Each story in a series has been leveled and constructed to support early learners from the introduction, repetition of high frequency words to the illustration and text matching sentence construction and line breaks. Moreover, question stems, guided reading teacher notes, and high frequency words are embedded in each book, while skill charts are provided to ensure teachers are supported with the scope and sequence of the program.
“Follett is thrilled to play a key role in the revival of Sunshine Classics,” said Nader Qaimari, President, Follett School Solutions. “We look forward to working with Dame Wendy Pye and her team to engage young readers throughout the U.S. and help continue her inspiring dream of teaching the world to read.”
Follett Content Strengthens Adult Offerings for Public Libraries, Launches New Street Date Program
April 30, 2026
Follett Content, a longtime partner to libraries nationwide, today announced a deepened commitment to public library collections by expanding its adult print catalog and launching the Follett Street Date Program to help libraries to deliver high-demand titles to patrons on...
Read more
Follett Celebrates Educators During Teacher Appreciation Week with Literacy Space Giveaway
April 28, 2026
During Teacher Appreciation Week, Follett Content is recognizing educators by supporting the literacy spaces where students read, explore, and learn every day. The initiative addresses common challenges educators face, including limited time and budget to refresh classroom and library environments.
Read more
United Way Rock River Valley and Follett Content Partner to Donate 2,000 Books to Rockford Students
April 2, 2026
United Way Rock River Valley and Follett Content are proud to partner on placing 2,000 new books directly into the hands of Rockford Public School students. Follett Content's donation fulfills the entire goal of United Way's Books for Brighter Futures...
Read more
2026 Approved & Ready: NYC Library Solutions
March 23, 2026
New York City, NY., Mar. 23, 20206 – Follett Content is an approved vendor for New York City (NYC) school libraries, enabling NYC educators to confidently place library material orders through a trusted, established partner. Through this contract, Follett Content...
Read more
Follett Content Accelerates Public Library Strategy
February 19, 2026
McHenry, Ill., Feb. 19, 2026 – Building on its September 2025 introduction into the public library market, Follett Content today announced a significant next step in its growth strategy: the addition of widely respected library-market veterans and a series of new technology...
Read more
Follett Content and Sora Student Reading App Announce Landmark Partnership
December 9, 2025
We are providing an improved experience for your readers by making digital content available through Sora, the award-winning student reading app by OverDrive.
Read more