Raz-Plus Classic Books offer some of the greatest stories ever told, along with lesson plans, quizzes, discussion cards, and more. Each Classic Book is packed with opportunities for practicing reading comprehension and gaining 21st century skills.
Just a Few Benefits Classic Books Bring to Your Classroom
When your students read a book from our Classics collection, they’re engaging with famous authors, time-tested stories, and some of the greatest tales and poems in the history of literature.
These books encourage your students to explore complex perspectives and ideas while expanding historical and cultural knowledge and exposing them to language they might not encounter on their own. Students learn to dig down into multiple layers of meaning, discover new concepts, and develop the close reading skills that help them prepare for college and career.
Each title in our Classics collection is accompanied by a rich variety of resources to deepen and expand your classroom activities. From lesson plans with complete vocabulary support to comprehension quizzes and skill-tagged discussion cards, these additional resources will inspire your instruction while saving you planning time. Shorter texts come in a single book, while longer texts are available in multiple parts, allowing for instructional flexibility.
The Adventure of the Speckled Band
Level: Z2
Detective Sherlock Homes and his trusted assistant Dr. Watson investigate the mysterious murder of Miss Helen Stoner’s twin sister. While they examine the room where Helen’s sister died, Holmes & Watson make surprising discoveries.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Level: Y
Young Alice falls asleep and finds herself in an odd world filled with strange creatures. After navigating bizarre surroundings and scenarios in Wonderland, Alice awakens and tells her big sister all the fascinating tales of her adventures.
The Call of the Wild
Level: Z2
Buck the dog is stolen from his California home and shipped to Alaska for the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s. Thrown into a new life as a sled dog, Buck must quickly learn how to survive in a harsh environment with a series of owners.
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
Level: Z
This story-within-a-story told to a reluctant listener by a California miner describes a frog who wins every jumping contest until a trickster arrives, defeats the frog, and walks away with both its gambling owner’s money and his pride.
A Christmas Carol
Level: Z2
Ebenezer Scrooge has always put business before personal relationships. One Christmas Eve, he is visited by three spirits who represent the past, present, and future. Each spirit changes Scrooge’s priorities, teaching him what truly matters.
The Gift of The Magi
Level: Z
Della and Jim, two young lovers living in New York City in the early 1900s, may be poor in money but are rich in love. In a twist ending, each of them is willing to sell their most valued possession to buy a Christmas gift for the other.
A Little Princess
Level: X
Sara’s wealthy father moves her from India to a London boarding school. When tragedy strikes, Sara must live in the attic and clean the rooms of her former classmates. Sara’s rich imagination and great strength of character help her to survive.
The Necklace
Level: Z
Mathilde feels unhappy with her middle-class life. Invited to a ball, Mathilde demands a new dress, and borrows a diamond necklace from a wealthy friend. But when she arrives home after the ball, she finds that she has lost the diamond necklace.
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Level: Z2
A wealthy farmer devoted to the Confederate cause during the Civil War takes it upon himself to scout for the South and is captured by Federal soldiers. As he is about to be executed, he takes the reader back to the safety of his home.
The Raven
Level: Z2
This classic American poem is famous for its dark themes, foreboding tone, and clever rhythms and rhymes. A young man alone in his study, agonizing over the loss of his beloved Lenore, finds himself in a strange conversation with a raven.
The Red Badge of Courage
Level: Z2
Excited to fight for the Union in the Civil War, young Henry soon learns that war is not the heroic struggle he hoped it would be. After watching a close friend die, Henry is forced to reconsider his ideas about war and face his fears.
The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes
Level: Z1
Davidson is a scientist whose life changes dramatically after an accident in his London laboratory causes him to see a different reality than the one he experiences physically. Although in London, he can only see a faraway island.
Through the Looking Glass
Level: Y
As we follow the continuing adventures of Alice, she finds herself in yet another strange world. After having passed through a mirror to a world of adventure, Alice awakens unsure of whether she was dreaming, or was a part of the Red King's dream.
The Velveteen Rabbit
Level: X
This poignant story of a toy animal's longing to become magically real follows the stuffed rabbit as he provides companionship and comfort to a human boy. Their unconditional love helps the rabbit understand what it means to be real.
The Wind in the Willows
Level: Z1
This children’s literature classic follows a group of animals living in the English countryside. Kind and gentle Mole befriends the resourceful and dependable Rat, and they both deal with the misadventures of their friend, the conceited Toad.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Level: X
A cyclone whisks Dorothy and her dog Toto from their Kansas home to the magical land of Oz, where she meets the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion. They all set out to ask the Wizard of Oz to help her return to Kansas.
