Buzz and Bingo in the Starry Sky

by Alan Durant

Published 1 September 2005
Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level

In this comical adventure, Buzz and Bingo find themselves in Outer Space trying to help a lost alien, XY5, find his parents. Along the way they meet a number of glittering constellations in the starry sky and a whole family of aliens. But after assisting XY5 they find themselves with the problem of trying to get back to earth.

  • White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language.
  • Text type – A humorous fantasy story.
  • 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.
  • Curriculum links – Citizenship: Living in a diverse world, Taking part.
  • This is the return of Buzz and Bingo for the third in their mini-series.
  • This book is paired with an informatio book on the same theme: Is There Anyone Out There?
  • This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.
  • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

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 Bingo have met on their way to the party.
  • Curriculum links – Citizenship: Choices.
  • Buzz and Bingo in the Monster Maze is one of two stories by Alan Durant about Buzz and Bingo in the Collins Big Cat reading programme.
  • This book has been levelled for Reading Recovery.
  • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Spider’s Big Match

by Alan Durant

Published 4 January 2007
Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level

Spider McDrew gets the chance to play for the Parkfield school football team, in the end-of-season cup draw. As usual though, things are not plain sailing for Spider who lets his side down by giving away a crucial penalty kick. Poor Spider is a pitiful sight as he stands on the touchline all alone. Then, he is asked to take one last corner kick.

  • Topaz/Band 13 books offer longer and more demanding reads for children to investigate and evaluate.
  • Text type – A humorous story with a familiar setting.
  • A reader response page provides lots of opportunities for speaking and listening and scaffolding writing.
  • Curriculum links – ICT: Combining text and graphics; PSHE: Developing good relationships.
  • This is the second SpiderMcDrew tale by Alan Durant and Philip Hopman.
  • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Everyone at Parkfield School thinks that Spider McDrew is a hopeless case. He is always muddling things up and saying or doing the wrong thing. In this story, his class visit the local museum to learn about life in Roman times. As usual, Spider's mind wanders and he finds himself in the wrong part of the museum looking at other things instead!

*Copper/Band 12 books provide more complex plots and longer chapters that develop reading stamina.

* Text type - A humorous story.

* Pages 30 and 31 show the artefacts that caught Spider's eye, providing an opportunity to recap the story.

* Curriculum links - History: Romans, Ancient Egypt; Art and Design: Investigating patterns.

* Another great story about the lovable Spider McDrew. by Alan Durant.

* This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.


When Buzz and Bingo went down to the woods one day, they got a big surprise! They met a charming prince, a big bad wolf, seven little men and an old woman. But where was the beautiful girl that every one was looking for? Children will enjoy spotting the familiar characters and plot changes as the traditional stories are skillfully woven together.

  • Gold/Band 9 fiction books offer developing readers literary language and stories with distinctive characters.
  • Text type - A humorous story.
  • A map on pages 22 and 23 tracks the trail that Buzz and Bingo follow through the forest so children can retell the story in their own words.
  • Curriculum links - Citizenship: People who help us.
  • This is the second title in the Buzz and Bingo series