Ladybird launches first ELT range

Penguin Random House UK has launched its first Ladybird education series for the English Language Teaching (ELT) market, Ladybird Readers.

The new series marks a "major investment" in educational learning by Ladybird, according to PRH UK, and is a collection of new graded readers specifically aimed at children, aged 5-9, learning English as a foreign or second language. It includes readers and workbooks across both fiction and non-fiction, including classic tales as well as popular characters such as Peter Rabbit and Peppa Pig.

The launch list, available through distributors worldwide, includes 28 titles across four levels, testing core skills reading, writing, speaking and listening, as well as spelling and singing, and next year will see the addition of a new “starter" level along with additional titles at every level. Flashcards will also be made available in January.

In terms of syllabus, the series has been aligned to the Common European Framework (CEFR), taking children from Pre-A1 in Level 1 through to A2 I Level 4. The Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE) exams requirements have also been used to develop the series. 

The list is accompanied by full-colour activity books, containing listening activities and songs, as well as reading, writing, speaking, critical thinking and practice activities. There are support materials online (www.ladybird.com/ladybirdreaders), too, including teachers’ guides, a downloadable user guide and also accompanying audio, available in both US and British English accents. 

Kate Heald, publisher for Ladybird Education and International, said: "We are delighted to launch Ladybird Readers, a beautifully illustrated and cleverly designed reading series. This is the first ELT range from Ladybird, and the first time that Ladybird products have been created with English language learners and teachers at the centre of the series development. It’s an exciting moment as we reach out to children learning English around the world, with an accessible range of resources that brings together an ELT programme and the best of Ladybird content.”