Books

A fox was having a nap when a tiger leapt out at him, ready to attack. Could the fox use his cunning to save his own life? This traditional story has been beautifully illustrated by Tomislav Zlatic. Green/Band 5 books offer early readers patterned...

What happens when a lucky pair of socks goes missing? Where do all the lost socks go? Discover the mystical world of sock land for yourself. Orange/Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. Text type: A...

Clementine the crocodile is known for always being happy and having a big smile, but one day she gets toothache and can't smile anymore. Can she overcome her fear of the dentist and regain her smile? Orange/Band 6 books offer varied text and characters,...

When the volcano Vesuvius erupted 2,000 years ago, the city of Pompeii disappeared under the ash. Four hundred years ago, Pompeii was rediscovered. The ash had preserved Pompeii so well that buildings, mosaics, statues and other artefacts have survived...

In 1912, the largest passenger ship ever built set sail for America, but she never got there. Find out what happened to the Titanic and her passengers. Orange/Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. Text...

When Brown Bear loses his sense of smell he cannot find food. Wilbur Wolf is too old to hunt for food. Can the two find a way of working together to help each other? Turquoise/Band 7 books offer literary language and extended descriptions, with longer...

Using the influence of Rudyard Kipling's Poem "If", award-winning author Mij Kelly explores the challenges of living in a world filled with monstrous people, and how important it is to keep smiling regardless of the chaos around you. Purple/Band 8 books...

When Clare and her family go on holiday, she is not allowed to take her pet spider Harry with her - so when he sneaks away with her Clare is told off. But when her mum's suitcase goes missing, who can save the day? Purple/Band 8 books offer developing...

A beautiful poetry book by June Crebbin exploring the themes of wildlife, the seasons and life's simple pleasures. Gold/Band 9 fiction offers developing readers literary language and stories with distinctive characters. Text type: A poetry book A map of...

In 1850 in Scotland, a great storm washed away tonnes of soil to reveal the remains of a village that existed 4,000 years before. Discover what was found at the lost village of Skara Brae and what life was like in the New Stone Age. Turquoise/Band 7...

Discover the fascinating world of humpback whales, including their childhood, their search for food and the three-month migration to reach Antarctica in this highly photographic information book. Turquoise/Band 7 books offer literary language and...

Mr Cat's carrying a big bag. His friends, Mrs Bear, Mr Fox, Mrs Duck and Mr Mouse are all very interested to find out what he has inside, but Mr Cat will only give them one answer: "Wait and see!" This sweet story is written by ten-year-old Collins Big...

Join one boy and his family on a trip to the zoo. But this is no normal zoo: it's full of extraordinary animals, including elephants who drink tea, penguins who ski, and even chimpanzees who eat peas! Illustrated by Luciana Fernandez, this imaginative...

Find out what life was like for the children growing up during World War II. With photographs straight from the archives of the Imperial War Museum, Jillian Powell looks at rationing, schooling and evacuation and how the daily lives of children were...

Follow the true story of Winkie, a carrier pigeon in WWII whose crew crash landed in the sea. All hopes rested with Winkie as she battled to reach help - but would she be able to lead them back to her crew? The story is told in the style of a graphic...

Follow one girl as she builds a rocket and plans to take her friends on an amazing trip to the Sun and Moon. But will the task prove more difficult than she first thought? Imaginatively illustrated by T.S Spookytooth, this clever and inventive poem was...

Sam is an ordinary dog who likes to sit around and sleep in his basket - but Sam has a secret. When his owners leave the house, he becomes Super Sam! Find out what heroic deeds he performs in this entertaining story by ten-year-old Collins Big Cat 2011...

Read the miraculous survival stories from across the world of lucky people who escaped dangerous situations, such as being bitten by a shark or trapped in an avalanche. This inspirational book by John Foster is accompanied by real-life photos and...

Where does the food in your lunch-box come from? How far has it travelled? Find out where bananas are grown, where tuna is found and how chocolate is made in this highly photographic information book. Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence, helping...

When Zara wishes for a new dress for the school party she doesn't expect to see a fairy godbrother land in her room, especially when he tries to "text-a-spell" with unpredictable results! Will Zara ever get her dream dress? Collins Big Cat Progress...

Jack and Sam think their school trip to the Ancient Greece Museum is boring, until they see a glowing statue ... Finding themselves whisked away to fight a deadly monster, suddenly Ancient Greece doesn't seem so dull after all. This exciting graphic...

Find out about the natural disasters people face around the world, what effect they have on towns and cities and how we can help to protect people from them. Packed with fact files and maps showing disaster spots as well as high impact photographs, this...

