A Christmas Carol

by Penny Dolan

Published 3 September 2012
Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level

Scrooge was not a kind man. One Christmas Eve he was visited by three ghosts, who took him on a journey from the past, through the present and in to the future. Was it too late for him to change his ways? This retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic story is written by Penny Dolan.

  • White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language.
  • Text type: A retelling of a story by a significant author
  • Curriculum links: Literacy: Extended stories/Significant authors.
  • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

The Tinderbox

by Penny Dolan

Published 5 January 2016

When Jack finds an old tinderbox, he doesn't think much of it, but the fact that someone else wants it so much makes him question his value. Indeed, as his wishes come true, there's only one last thing that he really wants. But will he be able to outwit the King and Queen and win the heart of the Princess before it's too late?

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 traditional tale

Curriculum links: English: fairy stories, myths and legends

This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.


The Great Chapatti Chase

by Penny Dolan

Published 16 January 2015
Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level

“Run, run as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m Chapatti Man!” But will Chapatti Man escape?

  • White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language.
  • Text type: A traditional tale.
  • A visual summary of the Indian scenery on pages 30 and 31 helps children to recap the main events of the story.

The Signalman: Two Ghost Stories

by Penny Dolan

Published 21 September 2015
Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level

Discover these two creepy, ghostly stories originally written by Charles Dickens, retold here by Penny Dolan. In ‘The Signalman’ messages warn of horrors to come, but will they be understood before it’s too late? And in ‘The Face on the Train’ a chance meeting inspires an artist to draw a portrait, but was the encounter chance after all?

  • Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction.
  • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.