The bay owls came out of their house,
and they sat on the tree and waited.
A big branch for Sarah, a small branch for Percy,
and an old piece of ivy for Bill.
When three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, they can't help but wonder where she is. Stunning illustrations from unique and striking perspectives capture the owls as they worry about their mother: What is she doing? When will she be back? What scary things move all around them? Not surprisingly, a joyous flapping and dancing and bouncing greets her return, lending a celebratory tone to the ending of this comforting tale. Never has the plight of young ones who miss their mother been so simply told or so beautifully rendered.

Pigs don't swim, or so it's said. But on one of the hottest days of the summer, the pig on Neligan's farm sits by the pond feeling envious of the ducks and the geese floating in the cool water. Finally, when she can endure the heat no longer--splash --this sweltering pig takes a dive, throwing the entire farm into an uproar. It isn't long, however, before the refreshing idea catches on, and the pig finds that she's got company This spirited tale with its exuberant illustrations is sure to be a hit with all those young and old who ever wanted to take the plunge.

"I don't like the dark," said Little Bear.
"What dark?" said Big Bear.
"The dark all around us," said Little Bear.
In this tender account of a sleepless night in the bear cave, Big Bear sets out with all his patience and understanding to show Little Bear that the dark is nothing to be afraid of. When all the lanterns in the cave aren't enough to quell Little Bear's troubled emotions, Big Bear offers--in a final loving gesture--nothing less than the bright yellow moon and the twinkling stars! More comforting than even the best of lullabies, this bedtime story is destined to become a classic.

Five fantastic stories and one non-fiction book from Star Reading. With brilliant parent notes to help you get the most out of every book with your child, all at orange book band level.

This favorite Christmas picture book is now available in a reduced size padded board book perfect for little hands with bright red foil on the cover to share the holiday cheer!

In the stable next to an inn, Kind Ox is just settling in for the night when Old Dog comes into the stable. Kind Ox makes room for Old Dog, who in turn makes room for Stray Cat, who then makes room for Small Mouse--and each time, the larger animal says to the small, "There's always room for a little one here." Finally, Tired Donkey comes by, carrying Joseph and Mary, who asks "Where will my child be born?" Kind Ox replies, "There is always room for a little one here." And so, Jesus is born in the stable with the animals all around Him.

Little Bear is having a great time, playing in the snowy woods, when he hears a plodding noise that makes him shiver. Suddenly there are scary Plodders and Drippers and Ploppers everywhere. Fortunately, Big Bear is on hand to comfort him.

While Big Bear works, Little Bear patiently plays his bear games all by himself. What he really wants, though, is for Big Bear to play with him. Will his wish ever come true?

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level Three spooky tales from three peerless storytellers, perfect for telling around the fire on a dark, windy night. Read of Flynn, who battled with three skeletons; of Tom, who saw something so weird in the moonlight that it changed his life for ever; and of the terrifying thirteen crows who brought death wherever they went... Diamond/Band 17 books offer more complex, underlying themes to give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view. A selection of newspaper articles about Fearless Flynn give children the opportunity to explore other ways of presenting information and other points of view. Text type: Three fantasy stories. Curriculum links: Music: Stars, hide your fires - Performing together. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

When a wee mouse meets a big, hungry monster on the road, he needs to think fast. This is a lively retelling of a traditional story by Martin Waddell. Red / Band 2B - A traditional story Text type - Fiction The focus phonemes in this book are sh, er, oa and ng. Other phonemes practised are ou (ground), th (this), th (thin), ee, w, oo (look), ie (lie) and ch. Children can compare and contrast the two main characters using the character summaries on the final spread. Martin Waddell also wrote Yellow 3 Horse Up a Tree and Blue 4 The Small Bun. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Ben and Bobo are painting, they're having lots of fun, but Bobo is very clumsy and things keep going wrong. Soon it's complete chaos, but, in the end, the finished result is a big surprise. Martin Waddell's hilarious story is accompanied by lively, humorous illustrations by Julian Mosedale. Read 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. An accident map on pages 14-15 illustrates all the things that went wrong for Bobo during his painting activity with Ben. Curriculum links: Personal, Social and Emotional Development This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

On Christmas Eve
all are welcome
at the stable.
On Christmas Eve
all are welcome
because there's always
room for a little one.
That cold winter's night,
beneath the star's light...
...a Little One came for the world.

