No one has a gran like Ellie and Morris. Gran has red hair, a leather jacket, and she's part of a motorbike gang. When Gran's lodger disappears with her motorbike, Ellie and Morris decide to take matters into their own hands. Find out what happens in this hilarious mystery, written by Carnegie nominee, Ally Kennen and illustrated by Mark Beech. * Sapphire/Band 16 books offer longer reads to develop children's sustained engagement with texts and are more complex syntactically. * Text type: A mystery story.

High in the Arabian mountains, Ali and Sameer gaze in wonder at a leopard. When the leopard roars with pain after being shot Sameer and Ali flee, terrified that they will fall victim to the leopard poachers. With stunning illustrations, readers follow Ali and Sameer as they escape in this action-filled adventure story written by Kathy Hoopmann. * Sapphire/Band 16 books offer longer reads to develop children's sustained engagement with texts and are more complex syntactically. * Text type: A story from another culture. * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Heroes and monsters; gods and goddesses; adventure and excitement: all are to be found in this book, which contains four well-known myths and legends from Ancient Greece told in an accessible style. Find out how Theseus killed the minotaur, how Daedelus escaped from the maze and why Herakles longed for a rest! * Sapphire/Band 16 books offer longer reads to develop children's sustained engagement with texts and are more complex syntactically. * A humorous magazine interview with Herakles on pages 54 and 55 help children to recap the myth of The Labours of Herakles and examine how another text type might represent the material. * Text type: Three traditional tales. * Curriculum links: History: Who were the Ancient Greeks? How do we use Ancient Greek ideas today? * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

A quirky insight into how to live like an Ancient Greek – in twenty-five easy stages. • Sapphire/Band 16 books books offer longer reads to develop children's sustained engagement with texts and are more complex syntactically. • Text type: An information book. • Curriculum links: History: Who were the Ancient Greeks; How do we use Ancient Greek ideas today? • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Explore the fascinating life cycle of the salmon, from river life to the big oceans and back to where they hatched, in this highly photographic information book by Sally Morgan. Follow the fish from their very early stages through their journey to adulthood, and find out how other creatures' journeys through life compare. * Sapphire/Band 16 books offer longer reads to develop children's sustained engagement with texts and are more complex syntactically. * An information book * An illustrated life cycle of salmon on pages 54 and 55 help readers to recap the stages of the life cycles that are shown in the book. * Curriculum Links: Science: Life Cycles. * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Brave Tim agrees to look after Rosa's pets. He isn't afraid of vultures or wolfhounds, or even giant rabbits. But he isn't so sure about the gorilla, gargling in the kitchen! A comic story with a familiar setting, from Margaret Mahy. * Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. * Text type — Story with a familiar setting. * The reader response page consists of a story map to encourage children to retell the story in their own words. * Curriculum links — Citizenship: Animals and us; Music: Animal magic, exploring descriptive sounds. * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Tiddalick was the biggest frog in the entire world, but his thirst was even bigger! One day, he was so thirsty that he drank up all the water in the land. Can the animals work out a way to make greedy Tiddalick give them back the water? Find out in this play based on an Australian Aboriginal story. • Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. • Text type — A play based on an Australian Aboriginal Story. • Curriculum links — Science: Solids, liquids and how they can be separated. • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Meet children who live on islands all over the world in this non-fiction book. They tell us how they live, what they do and what it’s like in their different communitites. Photographs dramatically capture the beauty of varied landscapes. • Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. •Text type — A non fiction recount. • A chart on pages 46-47 summarises information about each child and could act as a model for further research. • Curriculum Links — Geography: Knowledge and understanding of places: Describe and identify what places are like and where places are. • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

This adventure story recounts the first round-world voyage of Tudor explorer Sir Francis Drake through the eyes of Dickon, a lame stowaway, who goes on to become Drake's cabin boy and personal hero. Readers learn about the harsh life that sailors in Tudor times experienced as they coped with storms, mutinies and illness on board ship. • Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. • Text type — An adventure story. • Provides lots of opportunities for drama and writing activities. This title is paired with: How to be a Tudor in 20 easy stages, an information book that can be used to locate factual information about Tudor explorers and the Armada. • Curriculum links — History: What were the effects of Tudor exploration? • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Find out how a female vampire, a hairy Troll having a bad hair day, a Super Billy-Goat who is a super pain, and a seriously weird commercial break, all find their way into this twist on a fairytale! * Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. * Text type — A play based on a modern fairytale. * Curriculum links — Citizenship: Choices. * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

