Teach Primary Issue 18.2

If done well, story books can change perceptions more powerfully than any amount of lecturing, especially for children. At the same time, they can introduce ideas that may be outside most people’s experiences, yet still make them seem a positive part of life’s rich diversity. After all, when you have a world of imagination at your fingertips, you can control the narrative. In the wrong hands, that power might appear a little sinister. When it is a trusted name in educational publishing, though, it should be a force for good. That’s certainly the sense I get from these new books from Collins featuring characters with physical disabilities. These titles are new additions to their Big Cat series. For the uninitiated, Big Cat is a whole-school programme to support primary reading from phonics to fluency. All told, it features over 1,800 books organised into carefully levelled bands according to reading ability. Furthermore, Collins is very keen to ensure that their stories reflect their diverse readership and offer broad visibility and representation. This niche sub-series of books offers a natural extension of that ethos with a range of charming, simple stories in which one of the main characters has some form of physical disability. Ruby Hastings Writes Her Own Story is about a girl with dyspraxia who dreams of becoming a journalist. Going Viral features an amputee with stunning footballing skills. In The Dragon in the Sewer , Ava uses the techniques she has learned to control her asthma to help a young dragon; No Horn Unicorn helps youngsters appreciate how being different does not make you less valued or any less of a friend. To my shame, I confess that I was not familiar with Turner Syndrome, so Monster Ranch: Paws of Doom was very illuminating. Perhaps tellingly, it immediately motivated me to educate myself about the condition. I am, however, acutely aware of how some youngsters need to include uncomfortable procedures such as injections as a routine part of their lives so I was impressed by how sensitively this was weaved into the plot. And really, isn’t that one of the main points of these books? They are a wonderful way of shining a light on some conditions, illustrating how they can affect people’s lives without being the only noteworthy thing about them. I can see them sparking all sorts of discussions within the safe space of a classroom, which can only be a good thing. Above all, these titles achieve all this within the context of helping children achieve reading fluency and develop a love of books. Now that’s what I call a happy ending. Find out more about each book at collins.co.uk/BigCatNew Enjoyable, well-pitched stories Part of an established reading scheme Admirably representative Subtly inclusive and inspirational A positive addition to any school library …you want to broaden the representation and diversity of your school reading scheme while promoting a love of reading. VERD I CT UPGRADE I F . . . Carefully levelled story books that explore a range of conditions AT A GLANCE ENGL I SH Sensitively written and illustrated by creators with firsthand experience. Covers a range of reading levels. Created in conjunction with relevant charities and support organisations. Includes useful teaching tips. REVIEWED BY: MIKE DAVIES Collins Big Cat: Books featuring characters with physical disabilitie s “I can see them sparking all sorts of discussions within the safe space of a classroom” www.teachwire.net | 81 RE V I EWS