At the 2012 Olympics, the modern pentathlon will be 100 years old. This photographic non-fiction report shows the events that are included in the pentathlon and the extraordinary skills needed to compete in this challenging event. Collins Big Cat...

From pigeons and elephants to parachuting dogs - millions of animals helped in both world wars. This non-fiction book, with fascinating photographs from the archives of the Imperial War Museum, focuses on the animals that were involved and their bravery...

Discover the incredible true story of Sergeant Norman Jackson, who had survived 30 missions when his plane was hit over enemy territory in 1945. Under fire and travelling at 200mph he climbed onto the wing, attempting to put out the blaze. This exciting...

A boy takes home a seal skull that he finds at the beach. It has dark, empty eyes that stare back at him. Now a storm is brewing and his room is filled with shadows - will he be able to calm the storm? This mysterious story by Anne Curtis is evocatively...

What are the most dangerous animals in the world? Take a closer look at some very poisonous, venomous and deadly animals in this stunning photographic non-fiction report by award-winning author Anna Claybourne. Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence,...

When Pedro the fisherman catches a big swordfish, he decides to share his meal with a man in the local prison - a captured pirate. But when Pedro himself is later captured by a pirate gang, he finds his generosity hasn't been forgotten. This traditional...

Once, there were 100,000 tigers in the world, but now these beautiful creatures are under threat of extinction. Find out the reasons for the decrease in tiger numbers, and what we can do to change it, in this photographic information book by Louise...

Jean and his friends are fishermen. Jean throws a spear at a passing dolphin to show his strength and suddenly the crew are swept into a terrible storm. Jean soon realises that he has injured the Dolphin King and put the lives of his friends in peril...

In some parts of America in the 1950s, White people and Black people were treated very differently. Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King publicly fought against this - but in very different ways. This is the powerful and inspiring story of how they stood up...

Captain Scott travelled to the Antarctic in 1901 - the first man in the world ever to go there. Join one man as he follows in Scott's footsteps and understands why the Antarctic is so important to us in this evocative book by Anne Curtis. Collins Big Cat...

Riding a BMX, or Bicycle Motocross, is very different to riding an ordinary road bike. Find out all the differences, the tricks, techniques and amazing skills that go into making a great Olympic BMX competitor, in this photographic non-fiction book...

Some cars are big and powerful, while others are very small. Some can even fly or float on water! Find out about some of the world's coolest and most unusual cars in this highly photographic information book. Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence,...

During World War II, many spies were dropped from Britain into France to help fight the Nazis. One of them was a woman called Christine Granville, who risked her life to save her comrades. Follow her incredible true story is this beautifully illustrated...

What is a muscle? How do they work? Why are they so important? Find out the answers to all of these questions in this information book, filled with detailed illustrations and photographs. Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence, helping struggling...

Dan and Sara are bored. There's nothing to do in their town, so they're sitting in the park and playing a computer game - but little do they know what adventures are happening right behind them ... This Manga graphic novel is written and energetically...

The Star Ship Orca is taking off on a mission to find a new planet for the people of Earth. First stop: Mars. But will the crew find anything there except rocks and sand? Will they find intelligent life? Discover their journey in this imaginative story,...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level The Tour de France is the most famous cycling race in the world. Find out how it began, what stages are involved and what prizes can be won in this informative book by Sean...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Still only a teenager, Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds has already swum in the World Championships, beaten a world record holder and received an MBE. Find out Ellie's story of...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level What's it like to be one of Britain's greatest gymnasts? In this fascinating autobiography, Beth Tweddle takes us through the biggest moments of her life, from winning gold at...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level At the beginning of World War II, a young American woman named Virginia Hall was sent undercover to Nazi-occupied France to spy on the German army. Follow her incredible true...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Two touching, ghostly tales by Harriet Goodwin and Leon Rosselson. In the first, Joe, struggling to come to terms with his mother's death, finds himself drawn into a spooky...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Catrin lives in Wales, and prefers drawing animals to spending time with friends. One night, she hears an eerie howl from the nearby mountain - a wild cat. Can she confront her...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level We use oil every day - whether on the bus to school or writing with a pen. But where does it come from? What impact is our use of it having on the environment? What will happen...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level There's something mysterious about the big, old house across the river. So when Archie and his two friends are offered a job tidying the attic, they jump at the chance. But...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Take a closer look at the amazing changes the future may hold, including robopets, space tourism and locust burgers, as well as the wider impact of our future life on the climate...

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Ross has been saving for a football top of his favourite team for ages, but doesn't think he'll ever afford it. When he sees one pinned to a tree, commemorating the death of a...