A twist on traditional tales of frogs and three wishes, this story features a modern day prince, who loves football. Unfortunately he looses his football to frog, who demands a kiss as redemption. Of course the frog metamorphoses into a princess, who shares his love of football. * Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. * Text type — Humorous fantasy. * Pages 46 and 47 give an exclusive interview with the newly-wed couple for 'Hot' magazine, providing lots of opportunities for speaking, listening and writing. * Curriculum Links — Citizenship: choices. * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

This stunning non-fiction book presents the underwater world and why we must protect this special place. There are simple descriptions of food chains, bizarre ways in which deep creatures support each other and ecosystems. Threats to marine life as well as conservation efforts are described in detail. • Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. • Text type — An information book. • There is a useful glossary and index on page 44 and a sample poster on page 47, designed to persuade us to 'Save our Oceans'. • Curriculum links — PSHE and citizenship:Preparing to play an active role as citizens; to research, discuss and debate topical issues, problems and events.

The spring fair is an exciting event for any family – with traditional games, rides, stall and competitions. This year, the farmer has a problem. Find out what happens when everyone tries to help – will it be a case of 'too many cooks…'?! • Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. • Text type — A play based on a traditional folktale. • Curriculum links — Mathematics: Measures, shape and space. • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Dana has started her new school and is keen to meet new friends, but Sophie isn't making it easy for her. When Dana decides to stand up to Sophie and her gang, everything changes. Written by Keith West and accompanied with detailed illustrations of the characters, this play sensitively tackles the serious issue of bullying in the classroom. * 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 playscript. * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

So you want to be a Roman? Here is everything you need to know – in 20 easy stages. From the battle ground to building roads – find out the REAL facts to Roman living in this humorous non-fiction information book from Scoular Anderson. • Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. • Text type: An information book. • A gallery of the things the Romans did that changed the way we live on pages 46-47 enables children to recap the main features left over from Roman times. • Additional information retrieval devices such as a glossary and index can be evaluated for their usefulness as children develop critical reading skills. • Curriculum links: History: Whay have people invaded and settled in Britain in the past — a Roman case study. • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Have you ever wanted to be a Tudor? Here's how to do it — in just twenty easy stages. Find out all about the Tudor monarchs, homes, food and much more in this funny historical non-fiction book. * Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. * Text type — An information book. * Reader/Response page with summary pictures to be used as a stimulus for further speaking, listening and writing opportunities. * Additional information retrieval devices such as a glossary, index and monarch information summary pages can be evaluated for their usefulness as children develop critical reading skills. This title is paired with an adventure story, Stowaway! set in Tudor times about a young boy who travels around the world with Sir Francis Drake. *Curriculum links — History: What were the differences between the lives of rich and poor people in Tudor times? * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Flash Harriet, together with Gus, her pet tarantula, is back and on the trail of a new crime. Huge footprints have smashed up the local vegetable garden. Is it something to do with Marmaduke Mildew and the Giant Vegetable Competition? Or does the clue lie in the footprints themselves? Find out how our favouite detective solves the mystery. • Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. • Text type: A humorous story. • The step-by-step review of the clues that helped Flash Harriet solve the case on pages 46-47 enable children to recap the significant events of the story. • Curriculum links: Science: Helping plants grow well; Citizenship: People who help us — the local police. • This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

This wonderfully emotive collection of poems by award-winning poet Gareth Owen explores both the humorous and more serious elements of childhood, and is filled with beautiful illustrations by much-loved illustrator Peter Bailey * Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. * A poetry book * A seasonal garden scene on pages 46 and 47 highlight the changing weathers and emotions that are focused on throughout the poems, providing plenty of speaking and listening opportunities. * Curriculum Links: Citizenship: Living in a diverse world.

Bendemolena the kitten lives in a noisy house, so she puts a shiny pot on her head and everything goes quiet. Hooray! But what happens when Mother Cat gives her messages to take back to her brothers and sisters? * Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. * Text type — A play based on an American folktale. * Curriculum links — Music: The class orchestra, Exploring arrangements. * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Find out all about the remarkable history of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in this non-fiction information book. Accompanied with detailed artwork and photos, this book explains how animals have evolved over time to adapt to their surroundings, from the very early creatures on earth, to the dinosaurs and the animals we see today. * Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. * An information book * Curriculum Links: Science: Ourselves/ * This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.