A simple text where a visit to an art show causes a girl to imagine what the world would be like if it was wholly yellow, red or blue. Realising that the world actually consists of all the colours of the rainbow, she paints lots of multicoloured pieces of art herself.Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language.Text type – A simple non-fiction text.A gallery story map on pages 14 and ...

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right levelEverything you could ever want to know about one of Earth’s most impressive phenomena. Find out all about the different types of volcano, why and how they happen, the risks they pose as well as what they can provide.Emerald/Band 15 books provide a widening range of genres including science fiction and biography, prompting more ways to respond to texts.

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 informati...

Walking through the forest one moonlit night, Buzz and his dog Bingo find a sign pointing to a Monster Party. It sounds like fun – but first they have to find their way through the Monster Maze, meeting Count Dracula, a werewolf, a troll and a mummy along the way.Purple/ Band 8 books offer developing readers literary language, with some challenging vocabulary.Text type – A humorous story.The maze on pages 22 and 23 reminds readers of the mosters Buzz and B...

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…?Purple/ Band 8 books offer developing readers literary language, with some challenging vocabulary.Text type – A traditional tale.A timeline of events retells this traditional tale for children to discuss and renact.Curriculum links – Citizenship: Choices; Science: Plants and animals in the...

Everything about Mr Big is big. And ordinary pens just won’t do; every time he tries to write, Mr Big’s ordinary sized pens break. So Mr Big drives to the shop in his big car to buy a big pen. But size is not the only suprising thing about Mr Big’s new pen.Blue/ Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language.Text type – A fantasy story.A storyboard on pages 22 and 23 provides a pictorial sum...

It’s a lovely day for walking in the park. Before long the dog is chasing a duck through the mud, and dragging its owner into mud and a pond. The dog is taken home, shakes water all over the car and Dad, and at home gets hosed down in the garden – along with poor Dad!Pink A/Band 1A books offer emergent readers very simple text supported by illustrations.Text type – A story with predictable structure and patterned language.Children can follow the dog’s jour...

Worm is fed up with earth for lunch and wants something more exciting. He tries eating grass, bark and even a leaf on the advice of various animal friends – and almost becomes lunch himself when a hungry bird appears!Green/ Band 5 books offer early readers patterned language and varied characters.Text type – Playscript.Instructions for putting on the play are on pages 22 and 23 to encourage children to discuss the script.Curriculum links – Scienc...

Is There Anyone Out There? investigates whether there is life beyond planet Earth. The non-chronological report examines what we already know about the Solar System and the possibility of life on other planets. It also offers ideas of what aliens in certain sorts of environments might look like.White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language.Text type – A non-chronological report.Pages 30 and 31 contain a table of conditions needed ...

What makes a ball bounce? How is a football made? Children will find the answers to these, and more, questions about different types of balls in this fun instruction book. With a colourful combination of photos and artwork, it gives information on all kinds of balls and activities, such as how to juggle.Orange/ Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages.Text type – An instruction text.The book includes a quiz on...

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.Purple/ Band 8 books offer developing readers literary language, with some challenging vocabulary.Text type – An information book.An index and a glossary are included on pages 22 and 23 to aid com...

Read this humorous fantasy story about Rex the dinosaur who wants to give animals super haircuts and make them happy.Green/ Band 5 books offer early readers patterned language and varied characters.Text type – A humorous fantasy story.The illustrations on page 22 and 23 prompts children to recap and discuss the story.Curriculum links – Citizenship: Choices; Living in a diverse world; Taking part.