Non-Fiction 2: Band 08/Purple

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.

Join Kiku and Kenji on an exciting adventure through Japan! Discover serene dormant volcanoes and ancient 400-year-old temples. In this book you’ll experience the delicious flavours, captivating scents, and stunning sights of both vibrant cities and peaceful countryside. Get ready to uncover the treasures of Japan.

Purple/Band 8 books offer developing readers literary language, with some challenging vocabulary.

Pages 22 and 23 allow children to re-visit the content of the book, supporting comprehension skills, vocabulary development and recall.

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

Mio Debnam is the author of many books from picture books to novels, and is the Regional Advisor of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She’s also a wife, mother and chief tummy-rubber for her blind pup, Alfie.

Although she’s Japanese, Mio currently lives in Hong Kong. However, she visits Japan often, to explore, discover new things, and to eat lots of delicious Japanese food! She was delighted to be able to write ’Kiku and Kenji Explore Japan’, as she loves letting people know about the many interesting and varied places there are to visit within her home country!

She hopes that the book will inspire you to visit Japan too - and that you’ll have lots of fun if you do!