Book reviews - learning to read - Collins Big Cat

Lilac/Band 0 

Learning opportunities - Locate title and open front cover. Relate narrative to own experience. Retell narrative in own words.
Wordless books. Illustration provides full support for telling story/narrative.
16 pages. Approximate word count 0.

• The Ugly Duckling is a wordless traditional tale which includes a summary in pictures of a swan's life cycle plus some excellent teaching resources.
• Sound Walk is full of pictures to encourage children to discuss what they see, with small pictures on each page to stimulate discussion.
• What’s in the Egg? is a wordless information book looking at a range of eggs through excellent colour photos; it includes life cycle pictures for additional learning.
• The Owl and the PussycatThis illustrated wordless version of the poem “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear is told through the beautiful artwork of award-winning illustrator Polly Dunbar.
• How To Make a Scarecrow: This wordless instruction text by celebrity gardener Kim Wilde shows how to make a scarecrow. A fun book with a practical application.

Pink/ A Band 1A

Learning opportunities - Locate title. Know that left page comes before right. Can turn pages appropriately. Start to match spoken word to printed word (one-to-one correspondence). Confirm this matching using a few known words or letters. Work out the storyline from the illustrations and repeated language patterns. 
Simple, highly predictable text with familiar objects/actions in the same place on each page. One repetitive, whole-sentence structure that includes at least one high-frequency word. Reasonably large font size with clear spaces between words. 1–2 lines of text per page. Illustrations that provide full and direct support for the text and are well separated from it.
16 pages Approximate word count 14–20.

• Guinea Pigs: Where Do the Guinea Pigs Go At Night?
• In the Garden: A simple story about two boys and the different places they to play in the garden.
• Pam Napsa simple story with a familiar setting. Each book has a simple sentence on one page, accompanied by a 3/4 page illustration and faced with a full page illustration; the illustrations help decoding and are attractive and relevant.
• Map Man is a fiction story starring a superhero.
• Pushing and Pulling This simple non-fiction recount demonstrates different types of pushing and pulling in a simple way for young children to start to understand science concepts.
• Sip It, Dip It, Tap It is a simple well-illustrated non-fiction book with phonic suggestions to enhance learning.
• Teeth has very simple text and colourful photos, plus phonic ideas for teaching.

Pink B/Band 1B

Learning opportunities: As Pink A but with the following progression: Use some letters together with meaning to read the text, including CVC words. Match spoken to printed word (one-to-one correspondence) across 2–3 lines of print. Show some awareness of mismatches between reading attempts and text.
As Pink A but with the following progression: Natural language following children’s speech patterns. 1–2 repetitive, whole-sentence structures that each include at least one high-frequency word.
16 pages Approximate word count 20 - 30.

• The Boy Who Cried Wolf A witty retelling, in very simple language, of the shepherd boy who decides to play a trick on the people in his village.
• Splash! A story with a predictable structure and patterned language about a mother and daughter out for a very rainy walk.
• Wheels: This non-fiction picture book takes a look at all sorts of wheels. : This non-fiction picture book takes a look at all sorts of wheels.
• GET UP, TOM! is a story with predictable text and patterned language, with plenty of ideas for reading plus a story map.
• In the Sea is a non-fiction report with superb photographs.
• Dig it is a non-fiction book, part of the Chant and Chatter Strand for phonics; again there are lots of reading suggestions which really extend the value of the book.
• In the Net! A simple non-fiction book, with lots of excellent football skill photos plus teaching ideas.

 Red A/Band 2A 

Learning opportunities: Consolidate secure control of one-to-one matching on a wide range of texts. Solve simple words by blending phonemes from left to right and check for meaning, correct syntax, i.e. does it make sense and sound right? Begin to notice own errors. Start to read in a more phrased manner while maintaining track of the print.
Slightly longer, highly predictable text involving familiar objects and actions. Repetitive sentence/phrase patterns that include high-frequency words and simple words that children can solve by blending phonemes following children’s speech patterns. Simple story development (fiction text). Possibly more than one print format (non-fiction).
16 pages  Approximate word count 30–40.

