It's Monday morning and there's chaos at Maxine's house. Dad's got ketchup on his sleeve and has lost his yellow sock. Mum can't get the car to start. But there's time for a puppet show and maybe even a third piece of marmalade toast, right? Maxine has really got to get a move on!

This hilarious story from rapper, actor and comedian Ben Bailey Smith is perfect for children who are learning to read by themselves and for Key Stage 1. It features engaging illustrations from Mette Engell and hilarious characters young readers will find hard to resist.

Bloomsbury Young Readers are the perfect way to get children reading, with book-banded stories by brilliant authors like Julia Donaldson. They are packed with gorgeous colour illustrations and include inside cover notes to help adults reading with children, as well as ideas for activities related to the stories.

Book Band: Purple
Ideal for ages 6+

It streaked through the sky on a perfect day in July and landed in the garden... When a mysterious red orb appears one day, the vegetables aren't sure what to make of it. They decide that it must be an alien tomato! They name her Allie and try to make her feel as welcome as possible. But Gopher isn't convinced. He's sure it's just a ball. This delightfully silly tale and its equally hilarious art are a perfect fit for gardeners and sci-fi fans alike.

Cat is having a magical adventure! Where will the mat take cat next? Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. Independent Reading Pink 1B stories are perfect for children aged 4+ who are reading at book band 1B (Pink) in classroom reading lessons. In this story, Bella the puppy is hiding. Where could she be?

Cat is having a magical adventure! Where will the mat take cat next? Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. Independent Reading Pink 1B stories are perfect for children aged 4+ who are reading at book band 1B (Pink) in classroom reading lessons. In this story, Cat sits on a mat, and goes on a big adventure!