New Releases by Franklin Watts

A kind king in a far off land has been hiding his ears from everyone in his kingdom - even his wife, the queen! He has horse''s ears on his head and he is afraid everyone will laugh if they find out... Until a magical violin changes everything! For Independent Reading at White Band 10, readers aged 5-7 years. This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE). Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child''s reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.

Ella is nervous about her first school trip - to a museum. Where will she sit? Where will she have lunch? There are so many things she feels worried about ... but maybe with the help of her friend, Josh, she will enjoy the trip after all. Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child''s reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.

Black history matters, today and always. An important and hard-hitting account of the history of black people, looking at African kingdoms, slavery, apartheid, the battle for civil rights and much more. Important and inspiring black personalities, from Olaudah Equiano to Oprah Winfrey, are highlighted throughout, while achievements and progress are balanced alongside a look at the issues that continue to plague black communities. #Blacklivesmatter is a powerful international movement, designed to raise awareness of and end ongoing injustice towards black people. This book is designed to connect with that movement and offer an important resource for all young readers during Black History Month and beyond.

Fran loves football and has great goal-scoring ability, but how can she get noticed by the school football coach and convince the boys to accept her on the team? This first colour chapter book is a perfectly levelled, accessible text for Key stage 2 readers aged 10-11.Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and activities to provoke deeper response and encourage writing. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child''s reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.

When there''s trouble deep at sea and a sea monster is terrorising the oceans, only one team can save the day - the Parrots of the Caribbean! This first colour chapter book is a perfectly levelled, accessible text for Key stage 2 readers aged 7-8. Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child''s reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. The Key Stage 2 Reading Champion Books are suggested for use as follows: Independent Reading 11: start of Year 3 or age 7+ Independent Reading 12: end of Year 3 or age 7+ Independent Reading 13: start of Year 4 or age 8+ Independent Reading 14: end of Year 4 or age 8+ Independent Reading 15: start of Year 5 or age 9+ Independent Reading 16: end of Year 5 or age 9+ Independent Reading 17: start of Year 6 or age 10+ Independent Reading 18: end of Year 6 or age 10+

When the Pied Piper returns to Hamlelin, the children are delighted. Their parents have gone safety-mad and banned all sweets, cakes and ice cream too! When the Piper offers to help for some of the sweets, Ash, Freddie and Mala agree. But once the parents disappear the children refuse to pay the Piper, and the children soon find life without parents is not so easy... Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child''s reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.

A fearsome, fire-breathing, knight-eating dragon, a princess and a town in danger ... sound familiar? But this princess is not a weak, idle maiden, she is very sassy and is determined to save her town and change the dragon''s diet too! Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child''s reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. The Key Stage 2 Reading Champion Books are suggested for use as follows: Independent Reading 11: start of Year 3 or age 7+ Independent Reading 12: end of Year 3 or age 7+ Independent Reading 13: start of Year 4 or age 8+ Independent Reading 14: end of Year 4 or age 8+ Independent Reading 15: start of Year 5 or age 9+ Independent Reading 16: end of Year 5 or age 9+ Independent Reading 17: start of Year 6 or age 10+ Independent Reading 18: end of Year 6 or age 10+

Wilf is not like other wolves. He doesn''t want to scare people, he''d rather make friends with them! But the harder he tries to be nice, the more the others fear him, so he decides to dress up as a sheep!

Rabia is sad and scared about moving house. She''s worried about what it will be like and how she will cope. But her mum helps her by arranging a visit there before they move and by packing a bag of special things that she can keep with her rather than pack into boxes. The story shows what happens during a move, about the first night there and the excitement that comes when exploring a new home. This first experiences series uncovers the worries and fears associated with big life changes that young children might experience and provides reassurance by explaining how they might feel and shows ways that children can learn to cope with these feelings. The sensitively written story provides guidance not only for children, but also for adults who want to help their child through these unsettling times in their lives. Children can read the books on their own or can discuss the books with an adult. Notes for teachers and parents at the back of the books provide related advice and information to help them guide and support children.

