A photographic non-fiction book that explains the many different types of robots and their uses. The report tells how robots help us in industry, security, and in exploring uninhabitable environments such as other planets, volcanoes, and the depths pf the ocean.

 Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns withsequential events and integrated literary and natural language.

 Text type - A non-chronological report.

 A labelled diagram on pages 14 and 15 shows the inner workings of a robot, providing the opportunity to further discuss the information.

 Curriculum link - Science: Ourselves

 This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

Robots - Band 04/Blue

Can you imagine a world with whales that could walk and giant earth moles? They both lived on Earth long ago and their relatives still live here today. Explore the terrifying, giant, strange ancestors of everyday creatures, in this captivating information text, illustrated with realistic imagery by Jon Stuart.

 This is a Band 09/Gold book in the Collins Big Cat reading programme which offers developing readers literary language and stories with distinctive characters. Ideas for guided reading comprehension in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery and quizzed for Accelerated Reader. For another story in this Collins Big Cat book band for guided reading, try The Woman who Fooled the Fairies (9780007186129) written by Rose Impey and illustrated by Nick Schon.

Animal Ancestors - Band 09/Gold

How do animals in the wild hide when they are hunting or being hunted? This photographic information book shows how animals camouflage themselves in their natural environment.

 This e-book is best viewed on Kindle Fire in landscape view to optimise your experience.

 How do animals in the wild hide when they are hunting or being hunted? This photographic information book shows how animals camouflage themselves in their natural environment.

 Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language.

 Children can recap the different animals featured in the book on pages 14-15.

 Text type: An information book

 Curriculum links: Citizenship: Animals and us

Animals in Hiding - Band 04/Blue

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.

 This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Fabulous Creatures – Are they Real? - Band 11/Lime

The Pet Detective has his work cut out when his favourite football goes missing. With his dog, Rooney, he sets out to follow the clues; an open window; a missing football; a dirty big footprint; a bubblegum wrapper and a rustle in the bushes. It isn't long before the Pet Detective has located the culprit.

 Gold/Band 9 fiction books offer developing readers literary language and stories with distinctive characters.

 Text type - A story by the same author.

 A storyboard on pages 22 and 23 provides an opportunity for children to retell the story in their own words.

 Curriculum links - Citizenship: Animals and us.

 Tortoise Trouble is another Pet Detective story by Jana Hunter in the Collins Big Cat series.

 This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

 This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Pet Detectives: The Ball Burglary - Band 09/Gold

The chief was brave and fierce, so many people were afraid of him. But Wasso, the brave baby, was not afraid of him. When the proud chief goes to confront Wasso, he learns an important and humbling lesson. No matter how much he tries to intimidate the brave baby, she will not do as he says.

 This e-book is best viewed on Kindle Fire in landscape view to optimise your experience.

 Orange/ Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages.

 Text type - A humorous story

 Pages 22 and 23 feature a storyboard which gives children the chance to look back on the key events in the story and retell it in their own words.

 Curriculum links - Geography: Where in the world is Barnaby Bear?

 This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

 This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

The Brave Baby - Band 06/Orange

Build your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right level

 The survival of the white continent's most famous inhabitants is the subject of this beautiful book. The beauty of Antarctic and the enchanting secrets of its penguin population is brought to life with a delightful series of photographs by the Big Cat Diaries team of Jonathan and Angela Scott.

 White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language.

 Text type - A non-chronological report.

 A poster on pages 30 and 31 advertises the highlights and attractions of the magical land of Antarctica, providing opportunities for speaking, listening and writing activities.

 Curriculum links - Geography: Where in the world is Barnaby Bear? Passport to the World.

 This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

 This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Antarctica: Land of the Penguins - Band 10/White

Where on Earth describes the journeys of significant explorers, revealing the lands they discovered and what they found there. Grid maps and grid references offer children an opportunity to find out for themselves where each explorer sailed.

 Lime/Band 11 books have longer sentence structures and a greater use of literary language.

 Text type - An information book.

 A colourful world map on pages 30 and 31 shows the routes the explorers took, providing lots of opportunities for speaking and listening, and work outside the reading session.

 Curriculum links - Geography: Where in the world is Barnaby Bear? Passport to the World.

 Fabulous Creatures - Are they Real? is another non-fiction title by Scoular Anderson at this level.

 This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

 This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Where on Earth? - Band 11/Lime

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.

 This e-book is best viewed on Kindle Fire in landscape view to optimise your experience.

 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.

Shapes on the Seashore - Band 02A/Red A

Hooray! Hooray! It's the horses' holiday! They come by coach, they come by car, they come from far away. This humorous rhyming story takes the reader on a riotous journey to Dobbin World, where the horses' holiday activities seem strikingly similar to our own. This eBook is best viewed on Kindle Fire in landscape view to optimise your experience.

 This is a Band 6/Orange book which offers varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. This is a humorous rhyming story and the postcard on pages 14 and 15 provides a new approach to revisiting and exploring the story. This book supports learning about geography near the seaside. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery and quizzed for Accelerated Reader. For more guided reading books in this Collins Big Cat band, try Chewy Hughie (B06Y5MC4K4) written by Jane Clarke and illustrated by Sarah McConnell.

Horses’ Holiday - Band 07/Turquoise

Mona the goat's brother is good at jumping. Mona's sister is good at leaping. Mona is good at growing sunflowers. But when she meets a big, fierce lion, Mona finds out she's good at something else too! A humorous fantasy story by renowned childrens' author Vivian French.

 Mona the goat's brother is good at jumping. Mona's sister is good at leaping. Mona is good at growing sunflowers. But when she meets a big, fierce lion, Mona finds out she's good at something else too! A humorous fantasy story by renowned childrens' author Vivian French.

 Gold/Band 9 fiction offers developing readers literary language and stories with distinctive characters.

 Ideas for Guided Reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.

 This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.

 This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Mountain Mona - Band 09/Gold

Artist Jon Stuart shows how he produces computer-generated images. The process starts with a simple block of cubes, which are added to, given texture, before being bent, stretched, twisted into the correct shape and size. He then adds background, lighting and colour to bring the whole scene to life.

 This eBook is best viewed on Kindle Fire in landscape view to optimise your experience.

 This is a Band 06/Orange book in the Collins Big Cat reading programme which offers varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages. This is an information book with a flow chart on pages 22 and 23 that summarises the process of producing CGI. Contents are listed on page 1 while a glossary and index are detailed on pages 20 and 21. This book supports learning around art and design, and investigates different kids of art, design and craft. It also supports ICT education, and is an introduction to modelling and creating pictures. This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery. For more guided reading books in this Collins Big Cat band, try Pompeii (B06Y5B4Q3C) written by Fiona Macdonald with imagery by Giorgio Bacchin.

What Is CGI? - Band 06/Orange

A classic tale of the Irish legend Finn McCaul, as he strives to fulfil a challenge to free his jailed uncle. The question is, is it even humanly possible?! Find out in this non-stop, funny story of perseverance, imagination - and a bit of speed, written by the Canongate Prize winner Lari Don.

 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

 This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Livres