Teacher with glasses smiling and kneeling next to a student at a desk. The student is working on an animal-themed drawing and smiling.

RedRover Readers: Curriculum & Resources

for trained educators and volunteers

Below is everything needed to implement the RedRover Readers curriculum. Questions?
Contact RedRover at (916) 429-2457 or Readers@RedRover.org.

Have you recently read with your students using the RedRover Readers curriculum?

CASEL Wheel

The RedRover Readers program is aligned with the Core Competencies for social and emotional learning (SEL) as identified by CASEL (the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning). Below is a list of books and teaching guides used in the RedRover Readers program that best align with the stated objectives and SEL competencies.

The program aligns to other standards as well. For a complete list of Common Core standards aligned with the program, visit our Standards Guide.

 

Download this list as a PDF:

View our full list of Recommended Books with Humane Themes

Alya and the
Three Cats

SEL Alignment:

  • Social awareness
  • Self-awareness

Buddy Unchained

Rufo Liberado

  • Discussion & Activity Guide

    SEL Alignment:

  • Social Awareness
  • Self-awareness
  • Call the Horse Lucky

    The Cat Man
    of Aleppo

    SEL Alignment:

    • Social awareness
    • Self-awareness
    • Responsible decision-making
    • Relationship skills

    Cookie's Fortune

    SEL Alignment:

    • Self-management
    • Responsible decision-making

    The Forgotten Rabbit

    SEL Alignment:

    • Social awareness
    • Self-awareness

    Hens for Friends

    SEL Alignment:

    • Self-management
    • Self-awareness
    • Responsible decision-making

    Jeannie Houdini

    SEL Alignment:

    • Self-management
    • Responsible decision-making

    "Let's Get a Pup"
    Said Kate

    SEL Alignment:

    • Self-management
    • Self-awareness
    • Responsible decision-making

    Looking out for Sarah

    SEL Alignment:

    • Social awareness
    • Self-awareness
    • Responsible decision-making
    • Relationship skills

    Lost and Found Cat

    SEL Alignment:

    • Social awareness
    • Self-awareness
    • Responsible decision-making
    • Relationship skills

    Max Talks to Me

     

    SEL Alignment:

    • Social awareness

    Nobody's Cats

    SEL Alignment:

    • Social awareness
    • Self-awareness
    • Responsible decision-making

    Out of the Cold

    SEL Alignment:

    • Social awareness
    • Self-awareness
    • Responsible decision-making
    • Relationship skills

    Rescue & Jessica

    SEL Alignment:

    • Social awareness
    • Self-awareness
    • Responsible decision-making
    • Relationship skills

    So, What's It Like
    to be a Cat?

    SEL Alignment:

    • Self-awareness
    • Social awareness

    Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me

    SEL Alignment:

    • Self-awareness
    • Self-management
    • Social awareness

    The Restricted Adventures of Raja

    SEL Alignment:

    • Social awareness
    • Self-awareness
    • Relationship skills

    A Home for Nathan

  • Discussion & Activity Guide

  • CASEL Alignment:

  • None
  • Duncan & Dolores

  • Discussion & Activity Guide

  • CASEL Alignment:

  • None
  • Freckles & Willie

  • Discussion & Activity Guide

  • CASEL Alignment:

  • None
  • Ginger Finds a Home

  • Teaching Guide
  • Discussion & Activity Guide

  • CASEL Alignment:

  • Social awareness
  • Lucky Boy

  • Teaching Guide
  • Discussion & Activity Guide

  • CASEL Alignment:

  • Self-awareness
  • Social awareness
  • Relationship skills
  • Responsible decision-making
  • Mrs. Crump's Cat

  • Teaching Guide
  • Discussion & Activity Guide

  • CASEL Alignment:

  • Self-awareness
  • Social awareness
  • Relationship skills
  • Responsible decision-making
  • Oh, Theodore! Guinea Pig Tales

  • Teaching Guide
  • Discussion & Activity Guide

  • CASEL Alignment:

  • Self-awareness
  • Social awareness
  • Orville: A Dog Story

  • Teaching Guide
  • Discussion & Activity Guide

  • CASEL Alignment:

  • Social awareness
  • Click on a state/province below to download applicable PDF

  • Common Core State Standards
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • New Brunswick
  • RedRover Readers Book Loan

    Book loans are available to teachers who are having difficulty locating RedRover Readers books on their own.

    Student Participation Certificate

    Share this with students who participate in RedRover Readers sessions.

    RedRover Readers Pencils

    Email us to request free RedRover Readers pencils for your students!

    Tip Sheet:
    Arranging a Visit

    Tip Sheet:
    Classroom Management

    Tip Sheet:
    Implementing the Program

    Tip Sheet: Pre-Visit Checklist

    Canine Body Language Coloring Page

    created by Sarah Wilson

    Canine Body Language Tip Sheet

    created by Sarah Wilson

    The RedRover Readers program promotes empathy by presenting powerful stories, encouraging children to put themselves in the place of animals, and asking questions that promote critical thinking. A 2009 pilot study of the RedRover Readers program (then called the Humane Education Ambassador Readers) conducted by Inverness Research, Inc. suggests that the program:

    • Builds self-esteem and motivates students to take an important subject seriously.
    • Stimulates additional student-directed learning.
    • Builds students’ knowledge and potentially affects their behaviors related to caring for pets.
    • Builds students’ empathy and compassion for pets.

    Kind News
    Digital Issues

    RedRover
    Reporters

    Empathy App
    Story & Games