Collins Big Cat – serie

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. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available.Dive deep into your emotions, and discover how writing about them can help you explore how you’re feeling, and find healthy ways of dealing with your thoughts.Diamond/Band 17 books offer more complex, underlying themes to give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view.Pages 54 and 55 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.A few words from Michael on why he wrote this book: I wrote this book because I’ve found writing about my state of mind really helpful and fun at the same time. Sometimes this is because I’ve been troubled – devastated even, as when my son died. Other times I’ve wanted to celebrate and remember great times I’ve had. The help it’s given me comes from seeing myself reflected back at me. This helps me view myself with some degree of detachment, and this enables me to put myself into the company of others, other people who may have experienced this pain or joy too. Togetherness feels better than isolation. I wanted to share these ideas with young people because I know mental health is a big issue for many young people and I hope this book will help them.

The book reveals how castles were built, not only for people to live in, but also to keep enemies out. Detailed illustrations show the materials that were used and special precautions that were taken to ensure castles would provide adequate defence. Photographs show several examples of castles and castle remains that can still be visited today. Turquoise/ Band 7 books offer literary language and extended descriptions, with longer sentences and a wide range of unfamiliar terms.Text type – A report and explanation text.There is an index on page 21 and a labelled 3-D diagram of a castle on pages 22 and 23 providing an opportunity to recap the information.Curriculum links – Art and Design: Can buildings speak?; History: Famous events (Norman Invasion).This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

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. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available.Kirsten wishes she could be like new girl Jennings, especially now she’s lost her best friend Ruby to her. But when Kirsten finds herself in Jennings’ body after making a wish, will her new life be all she expected?Diamond/Band 17 books offer more complex, underlying themes to give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view.Text type: A contemporary storyIdeas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.Count Your Blessings was written to explore the idea of accepting yourself and focusing on your identity. It can be easy to begin to think other people’s strengths are what you should possess or attempt to acquire. You can now see people’s lives with a click of a mouse, and you might think you need to change. The central character, Kirsten, had the chance to experience that difference for herself. If there is a message at all, it is to be yourself. Especially as a child, you are changing all the time, but Kimberly believes it’s important to keep your eye on the person you are, even as you develop.

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with fully decodable phonics books matched to Letters and Sounds.Cat steps out through the cat flap, unaware that Dog is about to pounce. A frantic chase follows, which almost ends in catastrophe. But there is a suprise twist in the tale when Dog rescues Cat. Lilac/Band 0 – wordless book that tells a story through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how stories work.Text type – Fiction.The final spread shows the route of Cat and Dog’s chase through the park and can be used by the children to discuss and retell the story.Shoo Rayner also wrote and illustrated the Pink B story, Fly Away HomeThis book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with fully decodable phonics books matched to Letters and Sounds.This colourful book with hilarious cartoons is a wordless story set in the jungle. A pair of monkeys have their eye on a juicy-looking fruit hanging just out of reach. The story follows their inventive but unsuccessful attempts to grab the fruit. Lilac/Band 0 – wordless book that tells a story through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how stories work.Text type – Fiction.A storyboard on pages 14-15 provides an opportunity for children to retell the story in their own words.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

This picture story follows Granny's race against the clock. It's two o'clock and Granny has just one hour to reach her destination. As the minutes tick by, the story shows Granny's increasingly imaginative modes of transport, from skateboard to jet pack, before revealing why she is in such a hurry – it's her grandchild's birthday tea. Lilac/Band 0 – wordless books that tell stories or give information through pictures and are designed to develop understanding about how stories and information books work.Text type – FictionThe Reader Response page shows Granny's pictorial recount of the different transport she used, providing opportunities for speaking and listening.This story is paired with a non-fiction book on the same theme: My Party by Maoliosa Kelly.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

The story follows Goldilocks’ journey through the bears’ house as she samples their bowls of porridge and tries out their three differently-sized beds. When Goldilocks is discovered sleeping in Baby Bear’s bed, however, the story takes a different twist and Goldilocks is invited to join them for breakfast. Lilac/Band 0 – wordless book that tells a story through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how stories work.Text type – Fiction.A story map on pages 14-15 gives children the opportunity to recap the story in their own words.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

Follow the butterfly on its journey from flower to flower through brightly coloured photographs. But look out! Butterfly almost lands on a yellow flower where a camouflaged crab spider waits to pounce! Lilac/Band 0 – wordless book that gives information through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how information books work.Text type – Non-Fiction.A story map on pages 14 and 15 retells the story through repeated photograph to encourage speaking and listening.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