• Best Bird is a simple story, with predictable structure and patterned language, about finding our own strength. Owl thinks he is the best at everything, but he keeps meeting other birds who are better than him. What is Owl best at?
• What’s Inside? is a non-fiction picture book that takes a close-up look at what can be found inside...
• Puff the Pup is a simple story with a familiar setting The inclusion of a story map allows children to recount the story in their own words.
• Nests helps with early phonics as well as being a useful beginner non-fiction text which shows some of the places nests are built.
• The Fox and the Stork: Band 02A/Red A (Collins Big Cat) is a traditional story, fulfilling National Curriculum requirements to teach this genre. There are lots of ideas for reading.
• Fantastic Yak is an enjoyable fiction story for Letters and Sounds.

Red B/Band 2B

Learning opportunities: As Red A but offering slightly more challenge.
As Red A but offering slightly more challenge.
16 pages. Approximate word count  40 - 60.

• It Is Hidden is a phonics reader for Letters and Sounds and the back cover clearly shows the phonemes covered; the book is Phase 3.
• Paddington: Weather It's lovely to see this much-loved character telling a story about all different types of weather.
• Bot on the Moon A simple fantasy story to encourage children's imaginations.
• BOOM, BOOM Discover different types of drums from around the world in this fun, decodable non-fiction book
• My Exercise DiaryBig Cat offers so much variety and here is another different approach which can be used to encourage children to keep their own exercise diary.
• Art in the WoodsThis non-fiction instruction book shows children how materials found in the wood, including pine cones, leaves and twigs, can be used to make their own miniature wood art project. Another book which can be used in a practical way.
• Paddington: The Missing SandwichHere he is again in a humorous story - children may well be able to guess where Paddington's sandwich is!

Yellow/Band 3

Learning opportunities: Follow print with eyes, finger-pointing only at points of difficulty. Take more note of punctuation for grammar and oral language rhythms.  Cross-check all sources of information while reading, and sometimes self-correct. Note familiar words and phonemes and use these to get to unknown words.
Repetition of phrase patterns, ideas and vocabulary, and variation of sentence structure.
Storylines include episodes in a time sequence and framework of familiar experiences.
Some literary conventions, familiar oral language structures, illustrations support the text
quite closely. Non-fiction texts use personal experience and children’s language patterns.
16 pages Approximate word count 50–100. 

• Peas, Please Where do peas come from? How do they grow and how do they get from the field to our dinner plates? All these questions and more are answered in this informative and photographic journey of the pea.
• Diggety Dog is busy digging in this humorous rhyming story. Big Cat make good use of different types of illustrations, to ensure the books look different and appeal to children with their variety.
• In the Frog Bog This Phonics book for Letters and Sounds covers adjacent consonants with short vowel phonemes. The frogs sing cheep but Little Frog barks gruff.
• The Baby Turtle This photographic non-fiction book tracks the life of a turtle. Initially meeting the mother, we stay with her eggs and follow a hatched baby turtle along the dangerous sands to the sea. A story of survival, the turtle returns to the beach to lay its own eggs - ideal to support nature studies.
• The Wind A non-chronological report which will help children observe the world around them, with lots of reading ideas to further this.
• The Little Egg Find out what happens to the little egg in this patterned story (another different style of writing, showing how comprehensive Big Cat is, and how good at introducing different genres), filled with colourful illustrations by Shoo Rayner.
• It Was a Cold Dark Night A map of the forest allows children to track the story - a useful learning idea.

 Blue/Band 4 

Learning opportunities: Move through text attending to print, meaning, and sentence structure flexibly. Self-correct more often, rereading to enhance phrasing and clarify precise meaning. Solve new words using print information and understanding of the text. Identify constituent parts of unfamiliar two-syllable words to read correctly. Discuss content in a way that indicates understanding. Manage a variety of genres.
Variation in sentence patterns and content. Literary language with natural language. Repeated language patterns are longer, or act as refrains. Up to six or eight lines of text on a page and more similar-looking words appearing. Stories have more events.Non-fiction has abstract terms/impersonal sentence structures. Pictures support storyline rather than convey precise meaning so closely.
16 pages  Approximate word count 90–170.

