Laura Baker – författare

Collins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Book banded for guided and independent reading, there are reading notes in the back, comprehensive teaching and assessment support and ebooks available.When was the last time you were kind to someone? How did it make you feel? Uncover the science of kindness and how to train your brain to be more kind to others and yourself in this information book by Laura Baker.White Plus/Band 10+ books provide challenging plots and vocabulary as well as opportunities to practise inference, prediction and reading stamina.Pages 46 and 47 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall.Ideas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.

The pie shop's mixer won't stop mixing! Pip and Kit have to find their way through the pie-filling to stop it.Using the world's largest known database of writing for and by children, our experts have defined 300 ambitious words to help children succeed at school. We've combined these with fully-decodable books that help you match your phonics teaching and practice, while inspiring and engaging your young readers. Specially developed to enhance children's vocabulary alongside their decoding skills, these books are perfect for sharing.

Celebrate the phenomenon of glimmers (the opposite of triggers) in this inspiring picture book about the moments in our lives that spark joy, bring peace, and inspire hope-with illustrations by #1 New York Times bestselling artist Ramona Kaulitzki.Search with your eyes, keep your heart open too,and look for the glimmers that shine their way through.You can find a glimmer anywhere: a flower growing out of the sidewalk, a rainbow after a storm, a whiff of something delicious-even a puppy licking your nose. When you're feeling anxious or gloomy, spotting a glimmer can calm racing thoughts or put a smile on your face. And once you begin looking, you'll find more and more glimmers, and start sharing their magic with friends! This lyrical ode to making time for tiny moments of tranquility is a gentle introduction to mindfulness for young readers, or the perfect gift to brighten anyone's day.

Little Leaf is happy in its woodland home, dancing on a tree with other leaves in the sunshine. But as autumn arrives it flutters to the floor before sailing on the breeze down a river. As winter approaches Little Leaf settles with other leaves on the forest floor and is covered with a soft blanket of snow. But what will happen to little Leaf in the spring, when new plants shoot from the ground?

Highly engaging, illustrated picture book to be read out loud to children aged 4–5

Ideal for reading aloud at home with your child

Helps expose your child to rich language and curriculum-linked vocabulary 

Includes key terms from Science and the topic area of seasons and weather 

Part of the Bug Club reading series used in over 3500 schools

‘These books are a great start to addressing the wider curriculum and the vocabulary issues that schools are identifying.’ - Assistant Head, Primary Academy

The Bug Club Shared books are highly engaging, beautifully illustrated stories designed to be read out loud to children. The programme exposes children to rich, curriculum-linked vocabulary, helping to build an understanding across school subjects and cultivate a love for reading.

Magnet Dot and Magnet Tod are not friends. They have nothing in common and definitely do not get along, in fact, they repel each other. One day Dot finds the perfect object for her collection - trouble is, so does Tod. But perhaps they have more in common than they think … 

Highly engaging, illustrated picture book to be read out loud to children aged 5–6

Ideal for reading aloud at home with your child

Helps expose your child to rich language and curriculum-linked vocabulary 

Includes key terms from Science and the topic area of forces and magnets

Part of the Bug Club reading series used in over 3500 schools

‘These books are a great start to addressing the wider curriculum and the vocabulary issues that schools are identifying.’ - Assistant Head, Primary Academy

The Bug Club Shared books are highly engaging, beautifully illustrated stories designed to be read out loud to children. The programme exposes children to rich, curriculum-linked vocabulary, helping to build an understanding across school subjects and cultivate a love for reading.

A picture book that's full of fun and silliness, TheFull Stop That Got Away brings together LauraBaker and Nathan Reed for the very first time – and theresults are hilarious!This is Frank.Frank is a full stop.He's round and small and things quietly stop when he's around.Frank is a full stop, and he acts exactlylike a full stop should. He splits up sentences that get too long . . ."It's true. I do."He never shouts . . ."Ouch. Ouch. Help."And he never asks questions. "That's right."But what if Frank decides to stop acting likea full stop? What would happen then?   Brilliantly funny story by Laura Baker, author of The Colourof Happy and Monsters in TrucksBeautifully illustrated by Nathan Reed, illustrator of ThinkBIG and the Sam Wu seriesNot just a fun story, The Full Stop That Got Away isalso a perfect introduction to punctuation for children!Ideal for fans of The Day the Crayons Quit

A laugh out loud picture book about your new favouriteunicorn!Gah! Not another unicorn book. They're everywhere!When a unicorn who hates unicorn booksrealises that she is, in fact, IN A UNICORN BOOKherself, she does everything she can to get out. Can she run out of the book?Jump?Eat her way through the pages?!One thing's for sure: it will be a whole lot of funto watch this unicorn try to get out of yet another unicornbook . . . Laugh-out-loud story by Laura Baker, featuring a very funny,moody unicorn!Brilliantly bright illustrations by Chris Jevons, with lots ofdetail for children to spotChildren will love this fun twist on the unicorn book!