When Horse went up a tree one day, he didn't think about how to get down again - and now he's stuck. The sheep, the ducks, the hens and Farmer come to help him in this comical tale by Martin Waddell. Yellow / Band 3 - A humorous story Text type - Fiction The focus phonemes in this book are ay, ow (show), a-e and o-e. You can use the table in the Farmer's handbook on the final spread to discuss how the animals and the farmer solve Horse's problem. Martin Waddell also wrote Red 2B The Mouse and the Monster; Blue 4 The Small Bun. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Rigby Rocket is designed to offer links from guided to independent reading. It is linked to guided reading objectives, allowing children to practise valuable skills following a guided reading session. The titles are levelled to Book Bands for Guided Reading, and provide stories that children are able to read independently. Each title contains reading notes written specifically for parents/Learning Support Assistants. These focus on key reading skills and encourage discussion to improve children's comprehension. The Orange Level titles are aimed at children in Year 2.

A hungry man and his wife baked a small bun. But as soon as they put it on their plate, the bun jumped up and ran off. This lively version of the traditional story of the gingerbread man is by Martin Waddell. Blue / Band 4 - A Text type - Fiction The focus phoneme in this book is al (small). Use the storymap on the final spread to discuss the route the small bun took and the characters he met.. Martin Waddell also wrote Red 2b The Mouse and the Monster; Yellow 3 Horse Up a Tree This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

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.

Kind Emma lives all alone in her little cottage by the wood, with no one to talk to. But one snowy night Emma hears a knock at her door, and a tiny voice asking for help. When she takes pity on the little thing at the door and gives it shelter and food, she finds that her whole life is changed – and she at last has a friend to talk to. Orange/ Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. Text type – A traditional story. A pictorial diary on pages 22 and 23 retells the story from Kind Emma’s viewpoint and provides lots of opportunities for speaking and listening activities. Curriculum links – Citizenship: Taking part. 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 It's just a normal lesson on a normal day at school, except Mrs Bennet , who can do magic, has turned into a very big rabbit. The problems start when the class realise that Mrs Bennet can't change back into herself. White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language. Text type - A story with a familiar setting. A school website report gives children the opportunity to recount the story of Class Six and the Very Big Rabbit on pages 30 and 31. Curriculum links - Citizenship: Choices, Taking part. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Bill longs for someone to talk to. Then one day the door to his room opens and…a giant bottom comes in! Legs, arms, chest follow as bit by bit, Bill's new giant friend appears. When his friend's last bit finally arrives and he is in one piece, they have plenty to talk about! Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language. Text type – A traditional story. A flow chart on pages 14 and 15 shows the different body parts that make up Bill's new friend, giving children the opportunity to recap and retell the story. Curriculum links – Science: ourselves, parts of the body. Talk, Talk, Talk is one of three Collins Big Cat books by Martin Waddell. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

“There aren’t many ‘baby books’ that convey this kind of emotional richness supported by a perfect artistic form.” — Washington Post Book World

When three baby owls awake one night to find their mother gone, they can't help but wonder where she is. Stunning illustrations capture the owls as they worry about their mother: What is she doing? When will she be back? Not surprisingly, a joyous flapping and dancing and bouncing greets her return, lending a celebratory tone to the ending of this comforting tale. Never has the plight of young ones who miss their mother been so simply told or so beautifully rendered.

A special 25th anniversary edition of a modern classic, Owl Babies reassures young children that Mummy will always come home.

“The perfect picture book” Guardian

A special 25th anniversary board book edition of a bestselling modern classic, Owl Babies is a comforting read for any toddler who has ever worried about mum leaving them alone, or any child starting pre-school for the very first time. Sarah, Percy and Bill the baby owls wake one night to find their mother gone. And as the darkness gathers and they perch patiently on their branch waiting for her return, oh how they worry! Never has the plight of young ones who miss their mum been so sensitively told or so beautifully rendered as in this tale from picture book masters, Patrick Benson and Martin Waddell and, with gorgeous golden foil on the cover and spine, this edition is one to share and treasure.

A gentle tale of three baby owls reassures young children that Mummy will always come home. A gentle tale of three baby owls reassures young children that Mummy will always come home. Three baby owls, Sarah, Percy and Bill, wake up one night in their hole in a tree to find that their mother has gone. So they sit on a branch and wait... Darkness gathers and the owls grow anxious, wondering when their mother will return. But, at last, she does and they bounce up and down with joy, welcoming her home.

There once was a duck who had the bad luck to live with a lazy farmer. While the duck worked, the farmer lay in bed - until one day the other animals decided to take action

There once was a duck who had the bad luck to live with a lazy farmer. While the duck worked, the farmer lay in bed - until one day the other animals decided to take action