‘I want a pet! I want a pet! I hope I like the pet I get!’ When a boy goes to the Strange Pet Shop to find a pet, there’s no knowing what he’ll find there. He is very particular, and nothing at the Strange Pet Shop suits him until, at last the perfect pet comes bounding through the door! Green/ Band 5 books offer early readers patterned language and varied characters. Text type - A poem with predictable structure and patterned language. At the end of the story is a poster advertising the Strange Pet Shop, which is ideal for further discussion and supporting further work outside the reading session. Curriculum links - Citizenship: Animals and us. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

Nick Butterworth's well known and much loved character Percy the Park Keeper stars in this beautifully told story for early readers. When Percy's cap, scarf and gloves go missing, they end up being used by some mischevious mice to decorate a snowman! Yellow/ Band 3 books offer varied sentence structure and natural language. Text type - A story with a familiar setting. A storyboard on pages 14 and 15 provide children with an opportunity to retell the story in their own words. Curriculum links - Geography: our local area; citizenship: animals and us. This story is one of three books by Nick Butterworth in the Collins Big Cat reading programme. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Open the door and see who is there: a cat in a hat, a fox in socks, a dog and a frog; and they all want to play! But the final visitor is not so welcome - a dinosaur - ROAR! Yellow/Band 3 books offer varied sentence structure and natural language. Text type - A rhyming story with a predictable and repetitive pattern. A storyboard on pages 14 and 15 gives children the opportunity to recap and discuss the story. Curriculum links - Music: exploring sounds, including chants. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

What makes a ball bounce? How is a football made? Children will find the answers to these, and more, questions about different types of balls in this fun instruction book. With a colourful combination of photos and artwork, it gives information on all kinds of balls and activities, such as how to juggle. Orange/ Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. Text type - An instruction text. The book includes a quiz on pages 22 and 23 to recap what children have learned. Curriculum links - PE: Games and activities; Science: Forces and movement. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

This book helps children identify different types of car by colour using simple, repetitive text which reinforces common colour words. Cars are shown both in close-up and in action in its surroundings, driving in the city, off the road or tearing around a Grand Prix circuit. Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations. Text type - A non-fiction report Pages 14 and 15 give children the opportunting to recap the information and discuss the text. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Not your average science book, this in-depth analysis of the smallest living things in our world, gives captivating insight into the wonderful world of microorganisms. Focussing on bacteria, fungi, protists and viruses, it explains some of the biggest diseases of our time as well as the processes of protecting ourselves. Pearl/Band 18 books offer fluent readers a complex, substantial text with challenging themes to facilitate sustained comprehension, bridging the gap between a reading programme and longer chapter books. Text type: Curriculum links:

Artist Jon Stuart shows how he produces computer-generated images. The process starts with a simple block of cubes, which are added to, given texture, before being bent, stretched, twisted into the correct shape and size. He then adds background, lighting and colour to bring the whole scene to life. This is a Band 06/Orange book in the Collins Big Cat reading programme which offers varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. This is an information book with a flow chart on pages 22 and 23 that summarises the process of producing CGI. Contents are listed on page 1 while a glossary and index are detailed on pages 20 and 21. This book supports learning around art and design, and investigates different kinds of art, design and craft. It also supports ICT education, and is an introduction to modelling and creating pictures. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. For more guided reading books in this Collins Big Cat band, try Pompeii (9780007461875) written by Fiona Macdonald with imagery by Giorgio Bacchin

Hector the Hippo wants to play the cello more than anything else in the world. But who in the jungle will teach him? Most of the other animals laugh at the idea. Finally Hector meets a musician who can help him, a lyrebird. He practices everyday until he has a chance to play at a grand concert in front of all the other animals. Purple/ Band 8 books offer developing readers literary language, with some challenging vocabulary. Text type - A story by a significant author. A storyboard on pages 22 and 23 summarises the story in eight illustrations providing an opportunity to recap the key events. Curriculum links - Music: Exploring sounds, Classroom instruments, Combining sounds to make music; Science: Animals; ICT: Using text and tables to develop ideas. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

This colourful and informative book is presented as a 'scrapbook' of mementoes from Amy's visit to the Pacific island of Vanuatu. Packed with photos, it gives information on how the islands of the Pacific wre formed, how villagers live, and about the kinds of animals and plants that grow there. This colourful and informative book is presented as a 'scrapbook' of mementoes from Amy's visit to the Pacific island of Vanuatu. Packed with photos, it gives information on how the islands of the Pacific wre formed, how villagers live, and about the kinds of animals and plants that grow there. With its account of towns, villages, food and activities, this book will inform and fascinate developing readers. A final double page spread provides a glossary of unusual terms and a map to show where Vanuatu is located. Purple level (Band 8) books offer developing readers structured language with some challenging vocabulary. Ideas for Guided Reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level School Book Character day is coming up and Tig is worried as his Mum has found him a frilly Little Boy Blue outfit. Can he get away with turning up as yet another footballer? A strange turn of events leads to a most unexpected outcome. Lime/Band 11 books have longer sentence structures and a greater use of literary language. Text type - A story with a familiar setting. Labelled pictures of Tig's different costumes on pages 30 and 31 provide lots of opportunities for speaking and listening. Curriculum links - Citizenship: Choices, Taking part. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