• The Steam Train: Band 04/Blue The rhythm and rhyme of poetry is a fabulous way to help children learn to read. The steam train leaves the station, heading to the hills, into a rainstorm, through a tunnel and out the other side into the sunshine and to the seaside. The illustrations of this book are particularly striking.
• The Rainforest at Night: Meet the animals and insects that live in the rainforest (Collins Big Cat Phonics) Rainforests are a popular topic in the first years of school, so this is a dual-purpose book. Meet the animals and insects that live in the rainforest and come out at night, in this simple non-fiction recount by award-winning wildlife photographer, Nic Bishop.
• Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds – Athletics: Band 4/Blue Readers will learn about all the different sports in athletics in this photographic information book by Andy Seed. This book focuses on adjacent consonants with long vowel phonemes.
• Catching the Moon: Band 04/Blue (Collins Big Cat Phonics)  Prince Hal is upset – he wants the moon. So the King and Queen send their servants, Grim and Crumb, out to catch the moon for him, with hilarious consequences. A story map helps children recount the story.
• Harry’s Garden: Band 04/Blue (Collins Big Cat) This is a great way to encourage a creative hobby as Collins' celebrity gardening author demonstrates with her son, Harry, how to make a garden, step-by-step, in an old wheelbarrow. The book has instructions and wonderful photographs demonstrating the steps involved in making a garden.
• The Lonely Penguin: Band 04/Blue (Collins Big Cat)Poor Penguin is lonely – he's lost his friends. Share his journey across Antarctica with this beautifully illustrated touching story. Children can re-cap the stages of Penguin’s journey on pages 14–15.
• Animals in Hiding: Band 04/Blue (Collins Big Cat)• 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.

Green/Band 5

Learning opportunities: Read fluently with attention to punctuation. Solve new words using print detail, attending to meaning and syntax. Self-correct. Manage effectively a growing variety of texts, including non-fiction. Discuss and interpret character and plot more fully. Use contents page and glossary in non-fiction books, and locate information.
Varied, longer sentences, with little repetition of phrases. Repeated, unfamiliar words. More varied and larger number of characters involved. Events sustained over several pages with a larger number of words on page. Less familiar, more specialised vocabulary. Illustrations provide moderate support for fiction. Print may be located in captions, fact-boxes and diagrams in non-fiction.
24 pages.  Approximate word count 170–250. 

• Super Sculptures (Big Cat Inform) This is a fascinating book with some really unusual sculptures including one made of fur and a bridge wrapped in cloth - plenty of talking points here as children enjoy this non-chronological report.
• Collins Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sounds – How to Draw Cat and Dog This is an unusual topic for a reading book, and a very welcome one as Shoo Rayner, creator of the successful Cat and Dog series, shows children step by step how to draw the much-loved characters in this non-fiction instruction book. The focus sounds in this book are: /ar/ a /or/ aw, our, al /ow/ ou /ai/ a-e /e/ ea /igh/ i-e, i /ee/ ea /ure/ our /oa/ o, ow, o-e; pages 22 and 23 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall.
• Crunch and Munch It's brilliant to see the huge variations in topics for Big Cat books, showing children how reading can affect all aspects of life. Here, we have a cookery book which consists of four simple, healthy recipes from Jamie Oliver's favourite dinner lady. Following instructions is an essential part of learning to read and here it has a practical application.
• How The Elephant Got His Trunk: Band 05/Green (Collins Big Cat) is a traditional tale. Eddie the Elephant was always asking “Who? What? When?” But one day a crocodile gave him an answer he’d never forget! As with all the books, extensive back matter gives teachers a wealth of practical resources to enhance the experience of reading.
• The King of the Forest: Band 05/Green (Collins Big Cat) A fox was having a nap when a tiger leapt out at him, ready to attack. Could the fox use his cunning to save his own life? This traditional story has been beautifully illustrated by Tomislav Zlatic.

Orange/Band 6 

Learning opportunities: Get started on fiction after briefer introductions,without relying on artwork. Examine non-fiction layout, using contents pages to select sections of a book to read. Read longer and more complex sentences with a range of punctuation and text layout. Use familiar syllables to read longer words. Use appropriate terminology in discussion. Check information in text with illustrations and comment on content. Infer meaning.
Increased proportion of space allocated to print rather than pictures in fiction.  Illustrations support overall meaning of text. Longer stories with more literary language. Sentence structures are more complex. Range of text provision, e.g. plays,simple poetry,simple non-fiction of different types. Non-fiction texts contain more formal sentences and unfamiliar terms and layouts.
24 pages  Approximate word count 250–300.

• Clementine's Smile Clementine the crocodile is known for always being happy and having a big smile, but one day she gets toothache and can’t smile anymore. In this reassuring story, children will learn how she overcome her fear of the dentist and regained her smile. One feature that stands out in the Big Cat books is the way so many different styles of illustration are used, so the books always lok fresh and appealing, and children don't get bored with the same approach. This poem is illustrated with bright bold pictures that help to tell the story.
• The Gardening Year takes children through the seasons with simple factual accounts of what can be grown when. The book includes a simple glossary - it's good to see this learning aid.
• Pompeii: the Lost City introduces children to this fascinating city which disappeared when Vesuvius erupted. Four hundred years ago, Pompeii was rediscovered and this book allows children to step back in time and discover what life was like in the Roman times. This book supports discussions around history and what homes were like a long time ago.
• The Brave Baby is a story from another culture about a brave baby girl, who is not frightened by the Indian chief. The storyboard encourages retelling of the story.
• Noisy Neesha is a book in the Phonics for Letters and Sounds series. Can Neesha, the noisy elephant, and Mr Hare, who loves peace and quiet, live together peacefully?

Turquoise/Band 7

Learning opportunities:  Extract meaning from the text while reading with less dependence on illustrations. Use punctuation and text layout to read with expression and control. Sustain reading through longer sentence structures and paragraphs. Tackle a higher ratio of complex words with known vocabulary, phonics and syllables. Monitor own reading, checking and self-correcting while considering text meaning. Navigate around texts such as indexes, glossaries, and dictionaries.
More extended descriptions and use of literary phrasing. More print, more illustrations and layout with elaborated episodes and events. More unusual and challenging vocabulary, particularly in non-fiction. Illustrations provide a lower level of support in fictional texts, and include graphs, maps, and diagrams in non-fiction. Non-fiction texts contain longer, more formal sentences. Some repeated terms.
24 pages. Approximate word count 300–500. 

• Big Questions (Phonics for Letters and Sounds) Children have all sorts of questions and one of the joys of learning to read is being able to find the answers for themselves, so they will enjoy this book. Why does your nose itch? What colour is a polar bear? Find out the answer to these and many other big questions in this non-fiction information book by Rob Alcraft. The focus sounds in this book are: /n/ kn /r/ wr /s/ c, ce, sc /sh/ ti, ci, si. Pages 22 and 23 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall.
• A Visit to the Farm This non-fiction book, with super colour photos, describes Sam’s experience of swapping the city for the farm. A glossary and timeline are useful learning aids, helping children to develop their own research skills at an early stage of learning to read.
• From Tree To Bookis an informative account of how a book is made, from making the paper to printing the words to designing the cover.
• Brown Bear and Wilbur Wolf: Band 07/Turquoise (Collins Big Cat)When Brown Bear loses his sense of smell he cannot find food. Wilbur Wolf is too old to hunt for food. Can the two find a way of working together to help each other? Pages 22 and 23 show two “wanted” posters from Brown Bear and Wilbur Wolf, allowing children to compare and match the characters’ traits and personalities.
• Homes Sweet Homes: Band 07/Turquoise (Collins Big Cat) is a collection of beautiful poems about the habitats of contrasting creatures.

