Books in Cambridge Young Readers series

Suitable for children in Year 1 (age 5), The Clever Tortoise is from the Cambridge Reading genre strand Stories from a Range of Cultures. Children should be familiar with some of the stories in this set of nine books. The stories draw on myths, legends, folk tales and fairy stories, including Aesop's Fables, and originate from various countries including Nigeria, and South America. The Clever Tortoise is one of six stories that have been written and illustrated by Gerald Rose. They are retold in contemporary language and illustrated with simplified characters and bold colours that will appeal to young children. Cambridge Reading at Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) offers fiction, non-fiction, poetry and plays to introduce children to a variety of text types, authors and illustrators and provide a firm base for wider reading.

A story-based approach to phonics practice helping children to read with confidence. A rather untraditional traditional tale where dragons and knights don't want to fight. The Shy Dragon and the White Knight is for children in Year 1/Primary 2. The highly attractive illustrations by Barbara Vagnozzi include some expected elements of a traditional tale, while the text provides an original, humorous story told with rhyme. The particular phonic focus (ie, i-e, igh, y) is reinforced throughout the text. Each children's book includes notes on the inside back cover to support use in guided group reading sessions.

Cambridge Reading is a major scheme providing stimulating books and support materials for the teaching of reading and the development of literacy throughout the elementary years. The Beginning to Read books give children a first experience of reading. In What am I?, two children give a series of clues describing an elephant, encouraging readers to guess the animal. Elizabeth Pullen's brilliantly coloured illustrations will appeal to children's imaginations.

Cambridge Reading is a major new reading scheme providing stimulating books and support materials for the teaching of reading throughout the primary years. Key features include: a coherent yet flexible structure for teaching and learning; a variety of attractive picture books; a balance of text types and genres, including stories, poems and information books; an integrated phonics programme; comprehensive support materials. The thirty Beginning to Read books give children a first experience of reading. Three of these, My Pet, Dirty Dog and My Dog's Party, make up a set in which the text by Bill Gillham and illustrations by Alan Snow, reveal an appealing character. The owner is evidently not entirely in control of the strongminded pet and the humour of the situations depicted will appeal to young readers.

Suitable for children in Year 2 (age 6), The Grabbing Bird is from the Cambridge Reading genre strand Stories about Fantasy Worlds, which contains motivating stories that are full of humour, action and surprise! The Grabbing Bird forms part of a set of nine books which are written by Rosemary Hayes and illustrated by Ian Newsham, which feature ordinary children caught up in strange and magical events. In The Grabbing Bird, two children are transported to a land where the people cannot stop laughing. Cambridge Reading at Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) offers fiction, non-fiction, poetry and plays to introduce children to a variety of text types, authors and illustrators and provide a firm base for wider reading.