Tyrone is having to move schools because his dad has a new job. He is sad and scared about his first day there. Will he make new friends? Will he find his way around? Will he like the teachers? This story shows what happens on a first day at school and shows ways that children can help themselves to ease the transition. This first experiences series uncovers the worries and fears associated with big life changes that young children might experience and provides reassurance by explaining how they might feel and shows ways that children can learn to cope with these feelings. The sensitively written story provides guidance not only for children, but also for adults who want to help their child through these unsettling times in their lives.

Fourteen-year-old Lisa Jura was a musical prodigy who hoped to become a concert pianist. But when Hitler''s armies advanced on pre-war Vienna, Lisa''s parents were forced to make a difficult decision. Able to secure passage for only one of their three daughters through the Kindertransport, they chose to send gifted Lisa to London for safety. As she yearned to be reunited with her family while she lived in a home for refugee children on Willesden Lane, Lisa''s music became a beacon of hope. A memoir of courage, survival, and the power of music to uplift the human spirit, this compelling tribute to one special young woman and the lives she touched will both educate and inspire young readers.

When friends Lenny and Ted take their bikes off to the woods on a cold, snowy day, Mum warns them to keep away from the icy pond. The trouble is, Lenny just can''t resist it and ends up nearly paying a very high price... Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child''s reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.

Raj wants a new pet to play with. Which one will he choose?

Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child''s reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. Independent Reading Pink 1A stories are perfect for children aged 4+ who are reading at book band 1A (Pink) in classroom reading lessons. In this story, Bella gets dressed up to look just like her mum.

Betty Q is no ordinary girl. She is an ace detective whose special deductive powers can solve any mystery! Race Further with Reading is the perfect tool to build reading confidence with illustrated stories in manageable bite-size chapters, following on a level from the Race Ahead with Reading series with stories of 2,000 words.

Chimp Rescue follows the ups and downs of the lives of these special animals as they are cared for at a specialist chimp sanctuary and focuses on both individual animals and the incredible people who look after them. Packed with emotional stories, but these books are also supported by environmental and educational content. Each book touches on issues such as conservation, habitat destruction, poaching, how each animal lives in the wild and how they are cared for in captivity. Animal Rescue, six books for children aged 7-12 studying habitats, wildlife and conservation.

Straight Forward with Science offers a straightforward, but fun, approach to key science learning. Each book explores basic scientific principles and shows them in action, while simple activities and experiments bring the science to life. Forces and Movement looks at what the different forces are and how important they are here on Earth. Gravity, friction and simple machines are also looked at.

Modern life can be complicated. As an older child or teenager you will experience lots of different social situations and encounter all kinds of people both at school, at home and in the wider world. Part of a four book series aimed at children 10+, ''Under Pressure'' is a resource for children who are perhaps afraid or unsure of asking for help directly, or simply need some added reassurance or advice.

When King Midas is granted a wish from the god Dionysus, he knows just what to choose: everything he touches to turn to gold. But that''s just when all his troubles start

This highly praised series of books has been in print since the 1950s (launched originally by Franklin Watts himself). Today''s First Books provide engaging, in-depth introductions to subjects in all areas of the middle-grade curriculum, including science, social studies, and the arts. Illustrated with color and historical photography and art, each First Book is chaptered, includes an index, a for-further-reading list and, where appropriate, a glossary and original maps.

Explains the sense of sight, including how the eye works.

This highly praised series of books has been in print since the 1950s (launched originally by Franklin Watts himself). Today''s First Books provide engaging, in-depth introductions to subjects in all areas of the middle-grade curriculum, including science, social studies, and the arts. Illustrated with color and historical photography and art, each First Book is chaptered, includes an index, a for-further-reading list and, where appropriate, a glossary and original maps.

These fascinating books on interesting animals of the world include information on physical features, habitat, predators, reproduction and the young. Also included is information on the effects of interaction with humans. Full-page, full-color photographs complement the easy-to-read text.