Books in Collins Big Cat Shakespeare series

This hilarious retelling of a traditional Hans Christian Anderson tale tells of mistaken identities as a kind, humble princess swaps places with her grumpy, unpleasant maid, with some very funny consequences! Who’ll end up marrying the prince, and who will end up the goose girl, and how will the magic horse help? Topaz/Band 13 books offer longer and more demanding reads for children to investigate and evaluate.

A boy and his mother go for a walk along the seashore and find all sorts of shapes. There’s a starfish shaped like a star, a pebble that’s an oval and a jellyfish that’s a circle. A combination of fascinating photos and delightful artwork show the variety of shapes that can be found.• Red A/Band 2A books offer predictable text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.• Text type - A simple recount.• The shapes are repeated on pages 14 and 15 for children to recall and discuss.• This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

A poor stone cutter who wished he was a rich man has his wish granted. He then keeps changing his wish, and each wish is granted. Finally he wishes himself back as he was at the start of the story.• Turquoise/ Band 7 books offer literay language and extended descriptions, with longer sentences and a wide range of unfamiliar terms.• Text type - A story from another culture (Japan).• The flowcharts on pages 22 and 23 illustrate the story in sequence, providing opportunities for speaking and listening, and scaffolding writing.• Curriculum links - Citizenship: Choices; Music: Exploring sounds.• This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

Follow the exciting adventure of D’Artagnan as he desperately tries to fight for a place as one of the King’s Musketeers, in this gripping retelling of Alexandre Dumas’ classic story. Will D’Artagnan have the courage, bravery, and skill to join the finest swordsmen in all of France? Diamond/Band 17 books offer more complex, underlying themes to give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view.

Worm is fed up with earth for lunch and wants something more exciting. He tries eating grass, bark and even a leaf on the advice of various animal friends – and almost becomes lunch himself when a hungry bird appears!• Green/ Band 5 books offer early readers patterned language and varied characters.• Text type - Playscript.• Instructions for putting on the play are on pages 22 and 23 to encourage children to discuss the script.•Curriculum links - Science: Plants and animals in the local environment.• This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.