Blog
Stories, insights, and learning adventures
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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....
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....
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....
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...
Hone — A Vocabulary Story
Seven Bounces Rose's grandad could skim a stone across the lake so it bounced seven times. Seven! Rose's best attempt went plop. Just plop. Not even a small...