About 241 Books

Literacy + Content

The Problem

Like you, we are teachers who care about helping kids learn. We know the everyday struggle teachers face.

How do we…

  • Teach reading skills + build social studies knowledge?

  • Cover all the standards + make learning memorable?

  • Engage students + strengthen critical thinking skills?

Low Reading Scores + Instructional Minutes Crisis

The 241 Solution

As teachers, we know that knowledge-building matters. The more our students know, the better they read. The better our kids read, the more they know. Reading science tells us that reading to learn + learning to read can be seamlessly brought together. And that the combination benefits students at all grade levels. 

With 241 Books, students in the upper-elementary grades read to learn as they interact with high-interest social studies content. They also continue to learn to read through deliberate literacy strategies and supports such as considerate text, thoughtful vocabulary development, clear text structures, and strategic development of morphological awareness. 

Read to learn. Learn to read. It's a potent combination - an impactful two-for-one designed to help students become capable, confident readers especially when encountering complex and challenging texts.

Read to Learn + Learn to Read

Five Powerful Pairings

We weave these five powerful 241s into all of our products.

Reading + Social Studies

Fiction + Nonfiction

Print + Digital

Easy + Effective

Learning + Fun

Our Mission

Better Readers + Informed Citizens

We exist to create high-quality books and activities that strengthen reading abilities and confidence while teaching social studies concepts and skills that prepare young learners to actively and effectively engage in a democratic society.

Our Guiding Principles

Proven Pedagogy + Committed Educators

  • Committed educators deserve the highest quality reading and social studies materials possible to help every child learn to read successfully. 

  • Caring and informed citizens are the lifeblood of a healthy democracy. Our best chance to build a vibrant civic culture must begin with our youngest learners.

  • We specialize in creating high-interest, student-centered, active lessons. Learning should be challenging. And fun too.

  • All readers deserve high-quality, engaging books filled with relatable, accessible text that capture their interest and help them along on their journey to becoming confident and skilled readers.

  • Well-crafted stories that focus on real-life events and people ignite a passion for learning and get kids asking questions and excited to find out more.

  • Scientifically validated reading strategies are for all grade levels and all subject areas. We deliberately and systematically target knowledge building, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension through lessons, activities, and practice assessments that accompany every book.

  • When students want to talk about what they read and are given opportunities to do so, they build communication skills, empathy, and awareness—skills vital to participating in a vibrant democracy.

  • Mixing fiction with nonfiction is a winning formula.