Collins Big Cat - Ride the Rails: Band 09/Gold
Collins Big Cat Series
What’s inside...
Ride the Rails invites young readers to climb aboard eight of the world’s most thrilling railway journeys. Using vivid photographs, simple maps and clear factual text, Ben Lerwill explores how trains conquer mountains, deserts and cutting-edge tunnels, while introducing the history and technology that have made rail travel possible. From Canada’s dramatic Rocky Mountaineer to Japan’s lightning-fast Shinkansen, every double-page spread captures new landscapes, cultures and record-breaking feats of engineering. The book finishes with a look at the eco-friendly future of rail, encouraging children to imagine the next generation of trains.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-7
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Which journey would you choose and why?
How do trains help protect the environment compared to cars or planes?
What engineering problem surprised you the most?
How might rail travel change again in fifty years?
Tip: Role play these questions
Trace each route on a globe or online map together.
Compare ticket prices or distances to local journeys to build numeracy links.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Curiosity drives learning
Explanation: Readers explore unfamiliar places through engaging facts and images.
Real-World Application: Children may research their own local transport networks.
Example Lesson: Engineering solves real problems
Explanation: High bridges, tunnels and maglev tracks show inventive solutions.
Real-World Application: Students can attempt small STEM projects, like bridge-building with blocks.
Example Lesson: Sustainable choices matter
Explanation: Future trains section links cleaner energy with climate care.
Real-World Application: Families might choose public transport or cycling for short trips.
Example Lesson: Global awareness fosters respect
Explanation: The book spotlights diverse landscapes and cultures along each line.
Real-World Application: Children practise respectful curiosity about different places and people.