The T-rex isn't so terrible in this funny picture book!"Ugh! Not another dinosaur book about the terrible T-rex.I am SO tired of stories making us out to be big, bad villains."Poor T-rex is a peaceful gal really. She doesn't know why theother dinosaurs always run away from her. Well, this time she'sgoing to be the one to run away!Can she run out of the book?Jump?Eat her way through the pages?!One thing's for sure: it will be a whole lot of fun to watch thislittle dinosaur try to get out of yet another dinosaur book .. . Laugh-out-loud story by Laura Baker, featuring a dinosaur witha very rumbly tummy!Brilliantly bright illustrations by Chris Jevons, with lots ofdetail for children to spot.Children will love this fun twist on a dinosaur book, with interactiveelementsIf you love this, check out Not Another Unicorn Book

Tall monsters, small monsters, monsters here and there. Hairy monsters, scary monsters... in TRUCKS everywhere. Children will love this super-fun title packed with hilarious monsters in incredible trucks! Follow the monsters as they build a city and watch out for a monster thief on the loose!There is plenty to spot on every page, with playful, bright artwork and lots of amusing mishaps.Energetic, whacky and characterful monsters are drawn in a vibrant, contemporary style by Ukranian illustrator Nina Dzyvulska - spot Grin monster in a forklift truck, Brainy monster busy building, and Jiggly monster who might need the loo!The simple narrative with fun wordplay and a gentle rhyme is perfect for reading aloud, ideal for preschoolers and early readers as they build up their vocabulary and reading confidence. This bold, bright and playful book is sure to be enjoyed time and time again by young readers as they are thrilled by the wild escapades of the monsters in trucks!

'Baker’s zany verses, dynamically typeset to mirror the frenetic energy, take readers on a whirlwind tour of the monsters’ Christmas shenanigans and make for a great read-aloud.' – Shenwei Chang, Horn BookMerry monsters, hairy monsters, monsters trailing slime. Shiny monsters, tiny monsters, all at Christmas time!Children will love this super-fun title packed with hilarious monsters preparing for Christmas! Follow the monsters as they play in the snow and slide on the ice, decorate the house and go shopping for presents... and watch out for Santa monster hiding in every scene!There is plenty to spot on every page, with playful, bright artwork, and lots of festive, amusing mishaps.Energetic, wacky, and characterful monsters are drawn in a vibrant, contemporary style by Ukranian illustrator Nina Dzyvulska – spot Sprinkle monster baking up a storm, Teeth monster decking all the halls, and Roar monster trying out Santa’s sleigh!The simple narrative with fun wordplay and a gentle rhyme is perfect for reading aloud, ideal for preschoolers and early readers as they build up their vocabulary and reading confidence. This bold, bright, and playful book is sure to be enjoyed time and time again by young readers as they are thrilled by the merry escapades of the Christmas monsters!

Children will love this super-fun picture book packed with hilarious monsters all getting ready for bed... well some of them! Follow the monsters as they go through the bedtime routine, in their very special monster way!There is plenty to spot on every page, with playful, bright artwork and lots of amusing mishaps.Energetic, whacky and characterful monsters are drawn in a vibrant, contemporary style by Ukranian illustrator Nina Dzyvulska. Meet sleepy monsters, weepy monsters, teeth-brushing monsters, toilet-flushing monsters, splashing monsters, crashing monsters… even spot and follow a cheeky little monster  who does everything to avoid bedtime! Then settle in with bedtime-story monster, cuddle monster and of course all the loudly snoring monsters in a snuggled-into-bed ending for all.The simple narrative with fun wordplay and a gentle rhyme is perfect for reading aloud, ideal for preschoolers and early readers as they build up their vocabulary and reading confidence. This bold, bright and playful book is sure to be enjoyed time and time again by young readers as they are thrilled by the wild, but familiar, escapades of the monster at bedtime!Also available in the series: Monsters in Trucks, Monsters at School and Monsters at Christmas