Purple/Band 8

Learning opportunities: Adapt to a variety of fiction, non-fiction and poetry with growing independence. Read silently and rapidly. Use punctuation to keep track of longer sentences.
 Solve most unfamiliar words by blending less common digraphs and recognising alternative spellings to read longer and more complex words. Predict content/layout/ story development. Take more conscious account of literary effects and the formal language of non-fiction. Begin to consciously use reading to extend speaking, writing, vocabulary and syntax.
Sentence structures becoming longer and more complex. Wider variety of genre but still
illustrated. Storyline may be more involved and reflect the feelings of the writer.  Some books with short chapters for more sustained reading. Characters are more distinctive and rounded than at earlier levels. Non-fiction texts cover an increasing curriculum range and different text formats. Alphabetically ordered texts, i.e. dictionaries and simple encyclopedias, glossaries, indexes.
24 pages. Approximate word count 500–750.

• The Digestive System Children will learn why we need to eat and where the food goes. Through the photos and clear diagrams, they will follow the food on its journey. Perfect to support science learning on the human body, the book gives children the satisfaction of being able to do their own research. A full body diagram, allows children to recap the full journey our food takes, offering a different learning style.
• Royal Rap is a brilliant book - what a super way to learn about all the kings and queens of England. Each monarch has their own two line couplet which really sums up each so children will remember. The couplets are accompanied by humorous cartoons
• Jack in GoalThis story with a familiar setting is based on Jack’s first day at Glendale School. He has told the school football coach that he is a star goalie, so why isn’t he happy when he’s asked to join the team? The book explores the common themes of family, honesty and friendship as well as sport
• Dubai From The Sky:This well presented and laid out book will engage children's attention with just enough information plus stunning photos to support the geography requirement to ‘interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including … aerial photographs’. Adults can check children's comprehension and embed learning with a reader response spread.

Gold/Band 9

As Purple, but offering slightly more challenge.
24 pages. Approximate word count 700–900.

• Peter and the Wolf: An exciting playscript retelling Prokofieff’s classic tale Here's another example of the superb way Big Cat books offer children an introduction to a huge range of writing genres, this time with a playscript based on a popular tale. The cast of characters on page 2 shows how Prokofieff used a different musical instrument to represent each character and opens up opportunities for discussion. With the help of a narrator, the story reveals, how Peter outwits the big bad wolf.
• Great Explorers: Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong gives children the chance to compare and contrast two explorers from very different eras and with very different achievements. Perfect to learn about famous people, with useful ideas for reading to extend the value of the book.
• Escape from the Island Another playscript, this time an exciting story about a desert island. Swept out to seain a storm, five children end up on a desert island. Follow them as they explore the island and try to find a way to escape - and discover that sometimes it's the most unlikely person who saves the day. Clearly indicated, each of the characters is shown in a different colour, and the text is simple and easy to retell.
• China’s Terracotta Army When the First Emperor of China died 2,000 years ago, he was buried in a giant tomb. In 1974, this tomb was discovered along with an army of over 6,000 terracotta warriors. It's an excellent account of a fascinating topic with a good glossary and index.

 White/Band 10 

Learning opportunities: Read silently, sustaining interest in longer text, returning to it easily later. Use text more fully as a reference and as a model, and find information in texts more
flexibly. Notice the spelling of unfamiliar words and relate to known words. Show increased awareness of vocabulary and precise meaning. Express reasoned opinions and interpretations about what is read, and compare texts.
Storyline or theme sustained over a longer period of time with chapters or subsections. Sentence structures may be longer, with more subordinate phrases or clauses. Characters may be more fully developed with more than one point of view expressed. Information/action implied, not spelled out. May contain more metaphorical or technical language. Non-fiction texts in a broader context and include more detailed information.
32 pages. Approximate word count 1200.

