A real problem for young teenagers with severe reading difficulties, including dyslexia, is the shortage of stories they want to read. (Obviously books aimed at young children are not appropriate.) Based on their considerable research and wide-ranging trials, Anna and Sydney Higgins have written the graded series of books, FUN READ. VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES, GHOSTS AND UFOs is the 5th book in the series and caters for the often-expressed desire of adolescent males with reading difficulties to have an interesting, factual book. Its Flesch Reading Ease score is 89.9. It is graded as 'very easy to read'. Based on 8 standard readability formulas, it is appropriate for beginners (= 4th grade/year). Content is most suitable for male students aged 11-16. There are 98 pages and 76 illustrations. VAMPIRES, WEREWOLVES, GHOSTS AND UFOs Despite all the stories, there has never been any satisfactory proof that vampires, werewolves, ghosts or UFO's exist or have ever really existed. Some reports were made by people who are mad, drunk, on drugs, shortsighted or easily scared. But other reports have come from policemen, pilots and other trained observers. So perhaps some phantoms and unidentified flying objects may exist or have existed. So take care! Perhaps we are not alone! The text is displayed not in complete sentences but in phrases - a system that the writers' research has shown is the most effective printed layout for easy reading and comprehension. Both Sydney and Anna Higgins have many years of teaching experience. After being a Senior Advisor for English in the UK, Sydney moved to Italy where he became a professor of English. His wife, Anna, has been for over 20 years a university teacher and an examiner for the Cambridge EFL examinations. The other books in the FUN READ series are: 1. FUN READ 1 1) 'Old Man Moon' 2) 'Shouts in the Night' 3) 'The Run-Away' 4) 'At the Dance' Graded as 'very, very easy to read' - for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for male students aged 10 - 15. There are 66 pages and 64 illustrations. 2. FUN READ 2 1) 'Down Rope Walk' 2) 'CRASH!' Graded as 'very easy to read' - for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for male students aged 10 - 15. There are 86 pages and 26 illustrations. 3. FUN READ 3 1) 'Lonely Girl' 2) 'No Time to Scream' Graded as 'easy to read' - for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for female students aged 11-16. There are 92 pages and 26 illustrations. 4. WHEN THE SONG WAS OVER Graded as 'very easy to read' - for beginners (= 3rd grade/year). The content is most suitable for female students aged 11-16. There are 94 pages and 26 illustrations. 6. THE PRICE OF FRIENDSHIP Graded as 'easy to read' - for beginners (= 4th grade/year). The content is most suitable for female students aged 11-16. There are 114 pages and 8 illustrations.
About the Author: Anna and Sydney Higgins have three sons and a lifetime's involvement in education. Both have taught in the UK, Uganda and Italy. Over sixty of their books have been published. Both have written books for children and he has written biographies including 'Rider Haggard: The Great Storyteller' and 'The Benn Inheritance'. He has also ghosted books, including 'Stroll On' for Tony Booth, 'Piper Alpha - A Survivor's Story' for Ed Punchard, 'The Pirelli Book of Motor Racing Heroes' for John Surtees and 'Nicola: A Second Chance to Live' for Nicola Owen. At the moment, both are English Professors at an Italian university. They are also examiners for the Cambridge ESOL examinations. Previously, Sydney was the Senior English Adviser for Suffolk. They both love travelling and together have written a two-part guidebook, 'Staying in the Châteaux Hotels of France'.