Books in Collins Big Cat Shakespeare series

Learn everything you could ever want to know about one of Earth’s most impressive phenomena. Find out all about the different types of volcano, why and how they happen, the risks they pose, as well as what they can provide. Emerald/Band 15 books provide a widening range of genres including science fiction and biography, prompting more ways to respond to texts.

This witty information book describes real and imaginary creatures, and answers the question – are they real? Some of the creatures are from myths and legends, while others are genuine. Included are the Loch Ness Monster, about which there is disagreement, the vampire bat, and the yeti.• Lime/Band 11 books have longer sentence structures and a greater use of literary language.• Text type - An information book.• A table on pages 30 and 31 summarises the information about each of the creatures in the book providing an ideal opportunity for children to recap.• Curriculum links - Geography: Where in the world is Barnaby Bear? History: Ancient Eygpt.• This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

A young monster is getting everything she needs to take a dip: a boat, a toy shark, armbands, goggles, flippers. Once everything is to hand she is ready… to take a bath! The vividly drawn artwork shows each step of the monster’s careful preparations, offering lots of discussion points: is she going for a swim in a pool? In the sea?• Pink B level (Band 1B) books offer simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions.• Text type - A story with predictable structure and patterned language.• An illustration on pages 14 and 14 shows the monster splashing happily in the bath, with all her toys labelled, to help children recap and discuss.• This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

At the beginning of World War II, a young American woman named Virginia Hall was sent undercover to Nazi-occupied France to spy on the German army. Follow her incredible true story as she bravely aids the French Resistance, organises and leads rebel armies and passes secret coded radio messages to the Allied forces in this fascinating biography.• Pearl/Band 18 books offer fluent readers a complex, substantial text with challenging themes to facilitate sustained comprehension, bridging the gap between a reading programme and longer chapter books.• Text type: A biography.• Curriculum links: History: What can we learn about recent history from studying the life of a famous person?

Discover the mystery of Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster, from its origins and sightings to the latest scientific research. Orange/Band 6 offers varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages and reduced support from illustrations. A wider range of texts is included. Ideas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.

Do you look forward to the annual cheese-rolling? Or have you taken part in a dragonboat race? Perhaps you have danced in the street as part of a big street carnival. All around the world people take part in traditions that might seem unusual, but are great fun for everyone who joins in! Find out about all these and more in this information book.•Purple/ Band 8 books offer developing readers literary language, with some challenging vocabulary.• Text type - Non-chronological report.• An index is shown on page 21, and a labelled map of the world on pages 22 and 23 showing where the traditions featured in the book originate, an ideal cue for further discussion.• Curriculum links - Citizenship: Developing good relationships and respecting the differences between people; Geography: Where in the world is Barnaby bear?, Passport to the world.• This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

Imagine you were a child in Victorian times. What was your day like? What did you wear, eat and play with? Did you go to school, or out to work? Find out what life was like for children in this enthralling non-fiction book.• Diamond/Band 17 books offer more complex, underlying themes to give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view.• A timeline on pages 54 and 55 help children to recap the main events of the Victorian era.• Text type: A non-chronological report• This book is paired with Moving Out a fiction story set in the past about a family in post-World-War-Two London deciding whether to move out to a New Town.• Curriculum links: History: What was it like for children living in Victorian Britain.• This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader