Books in Collins Big Cat series

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.

How many dinosaurs are there in the dinosaur band? Count the dinosaurs as each music section gets up on stage to play their fabulous instruments, from guitars to flutes to piano! The dinosaurs build up slowly into a huge band and begin to rock!• Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations.• Text type - A story with predictable structure and patterned language• A final story map spread shows all the dinosaur rockers, encouraging children to recap the story.

She starts by swallowing a mere fly, but ends up eating a much bigger animal! Find out what fate awaits the old lady in this playscript by Michael Rosen and Mark Carthew, based on the traditional poem.• Copper/Band 12 books provide more complex plots and longer scenes that develop reading stamina.• Text type - A play based on a traditional poem.• Curriculum links - Music: The class orchestra - Exploring arrangements.

A wonderful retelling of this favorite fairy tale, in verse by CLEP-award winner, Rachel Rooney.• Copper/Band 12 books provide more complex plots and longer chapters that develop reading stamina.• Text type: a retelling of a traditional tale• Curriculum links: English: fairy stories, myths, and legends• Ideas for reading at the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.

Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4–11 edited by Cliff Moon. Top children’s authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that your children will love to read, banded to help you choose the right book for every child. Practical ideas for guided reading are included at the back of each book.• Orange/ Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages.• Text type - An information text.• A wordless flow-chart on pages 22 and 23 summarises the process and helps children remember the sequence of events.• Curriculum links - Design and Technology: Investigating and using materials, different joining techniques; Science: Structures; RE: Celebrations.• This book is paired with a story on a similar theme: Arthur’s Fantastic Party by Joseph Theobald.

Collins Arabic Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 3 to 11. The series is structured with reference to the learning progression of Arabic at nursery and primary schools researched especially for Collins. This carefully graded approach allows children to build up their reading knowledge of Arabic step by step. Level 2 books introduce simple one- and two-syllable words for children to read based on key syllables and phonic patterns. Big and small features pairs of adjectives with matching phonics patterns to help children learn to recognise and read key syllables. Word pairs are shown in very short combinations with a fun illustration or cartoon. Lively and engaging illustrations to keep children interested.

When the volcano Vesuvius erupted 2,000 years ago, the city of Pompeii disappeared under the ash. Four hundred years ago, Pompeii was rediscovered. The ash had preserved Pompeii so well that buildings, mosaics, statues and other artefacts have survived to the present day. So step back in time and discover what life was like in the Roman times.• Orange/Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages.• Text type: An information book• Pages 22 and 23 show a timeline of events, from eruption to discovering the lost city in the present day, allowing children to recap and discuss.• Curriculum links: History: What were homes like a long time ago?

This patterned picture story follows Ben on his trip to the park. The text describes the park visit, while the illustrations delve into Ben’s imagination and reveal the adventures of ‘Super Ben.’ He encounters a shark in the duck pond, a spaceship roundabout and puddles containing monsters!• Red B/Band 2B books offer simple but varied text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development and a satisfying conclusion.• Text type - A patterned story with predictable structure.• The labelled story map on pages 14 and 15 incorporates interest words from the text and some of Super Ben’s encounters encouraging children to follow Ben’s adventures once more.• This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.