Penguin Readers & Pearson English Readers (600 headwords)

This exciting series provides reading and language learning at five levels. As well as enjoyable stories and texts, each book provides a range of integrated activities designed to develop reading skills, consolidate vocabulary, and offer personalised project work. Each book is supported by a CD-ROM which contains additional activities and the complete audio recording.

What’s special about Penguin Active Reading?

• Beautiful illustrations, photographs, maps and diagrams help to bring the stories alive and reinforce meaning
• Integrated activities help your students think about the story/text in advance, check comprehension, learn new vocabulary and practise key grammar structures
• Outside the classroom – a bank of ideas for

More than two thousands years ago, traders brought spices and insense by camel caravan across deserts and mountains from the south of Arabia to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the story of that journey and of the rich and beautiful cities on the way.

On the CD-ROM - additional activities and the complete audio recording

A young husband and wife buy a puppy and call him Marley. Marley gets bigger and bigger, and he is not an easy dog. He eats everything. He breaks things. He doesn´t listen. But he loves John and Jenny and they love him. Is this really the story of the world´s worst dog?

A young husband and wife buy a puppy and call him Marley. Marley gets bigger and bigger, and he is not an easy dog. He eats everything. He breaks things. He doesn´t listen. But he loves John and Jenny and they love him. Is this really the story of the world´s worst dog?

In January 2009, a new American president moved into the White House. But who is Barack Obama? What do we know about his family and his early life? Why did he want to be a politician? And how did he get the top job? This is his story.

American English

This is a funny play about rich people. These people always want more money, so Volpone and his servant play a game. People think that Volpone is dying. They bring beautiful things for him. They want his money after he dies. But waht will happen to Volpone's money? Who will win the game - and who will lose?

Paul is shy and Judy has no friends. Oliver is afraid of other boys. Jane and Leo can't talk about their feelings, and Sue lies to her boyfriends. These five short plays tell the stories of young people with problems. Are there any answers? What do you think?

British English

When they were very young, Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth were in love. They did not marry, but Anne never forgot her love for him. Now, many years later, they meet again. Does Wentworth feel anything for Anne, or is he only interested in her pretty young friends?

British English

This is the story of an Aboriginal boy and two American children in the Australian desert. When they meet the boy, Mary and Peter learn about the desert. They follow him to food and water. But they are lost. Can they finish their journey and find their way home?

Boston in the 1600s is a small town, but a large crowd waits for Hester Prynne outside the prison. She carries a baby in her arms and the scarlet letter “A” is on her dress. “A” is for adulteress. Who is the father of her baby? Nobody knows and Hester will not say.

Mr Bean doesn’t understand the world. There are problems for him everywhere. In the restaurant, he doesn’t like his food. He tries to hide it in very strange places. Then Mr Bean goes to the launderette. What happens? He loses his trousers, of course!