Exploring Life & Business with Sara LaTorre of The Decodable Duo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara LaTorre.

Hi Sara, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The Decodable Duo began while Lindsay and I were partner teachers and also raising young readers of our own. As both educators and parents, we noticed how challenging it was to find decodable books that were not only phonics-aligned but also fun and engaging. We wanted students to love reading while developing strong foundational skills, so we created our first series: The Adventures of Bot, a set of decodable co-readers designed to build confidence and connection.

From there, our vision grew. We started sharing literacy tips and resources on social media, expanding to Teachers Pay Teachers and creating online courses to support families and educators. What started as a shared need in our own classrooms has now become a passionate mission to make early literacy joyful, accessible, and empowering for all learners.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most meaningful projects, it definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road. We started The Decodable Duo while teaching and parenting, so balancing time, energy, and learning an entirely new world of publishing and entrepreneurship came with a lot of trial and error. We had to teach ourselves everything — from layout and printing to marketing, and navigating the online space.

There were moments where things felt overwhelming or where a learning curve slowed us down, but every challenge pushed us to grow and refine our work. Hearing from families and teachers whose children have gained confidence because of our resources has made every hurdle worth it. Those messages are what keep us going and remind us why we started in the first place.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Decodable Duo is an early literacy brand dedicated to helping children build strong reading foundations with confidence and joy. We create phonics-aligned decodable books, resources, and courses that support both parents and educators—especially those working with brand-new or struggling readers.

We’re best known for The Adventures of Bot, our decodable co-readers. What makes them unique is the structure: one side of the page is written for the adult to read, adding rich vocabulary and context, while the other side remains fully decodable for the child. This format allows young readers to experience success while still enjoying a real story with meaningful language, not just isolated words or repetitive patterns.

Beyond our books, we offer literacy tips through social media content, Teachers Pay Teachers resources, and soon will offer online courses that break down the science of reading into practical, approachable steps.

What sets us apart is our lens as both educators and moms—we build everything with real classrooms, real homes, and real kids in mind. We’re incredibly proud of the brand we’re building because it’s grounded in research, driven by purpose, and fueled by a belief that every child deserves to feel successful and excited about learning to read.

Our mission is simple: make evidence-based literacy instruction accessible, doable, and joyful. If readers take away anything about our brand, we hope it’s this—learning to read should feel empowering, not overwhelming, and we’re here to help make that possible.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Our biggest advice is to start before you feel fully ready. It’s easy to get stuck waiting for the perfect plan, perfect product, or perfect timing — but clarity usually comes from doing, not before it. When we began, we didn’t have all the answers, but we had a clear purpose and were willing to learn as we went.

We also learned quickly that everything takes longer than expected — especially when you’re juggling business, family, and life — and that’s okay. Small, consistent steps compound over time. Celebrate progress, even if it feels slow.

Another piece of advice: don’t be afraid of learning curves. Publishing, marketing, design, tech — none of it came naturally at first. But every skill you build becomes part of your toolbox.

And finally, stay rooted in why you started. The process will have exciting milestones and challenging stretches, but when your work is aligned with your values and serves a real need, it’s worth it. Your mission will carry you through moments self-doubt can’t.

So if you’re just starting — be brave, be patient, and keep going. You don’t need perfection — you just need momentum.

Pricing:

• 16.99

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DV91646W?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedecodableduo/