Growing and Changing
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
As we grow up, our bodies grow and change with us. This information book by Teresa Heapy looks at the changes that happen - from our eyes and teeth to our height and strength.
Children can chart the changes our bodies go through from baby to six years old in the timeline on pages 14-15.
Blue (Band 4) books contain sentences of approximately eight to ten words, grouped into short paragraphs. Longer, repeated patterns are used in the story with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language.
Buzz and Bingo in the Starry Sky
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
The return of Buzz and Bingo for the third in their mini-series. In this comical adventure, Buzz and Bingo find themselves in Outer Space trying to help a lost alien find its parents. Along the way they meet a number of star characters and end up helping them as well. Alan Durant's other Buzz and Bingo stories are set in a Fairytale Forest and a Monster Maze.
Pages 30 and 31 show an illustration of the night sky and the star formations observed by Buzz and Bingo in space, providing lots of opportunities for speaking and listening.
White (Band 10) books contain more complex sentences, with unusual vocabulary and a larger number of unfamiliar terms. There is more use of literary and figurative language.
Fabulous Creatures – Are they Real?
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Giant squid, the minotaur and the Yeti are found in this humorous and witty non-fiction report from author/illustrator, Scoular Anderson. This one looks at legendary monsters and beasts, and asks whether they really existed, and if not, explains the roots of the legend.
Lime (Band 11) books contain more formal sentences, and a broader range of unfamiliar terms. There is a greater use of literary, metaphorical and technical language.
Is There Anyone Out There?
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
A fascinating look at the ways in which man is trying to discover the answer to one of the great questions - are we alone in the universe? Find out about spacecraft sent to other planets, telescopes and the use of radio signals in the search for alien life. Leading science and wildlife author and photographer Nic Bishop has contributed three other titles to Collins Big Cat - Look Out Butterfly!, Fantastic Flying Squirrel and The Cloud Forest.
Pages 30 and 31 contain a table of conditions needed to sustain life to encourage children to recap the information.
White (Band 10) books contain more complex sentences, with unusual vocabulary and a larger number of unfamiliar terms. There is more use of literary and figurative language. • Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers. • Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read. • Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination. • The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities • Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management. • Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Follow a group of children as they climb to the top of a hill and race each other to the bottom by rolling in this fun rhyming poem - written by acclaimed poet Gareth Owen, and accompanied by the colourful illustrations of Vicky Fieldhouse.
A scene of the hill and surrounding area on pages 14-15 allow children to discuss the events of the poem, providing a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities.
Yellow (Band 3) books contain short, repetitious sentences of approximately five to ten words. Two sentences may be grouped together.
Hands
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
An information text showing numerous ways in which we use our hands, including painting, printing, building, pouring, climbing and playing. Each action is illustrated with an interesting, labelled photograph.
A selection of the photographs on pages 14 and 15 give children a chance to recap and discuss the text.
Yellow (Band 3) books contain short, repetitious sentences of approximately five to ten words. Two sentences may be grouped together.
Rat-a-tat-tat
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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. 'Rat-a-tat-tat! Who is that? Open the door and see...' In this humorous rhyming story, the door is opened to reveal a cat in a hat, a fox in socks, a goat in a coat, a dog in a frog; and they all want to play! But the final visitor is not so welcome: a dinosaur - ROAR! Yellow (Band 3) books contain short, repetitious sentences of approximately five to ten words. Two sentences may be grouped together.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
Where is My School?
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
This is a non-fiction information book about Kim, who tells us about the geographical location of her school. The book shows the exact whereabouts of Kim's classroom within her school, and then expands to locate her school in her city, her country and the world. Illustrations include labelled photographs, simple maps, aerial maps and an image of the Earth.
Pages 14 and 15 include an index, and a visual reminder of Kim's location from her classroom - school - city - country - Earth, which can be used to check comprehension and as a model for further independent work.
Yellow (Band 3) books contain short, repetitious sentences of approximately five to ten words. Two sentences may be grouped together.
Chicken Licken
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Chicken Licken is worried the sky is going to fall on his head, so he sets off with an increasing band of followers to tell the King. But will he get that far...? Jeremy Strong presents a lively and spirited retelling of a well-loved fable.
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.
Fire! Fire!
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Filled with photos showing different methods of firefighting, this instruction book tells children how firefighting started and how it continues today. Stunning action photos show fires being tackled on land, at sea and from the air using a variety of equipment. There's even a glimpse of what firefighting might be like in the future.
An index and illustrated glossary complete the book.
Orange (Band 6) books contain sentences of up to 15 words, arranged in paragraphs of around three sentences. Some poetry and rhyme is included into prose text, as well as simple play scripts.
What Do You Like?
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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. What do you like to eat? This non-fiction recount features several children answering the question over the course of a day. It features different types of food using photographs, labels, speech bubbles and a clock face showing when different meals are typically eaten. Pages 14-15 give a pictorial summary of the book, for children to recap the text. Red B/Band 2B books contain short, simple, repetitious single sentences of approximately five to eight words. The text contains familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
Rally Challenge
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
An exhilarating ride with one of New Zealand's foremost adventure photographers, Andy Belcher as he takes on the New Zealand Targa Rally against a variety of cars - from 1960s Austin Healeys and Ford Cortinas to the latest Ferraris. Wonderful photography supports Andy's recount of the trials and tribulations of this exciting event.
White (Band 10) books contain more complex sentences, with unusual vocabulary and a larger number of unfamiliar terms. There is more use of literary and figurative language.
Cat and Dog Play Hide and Seek
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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. Shoo Rayner's comic duo play hide and seek, with hilarious consequences, in this lively story with a predictable structure and patterned language. A wordless text featuring Cat and Dog is also available. A story map on pages 14 and 15 illustrates an aerial view of the route that Dog takes. Red A/Band 2A books contain short, simple, repetitious single sentences of approximately five to eight words. The text contains familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
The Beach
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
A patterned picture book about a family outing to the beach. The children are delighted when they spot seagulls, an ice-cream van, sand and even what they believe to be the sea, but are they at the beach yet? Lisa Smith's illustrations capture the children's excitement as they wait impatiently for their journey to end.
Pages 14 and 15 show a labelled beach scene, incorporating the key words from the text, and providing an opportunity to recount the text. This story is paired with a non-fiction book on the same theme: Shapes on the Seashore by Frances Ridley.
Red A/Band 2A books contain short, simple, repetitious single sentences of approximately five to eight words. The text contains familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
I Can Help
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
It's fun to help! Follow one boy as he helps his family over the course of one day in different parts of the home, and find out the different ways we can help each other in this illustrated non-fiction recount.
Children can re-cap the stages of the day with the storymap on pages 14-15.
Pink A level (Band 1A) books contain very short, repetitious sentences, or single phrases of two to four words, supported by illustrations.
What Is CGI?
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Have you ever wondered how 3-D computer images are created? Alison Sage takes a look behind the scenes and discovers how Jon Stuart creates his weird and wonderful characters, including Funny Fish - the brave fish from another Collins Big Cat title.
This non-fiction text explains the mechanics behind the magic of CGI.
Orange (Band 6) books contain sentences of up to 15 words, arranged in paragraphs of around three sentences. Some poetry and rhyme is included into prose text, as well as simple play scripts.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
Fly Facts
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
An informative picture book that presents a larger-than-life look at the fly and explains that flies can be very useful - despite their capacity to carry germs and cause disease! The humorous cartoons, captivating photographs and informative captions provide a fascinating insight into this common and pesky insect.
This information book is paired with a fictional story on a similar theme: Harry the Clever Spider by Julia Jarman.
Turquoise (Band 7) books contain paragraphs of approximately four or five sentences, less supported by illustrations or photographs. Literary language and extended descriptions are used, with a wider range of unfamiliar terms.
Africa's Big Three
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Another captivating title written and photographed by BBC Big Cat Diaries presenters, Jonathan and Angela Scott; authors of the Collins Big Cat titles Antarctica: Land of the Penguins and Big Cat Babies. This time they look at the lives of Africa's three biggest land animals - the elephant, the rhino and the hippo.
Turquoise (Band 7) books contain paragraphs of approximately four or five sentences, supported by illustrations or photographs. Literary language and extended descriptions are used, with a wider range of unfamiliar terms.
The Very Wet Dog
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
A little girl and her dad take the dog for a walk in the park. After he's dragged dad through the mud and into the pond, he's a very wet dog - and dad is just as bad!
The humorous, energetic illustrations perfectly support the simple, clear text in this very funny tale of doggy mayhem, providing lots of discussion points. A story map at the end shows the placed the threesome visit, helping children recap the story.
Pink A level (Band 1A) books offer emergent readers very simple text clearly supported by illustrations.
Ideas for Guided Reading provide practical support and stimulating activities.
Around the World
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
This imaginative poem from children's poet James Carter recounts a journey to some exotic and far-flung locations. Anne Wilson's beautiful collage-style artwork captures the atmosphere of India, China and Africa. This book is the perfect springboard for discussion of travel, transport, other countries and cultures.
Yellow (Band 3) books contain short, repetitious sentences of approximately five to ten words. Two sentences may be grouped together.
Walking and Walking
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Follow this girl and her family as they take a walk through changing landscapes and seasons and show how much fun walking can be in this seasonal story, written by Anthony Robinson and illustrated by Gwyneth Williamson.
Children can re-tell the story using the map on p.14-15.
Pink A level (Band 1A) books contain very short, repetitious sentences, or single phrases of two to four words.
My Bike Ride
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
This simple non-fiction text recounts a girl's journey by bicycle, depicted by an engaging illustration-photo montage effect.
The map on pp14-15 is a useful summary of the journey, consolidating understanding, and providing a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities.
Red A/Band 2A books contain short, simple, repetitious single sentences of approximately five to eight words. The text contains familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
Horses' Holiday
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
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.
Kaye Umansky's vibrant rhyming verse is complemented by Ainslie Macleod's brilliantly funny cartoons to produce a book that encourages the reader to explore it in detail.
The postcard on pages 14 and 15 provides a new approach to revisiting and exploring the story.
Turquoise (Band 7) books contain paragraphs of approximately four or five sentences, supported by illustrations or photographs. Literary language and extended descriptions are used, with a wider range of unfamiliar terms.
Dinosaur Rock
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
Get ready to dance to the dinosaur rock! How many dinosaurs are there in the dinosaur band? Count the dinosaurs as each music section gets up on stage to play - from guitars to flutes to piano - and don't forget to rock! Bright, lively illustrations make this book really swing.
A final double page spread shows all the dinosaur rockers, helping children recount and recap.
Pink A (Band 1A) books offer very simple text clearly supported by illustrations.
Ideas for Guided Reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.
Building High
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
A non-fiction report and explanation focuses on the fascinating business of using scaffolding - from its earliest origins to present-day. Collins Big Cat author Maggie Freeman looks at how scaffolding is used in a variety of ways around the world, and meets a young scaffolder.
The book includes a comprehensive glossary on pages 30 and 31 to aid comprehension.
Lime (Band 11) books contain more formal sentences, and a broader range of unfamiliar terms. There is a greater use of literary, metaphorical and technical language. • Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers. • Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read. • Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination. • The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities • Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management. • Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
Were They Real?
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
An information book about the celebrated historical and fictional characters Cleopatra, Boudica, King Arthur, Robin Hood, the Pied Piper, Pocahontas, Blackbeard, Dracula and Tarzan. The book investigates which of them really existed, and which are based on legend.
An index and a glossary are included on pages 21 and 23.
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.
What's Inside
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
What's inside a nut? What's inside a pod? What's inside you and me? The clear photos in this book will show children what's inside all sorts of things, from a pea inside a peapod to the skeletons inside us.
The pictures on the left hand page show the outside object, while the photos on the right hand page show what's inside.
A simple pictorial summary with labels at the end of the book provides an opportunity to recap and discuss the information in the book.
Red A/Band 2A books contain short, simple, repetitious single sentences of approximately five to eight words. The text contains familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
River Journey
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Follow a river from its source to the sea and see how it adapts to its surroundings in this highly photographic non-fiction report by Fiona Macdonald.
Children can re-cap the journey of the river on pages 14-15.
Red B/Band 2b books contain short, simple, repetitious single sentences of approximately five to eight words. The text contains familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
Harry's Garden
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
Collins' celebrity gardening author demonstrates with her son, Harry, how to make a garden, step-by-step, in an old wheelbarrow.
Pages 14-15 provide a photographic summary of the instructions, to consolidate understanding of the book, and as a useful reference for children making their own garden.
Blue (Band 4) books contain sentences of approximately eight to ten words, grouped into short paragraphs. Longer, repeated patterns are used in the story with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language.
Tiger's Tales
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
A not very special cat loves nothing better than hearing the stories told in her library, or by her cat friends. Then one day she accidentally gets locked in the library over a holiday! With nothing else to do but wait, Tiger starts looking at the books on the shelves... Michaela Morgan has also written Woody's Week, Funny Fish, Rat-a-tat-tat and Tig's in the Dumps for Collins Big Cat.
A poster on page 30 advertises one of Tiger's storytelling sessions to aid further discussion and check comprehension.
