Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level

When William Caxton brought the printing press to England in 1475 he changed the lives of thousands of people, putting reading and education within their reach for the first time.

When Tim Berners-Lee invented the Internet over five hundred years later, he changed the world all over again.

  • Lime/Band 11 books have longer sentence structures and a greater use of literary language.
  • Text type – A dual biography.
  • Curriculum links – History: ‘the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements. Some should be used to compare aspects of life in different periods [for example, … William Caxton and Tim Berners-Lee].
  • Place the two lives in context with a visual timeline on pages 22–23.

Animals in Hiding

by Charlotte Guillain

Published 2 September 2013

How do animals in the wild hide when they are hunting or being hunted? This photographic information book shows how animals camouflage themselves in their natural environment.

  • How do animals in the wild hide when they are hunting or being hunted? This photographic information book shows how animals camouflage themselves in their natural environment.
  • Blue/Band 4 books offer longer, repeated patterns with sequential events and integrated literary and natural language.
  • Children can recap the different animals featured in the book on pages 14-15.
  • Text type: An information book
  • Curriculum links: Citizenship: Animals and us

In the 15th century, Christopher Columbus explored lands on the other side of the world. Four hundred years later, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Discover their stories here.

  • Gold/Band 9 fiction books offer developing readers literary language and stories with distinctive characters.
  • Text type – A dual biography.
  • History: ‘the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements. Some should be used to compare aspects of life in different periods [for example, … Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong].
  • Place the two lives in context with a visual timeline on pages 22–23.

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level

Mary Seacole and Edith Cavell risked their lives to look after the wounded and the dying. They proved that bravery in wartime isn’t just about fighting and winning battles.

  • White/Band 10 books have more complex sentences and figurative language.
  • Text type – A dual biography.
  • A glossary on page 29 defines difficult words.
  • A timeline on pages 30 and 31 allows children to recap the events of the gallant lives.
  • Curriculum links – History: ‘the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements. Some should be used to compare aspects of life in different periods [for example, … Mary Seacole and Edith Cavell].’

This is Me!

by Charlotte Guillain

Published 1 September 2011

It’s fun to draw your own portrait! Follow one girl as she shows how she can make her own self-portrait with collage materials in this wordless instruction book by Charlotte Guillain.

  • Lilac/Band 0 books are wordless books that tell a story through pictures and are designed to develop understanding about how stories work.
  • Text type: A simple non-fiction book.
  • Children can recap the stages on pp.14-15
  • Curriculum links: Art and Design: Self Portrait