Fluffy monsters, scruffy monsters, monsters on their way. Rucksack monsters, turn-back monsters, off to school today!  Children will love this super-fun title packed with hilarious monsters on their first day of school! Follow the cheeky little monsters as they have lessons, go wild at playtime, eat a messy monster lunch, and learn and play together – and watch out for the silly dog monster hiding on every page!Plenty to spot on every page, with playful, bright artwork and lots of amusing mishapsVibrant, contemporary style by Ukrainian illustrator Nina Dzyvulska Energetic, wacky and characterful monsters Good role models for little ones—monsters also clean up, do school work and calm downSee the monsters cause mayhem everywhere: at the school gates, in the cloakroom, in the classroom, on the playground, in the dining hall and in the bathroom There are so many different monsters to spot within this kooky picture book. Kids can point out their favourites and gasp and chuckle at the gobble monster, the yappy monster and the learn monster, to name a few!The simple narrative with fun wordplay and a gentle rhyme is perfect for reading aloud, ideal for preschoolers and early readers as they build up their vocabulary and reading confidence. This bold, bright and playful book is sure to be enjoyed time and time again by young readers as they are thrilled by the funny escapades of the monsters at school!

Project X Hero Academy Non-fiction is a diverse and inspiring series of fully-decodable titles for reading practice that's matched to phonics knowledge. Aligned to Letters and Sounds, this contemporary series broadens children's subject knowledge, while consolidating their phonics learning and improving their reading fluency. This pack contains the books in Light Blue Book Band, Oxford Level 4, and supports Letters and Sounds Phase 4.This pack contains six copies of each of the following three books:Light Blue A: A Bag of Letters, Light Blue B: Stop the Bus!, Light Blue C: Nora's FarmFree, flexible teaching guidance on Oxford Owl means that each book can be used for independent, one-to-one or guided reading.

Carlos is a bus driver. In Stop the Bus!, Carlos takes everyone where they need to go. This book is in Light Blue Book Band, Oxford Level 4, and supports Letters and Sounds Phase 4.Project X Hero Academy Non-fiction is a diverse and inspiring series of fully-decodable titles for reading practice that's matched to phonics knowledge. Aligned to Letters and Sounds, this contemporary series broadens children's subject knowledge, while consolidating their phonics learning and improving their reading fluency.

Scooter is teaching Cora tennis. He finds rackets but no balls, so they head to the shop. When Scooter knocks over a stack, the search becomes trickier than expected.Stories for Maths helps develop maths mastery through the power of story.This series aligns with the White Rose Maths schemes of learning. Each book has questions at the bottom of the pages and an activity page at the end of the story, which help to draw out that learning by asking questions and encouraging talk about maths. Key maths words and phrases are also highlighted in each book, further helping to deepen understanding and grow children's mathematical skills and vocabulary.These fun and relatable stories help children feel more confident with maths and reduce anxiety, especially for those with special educational needs. The inclusive approach makes learning accessible during catch-up or intervention sessions. Sharing the stories together also supports emotional connection, boosts memory, and encourages speech and language development—whether you're reading at home or your child is learning at school. The books in Year 1/Primary 2 are designed for an adult to read to a child, although there is some decodable text that children may be able to read themselves.This book aligns with White Rose Maths for Year 1, Place value (within 50), Step 4. Count by making groups of tens.

This series of books features lovable monster friends-Ralf, Scooter, Netty, and Cora-who help each other out of tricky situations and come up with wacky inventions along the way. The stories are humorous and relatable for young children. In one adventure, the monsters build sandcastles; in another, they go camping; and in another, they visit a city farm. They even manage to bring snow to summer! The books are boldly and brightly illustrated, and they focus on maths topics aligned with the UK Year 1 Primary Maths curriculum (White Rose Maths). The vocabulary and concepts in the stories match what children learn in class. There are supporting questions that deepen maths learning, making it easier for teachers or parents to engage with the material. The pack includes three copies of each book in the Stories for Maths Year 1 Make it Monster series.

This series of books features lovable monster friends-Ralf, Scooter, Netty, and Cora-who help each other out of tricky situations and come up with wacky inventions along the way. The stories are humorous and relatable for young children. In one adventure, the monsters build sandcastles; in another, they go camping; and in another, they visit a city farm. They even manage to bring snow to summer! The books are boldly and brightly illustrated, and they focus on maths topics aligned with the UK Year 1 Primary Maths curriculum (White Rose Maths). The vocabulary and concepts in the stories match what children learn in class. There are supporting questions that deepen maths learning, making it easier for teachers or parents to engage with the material. The pack includes one copy of each book in the Stories for Maths Year 1 Make it Monster series.