Books in Collins Big Cat Progress 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.

Find out what happens when Sinbad the sailor is left stranded on an island with a giant seagull. Will he find a way to get back to his ship? This entertaining narrative is written by award-winning authors Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham.•Collins Big Cat Phonics Progress books are specifically designed for struggling readers, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading. This title has a text level of Band 2B / Red B, which provides simple story development and a satisfying conclusion, and an interest level of Band 8 / Purple.•Text type: A traditional story•An illustrated map on pages 14 to 15 helps children to recap Sinbad’s journey and discuss the story.•Curriculum links: Citizenship

Dog and Cat are both thirsty, but neither is able to reach the shallow water in the bowl. Find out what happens when Dog thinks of a clever plan. This funny retelling of the Aesop’s fable The Crow and the Pitcher is written by June Crebbin.•Collins Big Cat Phonics Progress books are specifically designed for struggling readers, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading. This title has a text level of Band 1B / Pink B, which offers emergent readers simple, predictable text, and an interest level of Band 10 / White.•Text type: A traditional story•A story map on pages 14 to 15 ensures children can recap the story and discuss each stage.•Curriculum links: Science, Citizenship

Sam the elephant and Tim the hippopotamus think that they are more powerful than Tim the tortoise. When Tim thinks of a clever plan involving a game of tug of war, will they both be proved wrong? This retelling of a fable is written and illustrated by the award-winning author-illustrator Matt Buckingham.•Collins Big Cat Phonics Progress books are specifically designed for struggling readers, giving them age-appropriate texts that they can read, building their confidence and fostering positive attitudes towards reading. This title has a text level of Band 1B / Pink B, which offers emergent readers simple, predictable text, and an interest level of Band 8 / Purple.•Text type: A retelling of a traditional story•Children can recap the main events of the story on pages 14 to 15.•Curriculum links: Citizenship

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.