Vocabulary Stories

Boulder — A Vocabulary Story

The Giant's Nose Aksel was quite sure the enormous boulder halfway up the hill was actually a giant's nose. It was grey, it was lumpy, and it had two dark...

Vocabulary Stories

Berate — A Vocabulary Story

The Family Who Berated Everything Yuki's dad had a peculiar habit: he liked to berate things that couldn't hear him. Berate means to scold or criticise someone...

Vocabulary Stories

Amulet — A Vocabulary Story

Zofia and the Deep End Zofia had a silver amulet shaped like a tiny owl. It had belonged to her mum when she was little, and Zofia wore it everywhere — even in...

Vocabulary Stories

Altruist — A Vocabulary Story

The Girl Who Gave Everything Away Rain hammered on the bus shelter roof as Shanti and her big brother Rohan waited for the number An old man shuffled up,...

Vocabulary Stories

Apprehension — A Vocabulary Story

Aiman and the Deep End Aiman stood at the edge of the big pool and stared at the deep end as if it were a hungry sea monster. Today was the day he would swim...

Vocabulary Stories

Apostasy — A Vocabulary Story

Luca and the Blue Scarf Everyone in Luca's family supported Rovers. Dad had a Rovers mug, a Rovers hat and a Rovers hot water bottle. Luca's big brother Enzo...

Vocabulary Stories

Acerbic — A Vocabulary Story

The Satnav with the Sharp Tongue Thomas's dad bought a second-hand satnav from the car boot sale, and it turned out to have opinions. "Turn left," it said on...

Vocabulary Stories

Adjure — A Vocabulary Story

Nuria's Great Garden Show Nuria had spent all week planning the greatest garden show ever performed. She had a clipboard, a whistle, and a very serious frown....

Vocabulary Stories

Agitate — A Vocabulary Story

Mateo and the Fizzy Fiasco Mateo had one job at the family picnic: carry the enormous bottle of fizzy lemonade from the car to the blanket. One job. Easy....

Vocabulary Stories

Abeyance — A Vocabulary Story

Chao and the Great Marble Run Chao had a magnificent plan: a marble run down the entire staircase, through the hallway, and into a saucepan by the front door....

Vocabulary Stories

Aghast — A Vocabulary Story

Dad and the Disastrous Haircut On the morning of Auntie Noor's wedding, Layla heard a buzzing noise coming from the bathroom. It was not a bee. It was worse....

Vocabulary Stories

Disclose — A Vocabulary Story

Richard and the Secret That Nearly Escaped Richard was terrible at keeping secrets. Truly terrible. If you told Richard a secret, it usually escaped from his...