Zombie Wasps

by Mike Gould

Published 12 November 2012

Are you scared of spiders? Have you heard of the zombie wasp? Do you know which bee has the most painful sting?

Place yourself on the 'scare scale' and, if you dare, find out all about the world's biggest, weirdest and most fearsome insects in this book produced in collaboration with the Natural History Museum.

  • Help Key Stage 3 students move from Level 3c to Level 3b in reading.
  • Support comprehension with the stunning photographs.
  • Encourage shared and guided reading using the ready-made tasks and discussion points on the activity pages at the back of the book.

Amazing Auroras

by Mike Gould

Published 10 January 2022

Collins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available.

The amazing auroras - sometimes known as the northern or
southern lights - are lights which appear in the sky at certain times. Find out where you can see them and what causes this phenomenal natural light show.

Emerald/Band 15 books provide a widening range of genres including science fiction and biography, prompting more ways to respond to texts.

Text type - An information book.

Curriculum Links - Science


Maggots on the Menu

by Mike Gould

Published 11 July 2022

Collins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Book banded for guided and independent reading, there are reading notes in the back, comprehensive teaching and assessment support and ebooks available.

More and more people are eating insects around the world. But why are they choosing to do so? Is it simply that they are very tasty – or can eating insects also solve lots of the world’s problems?

Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction.

Ideas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.


Collins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Book banded for guided and independent reading, there are reading notes in the back, comprehensive teaching and assessment support and ebooks available.

Have you heard about deadly ‘firenadoes’? If not, this book will tell you all about them and how wildfires start, the terrible damage they can do, and what you can do to help prevent them.

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

Ideas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities.