Description

From pigeons and elephants to parachuting dogs – millions of animals helped in both world wars. This non-fiction book, with fascinating photographs from the archives of the Imperial War Museum, focuses on the animals that were involved and their bravery in the face of battle.

About this resource

• Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence, helping struggling pupils not only to read, but to love reading
• Dual-banded books provide age-appropriate interest level material matched with a lower reading ability level
• Every book is levelled by reading expert Cliff Moon to ensure precise, systematic, measurable progression to help close the ability gap
• The books use a range of reading strategies: phonic, graphic, syntactic and contextual to build confident, accurate, fluent readers
• Designed to build speaking and listening skills, as well as reading skills, the books are highly visual and include incredible illustrations and photographs
• Every book has a Key Stage 2 look-and-feel to engage older pupils and avoid stigmatisation
• Topics are relevant for children in years 3-6 and connected to the curriculum and framework objectives for these years to support inclusion
• Progress titles contain a Reader Response page to encourage the pupil to respond to and recall what they have read. This offers an ideal opportunity to check comprehension
• Ideas for Reading, written by primary literacy expert Gill Howell are included in the back of every book to help you support the reading needs of each child

Description

What are the most dangerous animals in the world? Take a closer look at some very poisonous, venomous and deadly animals in this stunning photographic non-fiction report by award-winning author Anna Claybourne.

About this resource

• Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence, helping struggling pupils not only to read, but to love reading
• Dual-banded books provide age-appropriate interest level material matched with a lower reading ability level
• Every book is levelled by reading expert Cliff Moon to ensure precise, systematic, measurable progression to help close the ability gap
• The books use a range of reading strategies: phonic, graphic, syntactic and contextual to build confident, accurate, fluent readers
• Designed to build speaking and listening skills, as well as reading skills, the books are highly visual and include incredible illustrations and photographs
• Every book has a Key Stage 2 look-and-feel to engage older pupils and avoid stigmatisation
• Topics are relevant for children in years 3-6 and connected to the curriculum and framework objectives for these years to support inclusion
• Progress titles contain a Reader Response page to encourage the pupil to respond to and recall what they have read. This offers an ideal opportunity to check comprehension
• Ideas for Reading, written by primary literacy expert Gill Howell are included in the back of every book to help you support the reading needs of each child

Description

Tomorrow is Linnie’s birthday, and all she wants is to see the bore: a tidal wave about to crash down the estuary. But there’s a problem on the farm and (to her sister’s delight) mum says she can’t go. Desperate to see it, Linnie makes a big mistake, but finds help from an unlikely source in this gripping story by award-winning author Ally Kennan.

About this resource

• Pearl/Band 18 books offer fluent readers a complex, substantial text with challenging themes to facilitate sustained comprehension, bridging the gap between a reading programme and longer chapter books.
• Text type: An adventure story.
• Curriculum links: Citizenship: Choices.

Description

Once, there were 100,000 tigers in the world, but now these beautiful creatures are under threat of extinction. Find out the reasons for the decrease in tiger numbers, and what we can do to change it, in this photographic information book by Louise Spilsbury.

About this resource

• Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence, helping struggling pupils not only to read, but to love reading
• Dual-banded books provide age-appropriate interest level material matched with a lower reading ability level
• Every book is levelled by reading expert Cliff Moon to ensure precise, systematic, measurable progression to help close the ability gap
• The books use a range of reading strategies: phonic, graphic, syntactic and contextual to build confident, accurate, fluent readers
• Designed to build speaking and listening skills, as well as reading skills, the books are highly visual and include incredible illustrations and photographs
• Every book has a Key Stage 2 look-and-feel to engage older pupils and avoid stigmatisation
• Topics are relevant for children in years 3-6 and connected to the curriculum and framework objectives for these years to support inclusion
• Progress titles contain a Reader Response page to encourage the pupil to respond to and recall what they have read. This offers an ideal opportunity to check comprehension
• Ideas for Reading, written by primary literacy expert Gill Howell are included in the back of every book to help you support the reading needs of each child

Description

Jean and his friends are fishermen. Jean throws a spear at a passing dolphin to show his strength and suddenly the crew are swept into a terrible storm. Jean soon realises that he has injured the Dolphin King and put the lives of his friends in peril. Will Jean be able to make up for his mistakes?

About this resource

• Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence, helping struggling pupils not only to read, but to love reading
• Dual-banded books provide age-appropriate interest level material matched with a lower reading ability level
• Every book is levelled by reading expert Cliff Moon to ensure precise, systematic, measurable progression to help close the ability gap
• The books use a range of reading strategies: phonic, graphic, syntactic and contextual to build confident, accurate, fluent readers
• Designed to build speaking and listening skills, as well as reading skills, the books are highly visual and include incredible illustrations and photographs
• Every book has a Key Stage 2 look-and-feel to engage older pupils and avoid stigmatisation
• Topics are relevant for children in years 3-6 and connected to the curriculum and framework objectives for these years to support inclusion
• Progress titles contain a Reader Response page to encourage the pupil to respond to and recall what they have read. This offers an ideal opportunity to check comprehension
• Ideas for Reading, written by primary literacy expert Gill Howell are included in the back of every book to help you support the reading needs of each child

Description

Follow the true story of Winkie, a carrier pigeon in WWII whose crew crash landed in the sea. All hopes rested with Winkie as she battled to reach help – but would she be able to lead them back to her crew? The story is told in the style of a graphic novel and illustrated by award-winning author-illustrator team Mick Manning and Brita Granström.

About this resource

• Collins Big Cat Progress builds confidence, helping struggling pupils not only to read, but to love reading
• Dual-banded books provide age-appropriate interest level material matched with a lower reading ability level
• Every book is levelled by reading expert Cliff Moon to ensure precise, systematic, measurable progression to help close the ability gap
• The books use a range of reading strategies: phonic, graphic, syntactic and contextual to build confident, accurate, fluent readers
• Designed to build speaking and listening skills, as well as reading skills, the books are highly visual and include incredible illustrations and photographs
• Every book has a Key Stage 2 look-and-feel to engage older pupils and avoid stigmatisation
• Topics are relevant for children in years 3-6 and connected to the curriculum and framework objectives for these years to support inclusion
• Progress titles contain a Reader Response page to encourage the pupil to respond to and recall what they have read. This offers an ideal opportunity to check comprehension
• Ideas for Reading, written by primary literacy expert Gill Howell are included in the back of every book to help you support the reading needs of each child

Description

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.

About this resource

• Banding: Yellow/Band 3
• Children can recap the different things animals do at night on pages 14–15.
• Text type: A non-fiction report
• Curriculum links: Science: Plants and animals in the local environment

Description

This little bird may be small, but it’s very helpful to bigger animals. This photographic non-fiction book shows how the bird is able to help the larger animals around it, set against the stunning backdrop of Africa.

About this resource

• Yellow/Band 3 books offer varied sentence structure and natural language
• Children can recap the different ways the bird can help other animals on pages 14–15.
• Text type: A simple non-fiction book
• Curriculum links: Citizenship: Animals and us

Description

A tiny mouse accidentally disturbs a sleeping lion and fears he will be eaten – but the lion lets him go. When the lion later finds himself in trouble, though, the mouse sees his chance to return the good deed. This traditional tale by Anthony Robinson is brought to life by the contemporary artwork of Ciaran Duffy.

About this resource

Red B/Band 2B books offer simple but varied text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development and a satisfying conclusion. Children can re-cap key events in the story using the storymap on pages 14–15. Text type: A traditional tale Curriculum links: Citizenship: Choices

Description

When it rains, we put on a raincoat to protect ourselves. Animals have coats to protect themselves, too. Discover all the different types of coats that can be found in the wild, and discuss what they might be useful for, in this photographic non-fiction report.

About this resource

• Red A/Band 2A books offer predictable text with familiar objects and actions, combined with simple story development.
• Children can re-cap the stages of the book on pages 14–15.
• Text type: A simple information book
• Curriculum links: Science: Plants and animals in the local environment

Description

Have you ever been amazed at how far animals migrate each year? Have you ever wondered why animals migrate for such long distances? Find out all about the journeys animals make in the sea, in the air and on land in this fascinating non-fiction information book, brought to life with stunning photographs.

About this resource

• Copper/Band 12 books provide more complex plots and longer chapters that develop reading stamina.
• Text type: An information book

Description

Catrin lives in Wales, and prefers drawing animals to spending time with friends. One night, she hears an eerie howl from the nearby mountain – a wild cat. Can she confront her shyness and go in search of this rare animal? This sensitive story by award-winning author Berlie Doherty shows that courage and friendship can come from unexpected places.

About this resource

• Pearl/Band 18 books offer fluent readers a complex, substantial text with challenging themes to facilitate sustained comprehension, bridging the gap between a reading programme and longer chapter books.
• Text type: A mystery story.
• Curriculum links: Citizenship: Choices.

Description

This non-fiction book explains how sea creatures have spines, stings and teeth and other means to protect themselves from hungry predators. Packed with stunning underwater photographs, there is much to entrance young readers.

About this resource

• Green/ Band 5 books offer early readers patterned language and varied characters.
• Text type - Non-chronological report.
• A simple table at the end of the book can be used to check understanding and to recap information learnt reading the book.
• Curriculum links - Citizenship: Animals and us.
• This non-fiction book is paried with a playscript on a similar theme: Worm Looks for Lunch by Julia Donaldson.

Description

Nick Butterworth’s well known and much loved character Percy the Park Keeper stars in this beautifully told story for early readers. Percy tries to persuade a reluctant Badger to take a bath. Badger doesn’t want to, so Percy takes a bath instead – only to find he has some unexpected comapany when Badger falls in the water with him!

About this resource

• Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language.
• Text type - A story with a familiar setting.
• A storyboard on pages 14 and 15 provides children with the opportunity to retell the story in their own words.
• Curriculum links - Geography: our local area; Citizenship: animals and us.

Description

Ned the hedgehog is looking for a home in the cold, dark forest. He needs somewhere warm and cosy 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.

