Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: The Hide and Seek Squirrels (Phase 5)
A Phase 5 decodable book matched to the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised scheme. The story features an author's touch to make learning the alternative spellings of common sounds much more engaging for children in Year 1.
Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: The Hide and Seek Squirrels (Phase 5) by Lari Don is estimated to take about 3.5 minutes to read aloud (250 words, about 2 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 5-8.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 3.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Estimated word count
- 250Our estimate
- Sentences per page
- 2Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 3/5holds up
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 5-8Our editorial fit
Our review
This book is part of the Collins Big Cat series, specifically designed for the Little Wandle program. It tackles the Year 1 challenge of learning alternative spellings for the same sounds, such as ai, ay, and a-e.
The squirrel-themed story makes the technical work of learning digraphs feel much more like a real book. It's a great fit for children following the Little Wandle scheme through Phase 5.
Before you buy it
Only worth buying if your school uses Little Wandle. Note that the phase numbering and Collins' color bands are different systems.
Themes
- phonics
- decodable
- squirrels
- nature
Books like Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: The Hide and Seek Squirrels (Phase 5)
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Phonics Learn at Home Pack 1 (Bug Club), Phonics Sets 1-3 for Ages 4-5about 3.5 minutes estimated · 2/5 re-read
Julia Donaldson's Songbirds Read with Oxford Phonics 36 Books Collection Set (Stage 1-4)about 34 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Read with Biff, Chip and Kipper: The Moon Jet and Other Storiesabout 8 minutes estimated · 3/5 re-read
Phonic Books Dandelion Readers Vowel Spellings Level 1: The Mailabout 6.5 minutes estimated · 3/5 re-read
Usborne Very First Reading: Book 8: Moon Zoomabout 3 minutes estimated · 3/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: The Hide and Seek Squirrels (Phase 5) aloud?
About 3.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 250. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: The Hide and Seek Squirrels (Phase 5) actually for?
Ages 5-8 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 2 sentences a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: The Hide and Seek Squirrels (Phase 5) survive being read on repeat?
Yes, reasonably. It stays bearable through the repeat-request phase without becoming a favourite forever.
Can a beginning reader read Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: The Hide and Seek Squirrels (Phase 5) on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 2 sentences a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
Is Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: The Hide and Seek Squirrels (Phase 5) part of a series?
Yes, it belongs to the Collins Big Cat Phonics series. It stands on its own, so you can start here without reading the others in order, then move to the rest if it lands.
What themes does Big Cat Phonics for Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised: The Hide and Seek Squirrels (Phase 5) cover?
We tag it with phonics, decodable, squirrels and nature. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