White (Band 10) books contain more complex sentences, with unusual vocabulary and a larger number of unfamiliar terms. There is more use of literary and figurative language. • Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers. • Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read. • Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination. • The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities. • Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management. • Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
Minibeasts
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
This ingenious non-fiction book provides an introduction to different mini beasts in a very inspiring way. Each mini beast is introduced first with a clear photograph supporting the text. On the facing page another photograph shows children forming the image of the mini beast through the shape of their bodies and the clothes that they wear.
Pages 14 and 15 provide a pictorial summary of both the actual mini beasts and their human imitators.
Pink A level (Band 1A) books contain very short, repetitious sentences, or single phrases of two to four words.
Fly Away Home
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
Poor Ladybird is lost and flies around the garden looking for somewhere she can call home. Her early efforts are rebuffed by the other animals, until finally she finds somewhere she can be happy: a ladybird-patterned T-shirt, where other ladybird friends soon come to join her. This patterned story is accompanied with wonderful illustrations by Shoo Rayner.
The storymap on pages 14 and 15 shows the route Ladybird took in search of a home.
Morris Plays Hide and Seek
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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 deas for guided reading are included at the back of each book.
Morris wants to eat his kitty biscuits, but his mother sends him off to play hide and seek instead. When it's Morris's turn to hide, he finds the perfect place: the food cupboard, where the kitty biscuits are kept!
Vivien French has written this Morris tale specially for developing readers to enjoy, and the humorous illustrations illustrate the text perfectly. The final double page spread is in the form of a storyboard, helping children recap and discuss the story.
Orange (Band 6) books contain sentences of up to 15 words, arranged in paragraphs of around three sentences. Some poetry and rhyme is included into prose text, as well as simple playscripts.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
The Brave Baby
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
The Indian 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 Indian 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 traditional North American Indian story has been sensitively retold by award-winning author, Malachy Doyle. Richard Johnson's stunning illustrations bring the contrasting character's expressions to life in vivid detail.
Pages 14 and 15 feature a storyboard which gives children to look back on the key events in the story and retell it in their own words.
Orange (Band 6) books contain sentences of up to 15 words, arranged in paragraphs of around three sentences. Some poetry and rhyme is included into prose text, as well as simple playscripts.
The Amazing Adventures of Batbird
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Dunkan the duck, aka Batbird is driving his family and friends mad with his superhero antics. One day, though, Dunkan gets to be a real superhero. A humorous fantasy story by leading children's author, Jane Clarke.
A Day Out
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
Bill went for a walk. He went over a river, up a hill and into a wood - all the time followed by a hungry bear who was sniffing his lunch!
The humorous illustrations expand the simple text, showing the bear's attempts to reach Bill's sandwiches on each step of the journey. Children will be able to point out the bear, although Bill can't see him at all.
A map of Bill and the bear's journey is shown at the end of the book, so children can recap the story.
Where on Earth?
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
The author/illustrator introduces a non-fiction report about the world's great explorers and poses the question - 'where in the world did they explore?' Many of the great explorers are described and illustrated in Scoular's distinctive and witty style, as well as some lesser known ones. Scoular Anderson has also produced four other Collins Big Cat books - Pirate Party, How to be a Pirate, Were They Real? and Fabulous Creatures: Were They Real?
A colorful 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.
Lime (Band 11) books contain more formal sentences, and a broader range of unfamiliar terms. There is a greater use of literary, metaphorical and technical language.
Chewy Hughie
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Chewy Hughie chews anything and everything he can get his paws on, driving his owners to distraction! But what happens when Chewy Hughie discovers a packet of bubblegum... This is a lively rhyming story by Jane Clarke, illustrated with stunning artwork from Sarah McConnell.
Pages 14-15 provide a storymap of the house, which consolidates understanding, and provides a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities.
Turquoise (Band 7) books contain paragraphs of approximately four or five sentences, supported by illustrations or photographs. Literary language and extended descriptions are used, with a wider range of unfamiliar terms.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
How Does It Work
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
How does a yo-yo climb back up its string? Why does a boomerang come back to you? And how does a kaleidoscope work? These and other mind-bending questions are answered in this explanation text about how toys work.
A table on pages 20 and 21 summarises what makes each toy featured in the book work, for example, magnets, friction or gravity. The book includes a glossary and an index on pages 22 and 23.
Gold (Band 9) books contain richer vocabulary and slightly longer paragraphs, as well as some chapters for sustained reading
How Many Animals
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
A non-fiction counting book showing photographs of the following animals: one crocodile, two elephants, three lions, four birds, five frogs and six rabbits.
