Hector and the Cello

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.
Renowned author and artist Ros Asquith has written and illustrated this gently humorous story of Hector the Hippo who longs to play the cello. Developing readers can follow his trek through the wild, wet jungle as he searches for a teacher who won't roar, snort, growl or hiss at him!
The beautifully detailed illustrations of jungle and animals offer lots of discussion points, and there is a two-page final spread showing numbered vignettes from the story to help recap and retell.
Purple (Band 8) books contain more complex sentences, grouped in paragraphs of up to five sentences. Vocabulary is more unusual and challenging, and some literary language is used.