Discover how arms and armour have been used in battle, from the earliest stone spears to the rise of modern warfare. Exactly 100 facts accompanied by detailed photographs and beautiful artwork will challenge children, acting as an incentive as they make their way through the book.

Ben and Bobo are painting, they’re having lots of fun, but Bobo is very clumsy and things keep going wrong. Soon it’s complete chaos, but, in the end, the finished result is a big surprise. Martin Waddell’s hilarious story is accompanied by lively, humorous illustrations by Julian Mosedale

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with fully decodable phonics books matched to Letters and Sounds.


Cat steps out through the cat flap, unaware that Dog is about to pounce. A frantic chase follows, which almost ends in catastrophe. But there is a suprise twist in the tale when Dog rescues Cat.


* Lilac/Band 0 – wordless book that tells a story through pictures and is designed to develop understanding about how stories work.

It’s Flynn’s first day at school and he’s nervous about making a mistake. An amusing story unfolds as Flynn’s parents recount the mistakes others have made: Police officer Julie Nick gave a robber an ice cream and Ned Mutton tried to milk the chickens. Convinced he won’t do anything so silly, Flynn walks out of the house still wearing his pyjamas!

• Orange/ Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages.

• Text type – A humorous story with a familiar setting.

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level
Flash Harriet , the famous girl detective, is on the trail of a crime… and it has led her to the shores of Loch Ness. Find out what happens in this comic detective story.


* Topaz/ Band 13 books offer longer and more demanding reads for children to investigate and evaluate.


* Text type – A humorous story.


* There are chapters, which give the book an adult feel.


* There is a reader response page, which gives important clues to the ‘Mystery at Swag Hall’. These help young readers review the plot and know the importance of clues in their own adventure writing.


* Curriculum links – Citizenship: Respect for property; DT: Moving monsters.

What’s the difference between a frog and a toad? This highly photographic non-fiction book explains the similarities and differences between these two amphibians, including their appearance, diet and behaviour.


* Yellow/Band 3 books offer varied sentence structure and natural language.


* Text type: A simple non-fiction book.


* Children can compare the similarities and differences of frogs and toad in the comparison pages on pages 14-15, providing plenty of discussion opportunities.


* Curriculum links: Science: Plants and animals.

A fun story that 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 f they have ever seen, heard, touched, smelt or tasted any of these creatures

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.


* Orange/ Band 6 books offer varied text and characters, with action sustained over several pages.


* Text type – An information text.

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!