A wordless picture book about a birthday party. The photographs provide a window on all the preparations, the birthday tea, the guests arriving at the party, the gifts and the games. Come and join the fun! Lilac/Band 0 – wordless book that gives information through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how information books work.Text type – Non-Fiction.Pages 14 and 14 recap the different stages of the party and preparations in a sequenced flow chart providing opportunities for further writing and speaking and listening activities.This non-fiction book is paired with a story on a similar theme; Oh Dear Me I’m Late for Tea by Alison Hawes.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

Where do you see stripes around you? This non-fiction picture book looks at all sorts of stripes. Do you see them on a zebra’s fur, or as shadows on the pavement, or on a bright, woolly jumper? Alongside each photograph is a close-up snapshot that magnifies the various textiles and materials in detail. Lilac/Band 0 – wordless book that gives information through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how information books work.Text type – Non-FictionA simple pictoral summary at the end of the book provides an oppportunity to recap and discuss the information in the book.This book is ideal for supporting early work on patterns and art.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

How do different animals carry their babies? In this book readers will discover, through a series of photographs, that some animals carry their young by the teeth, some on their backs and others in a special pouch. Lilac/Band 0 – wordless book that gives information through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how information books work.Text type – Non-FictionPhotographs of all the animal babies (and a human baby!) included in the book are repeated on pages 14 and 15 to encourage speaking and listening.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

The photographs and text in this non-fiction picture book combine to give an account of a child getting ready to go out skateboarding. The book presents a glimpse of what makes this exhilarating activity so popular. Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations.Text type – Non-fiction recount.The photographs are repeated in a pictorial summary of the book on pages 14 and 15 so children can retell the event in their own words.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right levelThe brightly coloured photographs in this picture book show common minibeasts that most children will be familiar with. Photographs alongside the minibeasts show children grouped and made up to resemble the insect featured.This is a Band 01A/Pink A book in the Collins Big Cat reading programme which offers emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations. This is a simple information book with smaller versions of all the photographs repeated on pages 14 and 15 so children can retell the information in their own words. This non-fiction book is paired with a story on the same theme: The Picnic (9780007185399) written by Monica Hughes and Gustavo Mazili. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

What happens when Mum is in the garden tidying up, but thechildren just want to play? This simple, humorous story book shows two boys creating mayhem while Mum works on, unaware. It explores the different places they find to play, from the tent, to the sandpit, through the grass, the leaves and the mud before finally ending up in the bath. Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations.Text type – A story with predictable structure and patterned language.A story map on pages 14 and 15 shows the trail the boys make to encourage the children to retell the story in their own words.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

This simple picture book with a familiar theme, looks at the different thigns that a family take on a picnic; the rug, the basket, the sandwiches, the cakes and the drinks. The scene is set for a perfect picnic, until the wasps arrive! Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations.Text type – A story with a predictable structure and patterned languageA labelled illustration on pages 14 and 15 gives children the chance to recount and discuss the story.This story is paired with an information book with a similar theme: Minibeasts by Siobhan Hardy.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

How many dinosaurs are there in the dinosaur band? Count the dinosaurs as each music section gets up on stage to play their fabulous instruments, from guitars to flutes to piano! The dinosaurs build up slowly into a huge band and begin to rock! Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations.Text type – A story with predictable structure and patterned languageA final story map spread shows all the dinosaur rockers, encouraging children to recap the story.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

The colourful photographs in this non-fiction recount demonstrates different ways of pushing and pulling through photographs taken in a children’s playground, using swings, roundabouts and climbing frames and simple captions. Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations.Text type – A simple non-fiction recount.The photographs are repeated on pages 14 and 15 under the headings pushing and pulling providing an oppportunity to recap and discuss the information in the book.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

What’s inside a nut? What’s inside a pod? What’s inside you and me? The clear photos in this book will show children what’s inside all sorts of things, from a pea inside a peapod to the skeletons inside us. Red A/ Band 2A books offer predictable texts with famliar objects and actions, combined with simple story development or information development.Text type – A simple information book.Pages 14 and 15 provide an opportunity for children to recap and discuss the text.This book has been levelled for Reading RecoveryThis book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

It’s a lovely day for walking in the park. Before long the dog is chasing a duck through the mud, and dragging its owner into mud and a pond. The dog is taken home, shakes water all over the car and Dad, and at home gets hosed down in the garden – along with poor Dad! Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations.Text type – A story with predictable structure and patterned language.Children can follow the dog’s journey using the story map on pages 14 and 15.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