This simple non-fiction text recounts a girl's journey by bicycle using symbols, maps and directions depicted by an engaging illustration-photo montage effect. Red A/Band 2A books offer predictable text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development. Text type - A simple non-fiction recount. The map on pp14-15 is a useful summary of the journey, consolidating understanding, and providing a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level A wonderful retelling of this favourite fairy tale, in verse by CLPE-award winner, Rachel Rooney. Copper/Band 12 books provide more complex plots and longer chapters that develop reading stamina. Text type: A retelling of a traditional tale Curriculum links: English: fairy stories, myths and legends Ideas for reading at the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Tec the detective has found a hole in the ground - but who dug it? Children follow Tec as he trails his suspects, until he finds the vital clue that leads him to the guilty party! 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. Tec's investigation involves many suspects, all of whom can be seen and discussed in a character line-up on pages 14 and 15. Tec and the Hole is one of three stories by Tony Mitton about Tec the detective. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery

A simple text where a visit to an art show causes a girl to imagine what the world would be like if it was wholly yellow, red or blue. Realising that the world actually consists of all the colours of the rainbow, she paints lots of multicoloured pieces of art herself. Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language. Text type - A simple non-fiction text. A gallery story map on pages 14 and 15 pictures the different stages of the girl's thought-processes for children to discuss. Curriculum links - Art and Design: Self-portrait.Science: How we see things. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

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

Bert's Band like to play as they march down the street. When they win the cup, they arrive back at their home town at midnight, and very carefully remove their shoes and socks so as not to disturb the townsfolk as they march down the street - playing at full belt! This lively text is ideal to read aloud, with lots of opportunities to join in. Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language. Text type - A humorous story. At the end of the story is a poster by the bandstand in the park, advertising Bert's band, which is an ideal cue for further discussion and supports writing activities outside the reading session. Curriculum links - Science: sounds and hearing; Citizenship: taking part. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Red and yellow make orange, blue and yellow make green, but what do three polar bears, lots of fun, and three pots of paint make? A mess! This is a delightful book on colour, illustrated by Smarties Book Award winner Liz Pichon. Pink B/ Band 1B books offer emergent readers simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions. Text type - A story with predictable structure and patterned language. Pages 14-15 provide a summary of the different colour mixes, to consolidate understanding of the book. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

A boy makes a paper plane and accidentally throws it over the wall. Little does he know that another boy called Joe lives on the other side of that wall and wants to play, too. This beautiful narrative non-fiction book about friendship is written and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Russell Ayto. A boy makes a paper plane and accidentally throws it over the wall. Little does he know that another boy called Joe lives on the other side of that wall and wants to play, too. This beautiful narrative non-fiction book about friendship is written and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Russell Ayto. Lilac/Band 0 books are wordless books that tell a story through pictures and are designed to develop understanding about how stories work. Children can follow and recap the story sequence about how the boys became friends using the story map on pages 14-15. Text type: A wordless story Curriculum links: Personal, social and emotional development

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Find out all about the ancient kingdom of Benin, the tribes that lived there, how they lived and were ruled, and how the nation changed and developed over time. Diamond/Band 17 books offer more complex, underlying themes to give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view.

Take a look at different climates and landscapes from around the globe. Explore climates that are wet, dry, hot and cold using simple explanations and vibrant pictures in this photographic non-fiction book by Monica Hughes. Take a look at different climates and landscapes from around the globe. Explore climates that are wet, dry, hot and cold using simple explanations and vibrant pictures in this photographic non-fiction book by Monica Hughes. Red B/Band 2B books offer simple but varied text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development and a satisfying conclusion. A world map on pages 14-15 shows where each of the countries featured in the photographs are located to give children context and to help them recap information in the book. Text type: A simple information book Curriculum links: Geography

Morris wants to eat his kitty biscuits, but his mother sends him off to play hide and seek instead. When it's Morris's turn to hide, he finds the perfect place: the food cupboard, where the kitty biscuits are kept! Orange/ Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. Text type - A story with a familiar setting. A storyboard on pages 22 and 23 offers and opportunity for children to retell the story in their own words. Curriculum links - Citizenship: Taking part. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

This non-fiction counting book shows photographs of the following animals: one crocodile, two elephants, three lions, four birds, five frogs and six rabbits. Pictures of equal numbers of children add an element of fun to the book as they pretend to be the animals. Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations. Text type - A simple information book. The photographs of the animals and children are repeated in numerical order on pages 14 and 15 to encourage the children to count the animals again. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

Nick Butterworth's well known and much loved character Percy the Park Keeper stars in this beautifully told story for early readers. Percy tries to persuade a reluctant Badger to take a bath. Badger doesn't want to, so Percy takes a bath instead - only to find he has some unexpected comapany when Badger falls in the water with him! Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language. Text type - A story with a familiar setting. A storyboard on pages 14 and 15 provides children with the opportunity to retell the story in their own words. Curriculum links - Geography: our local area; Citizenship: animals and us. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

This comical story is a patterned, counting text about a band of pirates searching for treasure. One-by-one, they get into trouble and make a hasty retreat back to the pirate ship. Helpful vignettes of the pirates at the top of each page help children count how many pirates are left. Red B/ Band 2B books offer simple but varied text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development and a satisfying conclusion. Text type – A story with predictable structure and patterned language The map on pages 14 and 15 shows the trail the pirates take from their ship to the treasure cave and back again, and can be used to help recap and retell the story. Paul Shipton is also the author of Collins Big Cat titles See-saw, Get the Fruit! and The Robot. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Rebecca went to the funfair with mum and dad. She didn't like the hall of mirrors, and the rollercoaster made her turn green - but when she won lots of prizes on a stall, she decided that she liked it after all! The funny illustrations show Rebecca's gradual change of opinion, and include lots of details for early readers to talk about. Yellow (Band 3) books offer varied sentence structure and natural langauge. This book is told in rhyme. Text type - A story with a familiar setting. A map of the fair is included on pages 14 and 15 which can be used to check comprehension. Curriculum links - Maths: Shape, space and measures. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery