About Education by Shala Books
Phonics Playground is a product of Education by Shala Books Inc., a company dedicated to creating practical, effective educational resources for teachers, students, and families.
Our Mission
We believe in empowering educators and families with tools that make learning accessible, engaging, and effective. Our resources are born from real classroom and home experiences—designed by educators for educators, parents, and students.
Our Commitment
Every product we create is:
- Research-based: Grounded in proven educational methodologies
- Practical: Designed for real-world use in classrooms and homes
- Engaging: Built to motivate and inspire learners
- Accessible: Easy to use for both educators and students
- Effective: Focused on measurable learning outcomes
🌟 From phonics fundamentals to AI-powered learning tools, we're here to support your educational journey.
Christina Shala
Founder & Creator, Education by Shala Books
As a parent and educator, I believe every child deserves the tools and support they need to become a confident, capable reader. Reading is one of the greatest journeys a child will embark on in their young lives, and it should be joyful, empowering, and achievable.
That belief led me to create Phonics Playground—a collection of interactive phonics resources born from my own experience supporting my daughter's reading journey over eight years ago.
The Spark That Started It All
Eight years ago, I watched my kindergartener struggle through her first phonics reader. By the time she sounded out all the words on a page, she'd completely lost the story. The frustration was real—for both of us.
That's when it hit me: What if she could practice reading just one word at a time, in an actual book format?
I created a few simple eBooks—one CVC word per page with a picture and audio support. My daughter lit up. She was reading "real books" and believing in herself as a reader. When I shared them with her teacher and other parents, they had the same reaction: this actually works!
That proof of concept became an obsession. I started building out the collection systematically—adding two-word pages, layering in sight words, introducing consonant blends (CCVC and CVCC patterns). Each expansion was designed to build confidence through small, achievable steps.
The structure worked beautifully. My daughter could decode the CVC words in every sentence—"He can run. He can jog."—which gave her the confidence to tackle sight words like "He." Reading became joyful instead of overwhelming.
Today, my daughter is a confident, capable reader. And Phonics Playground has grown into a comprehensive system that's helping thousands of children experience that same transformation—from struggling to succeeding, one word at a time.
Our Educational Ecosystem
Education by Shala Books offers a range of educational platforms and resources:
🌈 Phonics Playground
Interactive phonics eBooks for emergent and transitional readers. Building confident readers from CVC words to complex patterns.
🎓 AI School Labs
AI-powered tools designed to support teachers, students, and schools in everyday tasks. Visit AI School Labs →
📚 Shala Books
Our complete catalog of educational resources, including phonics books, teaching guides, and more. Visit Shala Books →
Let's Connect
Have questions about Phonics Playground or Education by Shala Books? Want to share your success stories? We'd love to hear from you!