Books

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Tomorrow is Linnie's birthday, and all she wants is to see the bore: a tidal wave about to crash down the estuary. But there's a problem on the farm and (to her sister's delight)...

Ever wondered how milk gets from the cow in the field to your glass? Filled with photographs, this non-fiction report takes you through every step, from milking the cow to transporting the milk to the supermarket. Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated...

The Hat Maker sets off on his weekly visit to market, armed with an overflowing cart of hats to sell - but when he stops for a nap in the woods a group of chimps take the opportunity to steal his hats. Will the Hat Maker learn a valuable lesson, or will...

Gorillas are fascinating animals - find out all about their habitat, diet and behaviour in this photographic non-fiction book by Teresa Heapy. Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural...

The fly was hungry, and buzzed over to the park to see what he could find. In the park he quickly spied lots of food, but found getting that food was much less straightforward! Join the fly as he gets into endless trouble on his search for something to...

Poppy the beetle sings all day, but her singing isn't very popular with the rest of the beetles and they refuse to play with her. When she bumps into Harry the mouse and Jake the snake, though, she finds her singing can be useful after all. Yellow/Band 3...

What's the difference between a frog and a toad? This highly photographic non-fiction book explains the similarities and differences between these two amphibians, including their appearance, diet and behaviour. Yellow/Band 3 books offer varied sentence...

Where do peas come from? How do they grow and how do they get from the field to our dinner plates? All these questions and more are answered in this informative and photographic journey of the pea. Yellow/Band 3 books offer varied sentence structure and...

Prince Hal is upset - he wants the moon. So the King and Queen send their servants, Grim and Crumb, out to catch the moon for him, with hilarious consequences. This charming story by award-winning author Mal Peat and Elspeth Graham is illustrated by Xiao...

Ponds are full of all kinds of plants and animals. Take a look inside one pond and discover the food chain that exists within, in this wonderfully illustrated non-fiction book by John Townsend. Red B/Band 2B books offer simple but varied text with...

How many sounds do you hear in your day? Follow one boy as he fizzes, pops and crunches his way through his day in this fun non-fiction recount! Children can recap and discuss all the different sounds from the book on pages 14-15. Red B/Band 2B books...

Goat loves her red coat and Fox loves his spotty socks - but he wants Goat's coat too, and sets out to steal it from her. Will Goat and Fox ever be able to find a compromise to keep them both happy? This fun story is written and illustrated by Laura...

Bee Rex the dinosaur loves to run, shout and swing from the trees, but her brother Max can't do any of those things. He prefers slower, quieter pursuits, such as looking for bugs under rocks. When Bee needs help, though, Max finds there is something he...

Follow the life of a chicken - from its early days as a chick hatching in its nest, to laying eggs of its own, in this photographic information book by Elspeth Graham. Red A/Band 2A books offer predictable text with familiar objects and actions, combined...

Panda enjoys playing his drums, but would love to put together a band and share his music with others. Join him as he searches for the perfect band mates and prepares for a star performance in this lovely story by Laura Hambleton. Red A/Band 2A books...

It's fun to get fit! Find out different ways professional sports people keep fit, and how easy it is for us to do the same, in this highly photographic non-fiction recount. This is a Red A/Band 2A book in the Collins Big Cat reading programme which...

Puff the pup is digging a hole and finding lots of interesting things. But what does he find right at the bottom of the hole, and what is hidden inside it? This energetic story by Tony Mitton is illustrated by James Cottell. Red A/Band 2A books offer...

Follow a young girl as she sets out to catch a crab, in this fun non-fiction book, written by Charlotte Guillain and brought to life by the illustrations of Ley Honor Roberts. This is a Pink B level/Band 1B book in the Collins Big Cat reading programme...

When Mum leaves Sid by himself in the house, he sits patiently waiting for her to return. But when a cat climbs in through the window, Sid jumps into action to chase the intruder away - with disastrous consequences! This is a Pink B level/Band 1B book in...

Join Dan and Sam as they have fun dipping and tapping with shapes and paint to produce paintings. But who are their pictures of? Full of creative ideas, this photographic non-fiction book is written by Catherine Baker. Children can discuss the different...

We all know recycling is important, but what actually happens to the things we recycle? This photographic information book looks behind the scenes at how we recycle, what can be done with recycled material and what the benefits are. Blue/Band 4 books...

While Pam naps in her rocking chair, her cats cause havoc around her - but will their noise be enough to wake her up? This lovely story is wonderfully illustrated by Tomislav Zlatic. Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported...

As we grow up, our bodies grow and change with us. This information book by Teresa Heapy looks at the changes that happen - from our eyes and teeth to our height and strength. Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and...

Tod is a shy tortoise who hides away, especially when it's time to tidy up! But what will happen when Tod is forced out of the comfort of his own shell? This sweet story is written and illustrated by acclaimed author Charlotte Middleton. Blue/Band 4...

