Books in Collins Big Cat series

Mr Cat’s carrying a big bag. His friends, Mrs Bear, Mr Fox, Mrs Duck and Mr Mouse are all very interested to find out what he has inside, but Mr Cat will only give them one answer: “Wait and see!” This sweet story is written by ten-year-old Collins Big Cat 2011 Writing Competition winner Louisa Kelly, with quirky illustrations by Julian Mosedale.• Ideas for Reading provide practical support and stimulating activities.• Text type: A story with patterned and predictable language.

A colourful retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s The Elephant’s Child, this fable explains how the elephant got its long trunk. As the elephant journeys through the jungle it admires the features of the other animals, until he gets a bit too close to one of them … This sweet and funny story has been written and illustrated by Charlotte Middleton.• A colourful retelling of Rudyard Kipling’s The Elephant’s Child, this fable explains how the elephant got its long trunk. As the elephant journeys through the jungle it admires the features of the other animals, until he gets a bit too close to one of them … This sweet and funny story has been written and illustrated by Charlotte Middleton.• Red A/Band 2A books offer predictable text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.• A story map on pages 14–15 allows children to recap the story and discuss each stage.• Text type: A traditional tale• Curriculum links: Citizenship: Animals and us

Olaudah Equiano was kidnapped as a child from his village in Africa and shipped to America to begin life as a slave. This book recounts his amazing journey to freedom and how he eventually helped to put an end to slavery. The text and pictures graphically portray his life aboard ship, on the plantations and later life in the English gentry.• Emerald/Band 15 books provide a widening range of genres including science fiction and biography, prompting more ways to respond to texts.•Text type - A biography• There is a useful glossary and a timeline of Olaudah's life to help children recount the information.• Curriculum links - Citizenship : to realise the nature and consequences of racism; Geography: To recognise how places fit together within a wide geographical context.

Everyone looks forward to their holidays. In this book you can learn how holidays began, and what they are like today.• Orange/Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages.• Text type: An information text.• Curriculum links: History: "how people’s lives have shaped this nation."• A timeline on pages 22–23 allows children to see the history of holidays in one neat summary.

Julia Donaldson tells the tale of the misfortunate characters Bonny and Sandy, who are forever arguing. One day a little man comes to stay, and it looks as though their luck has changed.Julia Donaldson tells the tale of the misfortunate characters Bonny and Sandy, who are forever arguing. One day a little man comes to stay, and it looks as though their luck has changed.Pages 14-15 contain a flow chart, giving the opportunity to summarise and discuss the events of the story.Purple/Band 8 books offer developing readers literary language with some challenging vocabulary.Ideas for Guided Reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.

This non-fiction book explains how sea creatures have spines, stings and teeth and other means to protect themselves from hungry predators. Packed with stunning underwater photographs, there is much to entrance young readers.• Green/ Band 5 books offer early readers patterned language and varied characters.• Text type - Non-chronological report.• A simple table at the end of the book can be used to check understanding and to recap information learnt reading the book.• Curriculum links - Citizenship: Animals and us.• This non-fiction book is paried with a playscript on a similar theme: Worm Looks for Lunch by Julia Donaldson.• This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.