About this resource

• Yellow/Band 3 books offer varied sentence structure and natural language
• Text type: A story with predictable structure and patterned language.
• A map of the forest on pages 14-15 shows Ned's journey and all the animals he encounters along the way.
• Curriculum links: Knowledge and understanding of the World

Description

In this information book, detailed photographs, illustrations and vivid descriptions are used to introduce readers to some of the tiniest and weirdest monsters in the natural world. Information is organised into short chapters to help with information retrieval and the contents list can be used to select material for reading.

About this resource

• Copper/Band 12 books provide more complex plots and longer chapters that develop reading stamina.
• Text type - An information book.
• Pages 30 and 31 feature a table of weird little monsters that supports readers as they recount information.
• Curriculum links - Art and design: Mother Nature, designer; Science: Habitats; Music: Animal magic - Exploring descriptive sounds.

Description

What's it really like to go on safari? What do you take? What will you find? Go on a journey with Jonathan and Angela Scott to the famous game parks of Kenya, and discover the excitement, the wonder and the dangers of travelling into the wild.

About this resource

• Emerald/Band 15 books provide a widening range of genres including science fiction and biography, prompting more ways to respond to texts.
• Text type: A non-chronological report.
• The diary entry of a day on safari on pages 46-47 provides a fascinating example for children of being on safari.
• Additional information retrieval devices such as a glossary and index can be evaluated for their usefulness as children develop critical reading skills.
• Curriculum links: Geography: Passport to the world; Art and Design: Journeys; Citizenship: Animals and us.

Description

This stunning non-fiction book presents the underwater world and why we must protect this special place. There are simple descriptions of food chains, bizarre ways in which deep creatures support each other and ecosystems. Threats to marine life as well as conservation efforts are described in detail.

About this resource

• Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction.
• Text type - An information book.
• There is a useful glossary and index on page 44 and a sample poster on page 47, designed to persuade us to 'Save our Oceans'.
• Curriculum links - PSHE and citizenship:Preparing to play an active role as citizens; to research, discuss and debate topical issues, problems and events.

Description

This report with its dramatic photography helps us understand what brown bears look like and the savage, unspoilt, grandeur of their habitat. It persuades us that these animals are to be respected and saved from encroachment on their habitat.

About this resource

• Topaz/ Band 13 books offer longer and more demanding reads for children to investigate and evaluate.
• Text type - A non chronological report.
• There is a useful glossary on page 44 and a summary of the bear's year on page 46 to encourage speaking and listening.
• Curriculum links - Geography: Knowledge and understanding of environmental change and sustainable development; ICT: Working with others to explore a variety of information sources and ICT tools.

Description

How do different animals carry their babies? In this book readers will discover, through a series of photographs, that some animals carry their young by the teeth, some on their backs and others in a special pouch.

About this resource

• Lilac/Band 0 - wordless book that gives information through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how information books work.
• Text type - Non-Fiction
• Photographs of all the animal babies (and a human baby!) included in the book are repeated on pages 14 and 15 to encourage speaking and listening.

Description

Follow the butterfly on its journey from flower to flower through brightly coloured photographs. But look out! Butterfly almost lands on a yellow flower where a camouflaged crab spider waits to pounce!

About this resource

• Lilac/Band 0 - wordless book that gives information through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how information books work.
• Text type - Non-Fiction.
• A story map on pages 14 and 15 retells the story through repeated photograph to encourage speaking and listening.

Description

This captivating non-fiction book compares pet cats and wild cats, pointing out the features common to both. Each spread consists of a beautifully illustrated and labelled feature of a domestic cat on the left, and a high quality photograph of the corresponding feature in a wild cat on the right.

About this resource

• Pink B/ Band 1B books offer emergent readers simple, predictable text with familiar objects and actions.
• Text type - A non-fiction report.
• Pages 14 and 15 offers reinforcement as all the labels are repeated in a single diagram of the domestic cat.

Description

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.

About this resource

• Yellow/Band 3 books offer varied sentence structure and natural language.
• Text type - A non-fiction recount.
• A flow-chart on pages 14 and 15 provides an opportunity to recap and discuss the story.
• Curriculum links - Science: Life processes and living things; Humans and other animals.

Description

Another captivating title written and photographed by BBC Big Cat Diaries presenters, Jonathan and Angela Scott; authors of the Collins Big Cat titles Antartica: 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.

About this resource

Another captivating title written and photographed by BBC Big Cat Diaries presenters, Jonathan and Angela Scott; authors of the Collins Big Cat titles Antartica: 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 offer literary language and extended descriptions, with longer sentences and a wide range of unfamiliar terms. Ideas for Guided Reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.

Description

BBC’s Big Cat Diary presenter and photographer Jonathan Scott has written and photographed this beautiful and informative book all about Africa’s big cats and their babies. The stunning photographs show baby lions, leopards and cheetahs in their natural habitat, giving lots of discussion points.

About this resource

• Green level/ Band 5 books offer early readers patterned, natural language and varied characters.
• Text type - Non-chronological report.
• There is a fact file on pages 22 and 23 for children to discuss.
• Jonathan and Angela Scott are well-known for their wildlife books and television programmes about big cats and other wildlife.
• Curriculum links- Geography: Passport to the world.