Poor Ladybird is lost and flies around the garden looking for somewhere she can call home. Her early efforts are rebuffed by the other animals, until finally she finds somewhere she can be happy: a ladybird-patterned T-shirt, where other ladybird friends soon come to join her. Pink B/ Band 1B books offer emergent readers simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions.Text type – A patterned story with predictable structure.The storymap on pages 14 and 15 shows the route Ladybird took in search of a home, providing opportunities for speaking and listening.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

Who ate the cake? Tec the detective follows the crumbs to find out. Children follow Tec as he trails his suspects, until he finds the vital clue that leads him to the guilty party! Martin Chatterton’s colourful illustrations bring the characters of Tec and his faithful hound vividly to life, and provide lots of talking points throughout the story. Red A/ Band 2A books offer predictable text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.Text type – A story with a predictable structure and patterned language.A simple pictoral summary at the end of the book provides an opportunity for the children to recap and check understanding. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

A humorous story featuring two whacky scientists building a robot. They assemble the robot carefully with each body part, but where is the head? In this simple text, each body part is named as it is added, and as the different parts are used, a repeated reply of thank you reinforces the phrase. Pink B/ Band 1B books offer emergent readers simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions.Text type – A patterned story with predictable structureThe body parts are repeated in a single labelled diagram of the completed robot on pages 14 and 15 providing opportunities for speaking, listening and writing.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

A patterned picture book about a family outing to the beach. The children are delighted when they spot seagulls, an ice-cream van, sand and even what they believe to be the sea, but are they at the beach yet? Lisa Smith's illustrations capture the children's excitement as they wait impatiently for their journey to end. Red A/Band 2A books offer predictable text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.Text type – A story with predictable structure and patterned language.Pages 14 and 15 show a labelled beach scene, incorporating the key words from the text, and providing an opportunity to recount the text.This story is paired with a non-fiction book on the same theme: Shapes on the Seashore by Frances Ridley.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

This captivating non-fiction book compares pet cats and wild cats, pointing out the features common to both. Each spread consists of a beautifully illustrated and labelled feature of a domestic cat on the left, and a high quality photograph of the corresponding feature in a wild cat on the right. Pink B/ Band 1B books offer emergent readers simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions.Text type – A non-fiction report.Pages 14 and 15 offers reinforcement as all the labels are repeated in a single diagram of the domestic cat.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

In this simple non-fiction report we are introduced to the various creatures in a typical pond: frogs, snails, dragonflies, pond-skaters, fish and birds. Each spread features a high quality photograph of the creature on the left, and artwork of pupils and their teacher studying the animals in their natural habitat on the right. Pink B/ Band 1B books offer emergent readers simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions.Text type – A simple non-fiction report.All of the creatures are repeated in a single labelled diagram of the pond on pages 14 and 15 giving children the opportunity to recount the information.This information book is paired with a story on the same theme: Fly Away Home by Shoo Rayner.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

Some wheels are big and some wheels are small. This exciting book is full of photos of all kinds of wheels: big and small, fat and thin, fast and slow, from skateboards to tractors, that children are sure to be curious about. Pink B/ Band 1B books offer simple, predictable texts with familiar objects and actions.Text type – A simple non-fiction text.A simple pictoral summary with captions on pages 14 and 15 provides an oppportunity to recap and discuss the information in the book.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

Come and see the circus! A combination of artwork and photographs show children some of the things they might see in a circus, such as clowns, dancers, the juggler and acrobats. A combination of illustrations and photographs show them at work. Pink B/ Band 1B books offer emergent readers simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions.Text type – A simple information book.A poster on pages 14 and 15 advertises when and where the circus can be seen, and is ideal for children to discuss and recap the text.This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

‘It is dark in the park. It is dark in the street.’ This superb patterned non-fiction text uses atmospheric illustrations to show what happens in the neighbourhood when it is dark. Who can be found in the city streets when children are tucked up in bed? Which animals prowl in the wood by the light of the moon? Red A/ Band 2A books offer predictable text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.Text type – Non-fiction recount.Pages 14 and 15 repeat the scenes explored throughout the book, allowing children the chance to recap on the narrative, and answer the question 'Where is it dark?’This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

Hippo wants to play on the see-saw. But who will play with him? In this humorous story a hippo wants to go on a see-saw, but no other animal is heavy enough to get hippo off the ground. It takes a group of animals to do it – and in the end, it is a tiny mouse that makes the difference. Pink B/ Band 1B books offer emergent readers simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions.Text type – A story with a predictable structure and patterned language.Pages 14 and 15 feature a flow chart, an ideal opportunity to retell the story in sequence.