Collins Big Cat - The Boy at the Back of the Bus: Band 17/Diamond

Young Martin Luther King, Junior always has a lot of questions. Why can’t he play with his best friend anymore, visit the local park or even ride at the front of the bus?

When he learns the answers, he is determined to change the world forever.

This thought-provoking story in verse, inspired by true events from Martin Luther King, Junior’s life, was written and illustrated by successful performance poet Antoinette Brooks.

Diamond/Band 17 books offer more complex, underlying themes to give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view.

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

Text type: A story in verse

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. Book banded for guided and independent reading, there are reading notes in the back, comprehensive teaching and assessment support and ebooks available.

Collins Big Cat is a whole-school reading programme that provides complete support for primary reading. Children will become fluent readers through hundreds of high-quality fiction and non-fiction banded books by award-winning authors and illustrators. In-depth teaching resources support you in developing and assessing key reading skills at all stages from early reading through to phonics, to guided, whole-class and independent reading for more confident readers.