Penguin is lonely - he can't find his friends. Follow him on his journey across Antarctica as he searches for them in this lovely story, written and illustrated by award-winning illustrated Petr Horacek. Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns...

Follow a group of children as they climb to the top of a hill and race each other to the bottom by rolling in this fun rhyming poem - written by acclaimed poet Gareth Owen, and accompanied by the colourful illustrations of Vicky Fieldhouse. Yellow/Band 3...

The frog is sitting at the bottom of the pond, doing nothing. But other animals keep coming after him and he has to hop away! Follow the frog as he hops around the pond in his search for a bit of peace in this wonderfully illustrated book by Petr Horacek...

This little bird may be small, but it's very helpful to bigger animals. This photographic non-fiction book shows how the bird is able to help the larger animals around it, set against the stunning backdrop of Africa. Yellow/Band 3 books offer varied...

When we go to sleep at night, some animals are just waking up. Discover the different activities and features of nocturnal animals in this photographic non-fiction report by Louise Spilsbury. Banding: Yellow/Band 3 Children can recap the different things...

Join the countdown as one boy describes the events in his life in the past month, from moving house a month ago to preparing for school and making friends today. Accompanied by snapshots of each event, this illustrated non-fiction recount is written by...

Follow a river from its source to the sea and see how it adapts to its surroundings in this highly photographic non-fiction report by Fiona Macdonald. Red B/Band 2B books offer simple but varied text with familiar objects and actions, combined with...

Bad Bat enjoys tricking the other animals when they are sleeping - but will he still be laughing when they find a way of tricking him? This charming Big Cat guided reading book is written and illustrated by Laura Hambleton. This is a Red B/Band 2B book...

A tiny mouse accidentally disturbs a sleeping lion and fears he will be eaten - but the lion lets him go. When the lion later finds himself in trouble, though, the mouse sees his chance to return the good deed. This traditional tale by Anthony Robinson...

Everyone can play football, anywhere in the world! Find out what you need to play the game and where in the world it is played in this action-packed non-fiction report by Daniel Nunn. This is a Band 02A/Red A book in the Collins Big Cat reading programme...

Follow one girl as she visits the park at different points of the year, collecting objects and pictures for her scrapbook to show the differences between the seasons. Wonderfully illustrated in vivid colours by Christine Jenny, this non-fiction book is...

There are many exciting things in the forest. Find out all about them from dawn until night in this highly photographic non-fiction text by Becca Heddle. Pink B/Band 1B books offer simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions Children can...

Owl thinks he is the best at everything, but he keeps meeting other birds who are better than him. What is Owl best at? This sweet story about finding our own strengths is written and illustrated by Laura Hambleton. This is a Red A/Band 2A book in the...

All is quiet in the gallery, as two security guards keep watch. But something strange is happening in the paintings, as piece by piece the clothes from a man in one painting move to other images - with hilarious results! This fun story is written by Paul...

There's a storm brewing and a mother and daughter are out on a walk - what can they see? Follow them on their journey as the weather changes, a storm arrives and they find an umbrella is not quite enough to keep them completely dry in this lovely story...

It's fun to help! Follow one boy as he helps his family over the course of one day in different parts of the home, and find out the different ways we can help each other in this illustrated non-fiction recount. Pink B//Band 1B books offer simple,...

How do you get dressed in the morning? Follow one girl as she gets dressed in clothes appropriate for the changing weather outside in this illustrated non-fiction book by Teresa Heapy. Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text...

Find out all about teeth in this photographic information book - from baby teeth and adult teeth to using them and cleaning them. Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations. Text type: A simple non-fiction...

One snail, two beetles, three worms, four spiders and five flies - the frog eats them all, with hilarious consequences. But who will be next on the menu? This humorous story is brilliantly illustrated by Sandra Aguilar. Pink A/Band 1A books offer...

The town of Hamelin is over-run with rats, and the mayor is getting desperate for a solution. When the mysterious Pied Piper appears their troubles seem to be over - but what happens when the mayor refuses to pay him? This wordless traditional tale is...

It's fun to draw your own portrait! Follow one girl as she shows how she can make her own self-portrait with collage materials in this wordless instruction book by Charlotte Guillain. Lilac/Band 0 books are wordless books that tell a story through...

Follow this girl and her family as they take a walk through changing landscapes and seasons and show how much fun walking can be in this seasonal story, written by Anthony Robinson and illustrated by Gwyneth Williamson. Pink A/Band 1A books offer...

When the princess accidentally drops her ball in the pond she doesn't expect a frog to bring it back to her, and certainly doesn't expect the frog to follow her home! But is the frog really all he seems? This wordless version of the traditional tale is...

Ever wanted to make a maraca? This step by step guide will show you how, with clear, engaging photos that show just how easy it is to make and personalise your very own maraca. Lilac/Band 0 books are wordless books that tell a story through pictures and...