A neurodivergent child interacts with their neighbors to discover the true meaning behind greetings and salutations.  When people say “How are you?� are they really asking or just saying hello? Verity, who is neurodivergent, plans an experiment to figure this out. Verity is bubbling with excitement about an upcoming school field trip to the aquarium! When neighbors ask, “How are you?� Verity shares their excitement and fascinating facts about sea animals. Their older brother John kindly suggests that the question "How are you?" is actually a greeting and not an invitation to share so much. Verity plans an experiment to find out if their brother is right. But when the trip to the aquarium is cancelled, Verity is heartbroken. When people ask “How are you?� what should they say then?

Collins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available. Ava Skye’s routine is important to her: waking up at 6 o’clock … wearing clothes that don’t itch or feel too tight … eating tomato sandwiches for breakfast and dinner… Doing certain things in the same way helps her feel comfortable, confident and safe. But each week, Ava sets aside a day to experience something new. When she decides to try roller skating, will her fear of the rink prove too daunting a challenge, or will it be her biggest accomplishment yet? Copper/Band 12 books provide more complex plots and longer chapters that develop reading stamina. Pages 30 and 31 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall. Ideas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.