• Buzz and Bingo in the Starry Sky This is the third humorous fantasy story in the Buzz and Bingo mini-series - it's great to encourage children to read by engaging them in a series of books. Buzz and Bingo are in Outer Space trying to help a lost alien, XY5, find his parents. Children will learn about space as they enjoy the story and look at the constellation map included - another learning opportunity.
• I Never Know How Poems Start Much loved poet and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen explains how inspiration for poetry can come from anywhere – a memory, an insight and even broccoli! With a beautifully illustrated selection of his own quirky poems, this is a lovely way to encourage children to read and write poetry.
• Your SensesThis information book by award-winning author Sally Morgan looks at each of our senses in turn and explains how they work and why they are so important. The book features excellent labelled diagrams. Curriculum links are Science: Ourselves; Sound and hearing; children can use the glossary and index to help them discover relevant facts.
• The Camel Fair is a non-fiction recount of a holiday in India. The highlight of the visit, and the central focus of the book, is the Pushkar Camel Fair. The event is recounted in a letter format through the eyes of a child, Sarina who is visiting relatives. The superb photos really bring this vibrant country to life for children.

Lime/Band 11

Learning opportunities: Recognise text type and predict general content, returning easily to them after a break. Read silently, adjusting speed to suit material and monitoring the meaning. Rerun to make different interpretations of dialogue, complex sentences etc. Make use of blurbs, glossaries, and indexes to locate information quickly and accurately. Express reasoned opinions about what is read, and compare texts. Sustain meaning over many phrases for comprehension due to complex sentences.
Storyline or theme may be sustained over a longer period of time with chapters or subsections. More unfamiliar, sophisticated terms including a greater range of verbs to suggest precise meanings. Widening range of layout, genre, and writing style. More metaphorical or technical language. More technical vocabulary not supported directly by illustrations.
32 pages. Approximate word count 1500.

• One Night in the Zoo The fun starts at the zoo when all the visitors have gone home, as children will discover in this enjoyable rhyming story with its delicate illustrations. Children will love to count the wide variety of animals in a fun and wonderfully imaginative way as they follow them through the night, and find out what mischief they get into. Then they can recap the story through the summary which shows each animal in the book in number order. Big Cat books have a focus on using the very best of children's authors, showing their commitment to making reading a great experience for children. Judith Kerr is an acclaimed author of many children's books.
• Building High is a non-chronological report about scaffolding. Children's interest will be captured by this description of something they see on a regular basis, helping them to make sense of the world around them. Readers will learn what scaffolding is made from, how it has developed around the world from its earliest origins to the present day, and what it is used for, as well as meeting a young scaffolder. A variety of types of illustration, including well-labelled diagrams and striking photos, add to the effectiveness of the book.
• The Great Granny Gang is another story from Judith Kerr, this time about some venturesome grannies. Through wonderfully rhythmical writing and exquisite illustrations, children will discover that there is a lot more to this gang of grey-haired grannies than meets the eye! A summary on pages 34 and 35 of each granny and her skill supports children in recapping the story, providing plenty of speaking and listening opportunities.
• Blood Supporting KS2 science, children will find answers to many questions about blood in this fun non-fiction information book. Useful diagrams and fun cartoons make these difficult concepts accessible and interesting, helping children to find out how to extrapolate information from visual material as well as text.

Collins Big Cat Band 12/Copper Year 3 Ages 7 -8

Collins Big Cat Band 13/Topaz Year 3 Ages 7 - 8

Collins Big Cat Band 14/Ruby Year 4 Ages 8 -9

Collins Big Cat Band 15/Emerald Year 4 Ages 8 - 9

Collins Big Cat Band 16/Sapphire Year 5 Age 9 - 10

Collins Big Cat Band 17/Diamond Year 6 Ages 10 - 11

Collins Big Cat Band 18/Pearl Year 6 Ages 10 - 11

Level 1: First Reading (Collins Big Cat Reading Lions)

Level 2: Practice Reading (Collins Big Cat Reading Lions)

Level 3: Supported Reading (Collins Big Cat Reading Lions)

Level 4: Confident Reading (Collins Big Cat Reading Lions)

Level 5: Independent Reading (Collins Big Cat Reading Lions)

Level 6: Fluent Reading (Collins Big Cat Reading Lions)