Pictures of equal numbers of children add an element of fun to the book as they pretend to be the animals.
The photographs of the animals and children are repeated in numerical order on pages 14 and 15 to encourage the children to count the animals again.
Night Animals
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
When we go to sleep at night, some animals are just waking up. Discover the different activities and features of nocturnal animals in this photographic non-fiction report by Louise Spilsbury.
Children can recap the different things animals do at night on pages 14-15.
Yellow (Band 3) books contain short, repetitious sentences of approximately five to ten words. Two sentences may be grouped together.
In the Dark
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
'It is dark in the park. It is dark in the street.'
This superb patterned non-fiction text uses atmospheric illustrations to show what happens in the neighbourhood when it is dark. Who can be found in the city streets when children are tucked up in bed? Which animals prowl in the wood by the light of the moon?
Pages 14 and 15 repeat the scenes explored throughout the book, allowing children the chance to recap on the narrative, and answer the question 'Where is it dark?'
Red A/Band 2A books contain short, simple, repetitious single sentences of approximately five to eight words. The text contains familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
I Can Do It
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
This simple information book depicts lots of different activities: running, jumping, hanging, skating, creeping and swimming. Simple text accompanies photographs of animals performing each activity, alongside photographs of children acting out the same activity.
The photographs are repeated on pages 14 and 15 with a one-word label describing the activity to help children recap.
Pink B level (Band 1B) books contain very short, repetitious sentences, or single phrases of two to four words.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
Playing
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
It's fun to play outside, and these three children enjoy it in all seasons, summer, autumn, winter and spring - whatever the weather! Each season is evocatively illustrated by Tim Hopgood - 2008 winner of Booktrust's Best Emerging Illustrator Award, developing the text and encouraging discussion.
Illustrations of each of the four main seasons on pages 14-15 show the weather you can expect during each one and what sort of games you can play in it.
Pink A level (Band 1A) books contain very short, repetitious sentences, or single phrases of two to four words, supported by illustrations.
Up, Up and Away
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
The red balloon flies up, up and away! Follow the balloon's journey over the captivating landscape of the rooftops, river, mountains and the sea in this simple non-fiction recount.
The flow chart on pages 14 and 15 allows children to discuss and recap the balloon's journey.
Red A/Band 2A books contain short, simple, repetitious single sentences of approximately five to eight words. The text contains familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
Have You Ever?
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
Collins Big Cat is a guided reading series for ages 4-7 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.
This fun story follows a boy through a fantastical land of weird and wonderful creatures. Imaginative illustrations complement the text, which invites children to envisage using each of their five senses, by asking if they have ever seen, heard, touched, smelt or tasted any of the creatures.
A story map on pages 14 and 15 lets the children recap and discuss the story.
Red A/Band 2A books contain short, simple, repetitious single sentences of approximately five to eight words. The text contains familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
• Series editor Cliff Moon is an acknowledged expert in teaching reading, with decades of experience, well known and trusted by teachers.
• Collins has commissioned top children's authors and illustrators to create guided reading books that children will love to read.
• Highly stimulating illustrations in a variety of styles, from cartoon to photographs, are designed to engage young readers' interest and imagination.
• The highly visual books support developing literacy skills and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities
• Easily accessible teaching notes at your fingertips are included at the back of every reading book to support classroom management.
• Special pages are provided at the end of the story to help teachers recap, check understanding and move on.
It Was a Cold Dark Night
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
Ned the hedgehog is looking for a home in the cold, dark forest. He needs somewhere warm and cozy to sleep, but all he keeps finding are other creatures' homes: rabbits', foxes', owls', bats'. Will he ever find a snug safe bed of his own? This beautiful book is written and illustrated by award-winning author and illustrator Tim Hopgood.
A map of the forest on pages 14-15 shows Ned's journey and all the animals he encounters along the way.
Yellow (Band 3) books contain short, repetitious sentences of approximately five to ten words. Two sentences may be grouped together.
Blast Off to the Moon
Part of the Collins Big Cat series
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.
How did we first try to get to the Moon? What were the first creatures in space? And why do footprints never disappear on the Moon? Find out all about space travel and Moon landings in this simple non-fiction report accompanied by amazing photographs.
A diagram of some of the different attempts to get to the moon on pages 14-15 help children recap and provide a wealth of speaking and listening opportunities.
Blue (Band 4) books contain sentences of approximately eight to ten words, grouped into short paragraphs. Longer, repeated patterns are used in the story with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language.