"Songbirds" is a new Phonics series from Oxford Reading Tree. It comprises real stories written by the best-selling author of "The Gruffulo", Julia Donaldson. All the stories are phonic stories that support the latest curriculum developments. "Oxford Reading Tree Songbirds" provide: fully decodeable texts that build on pupils' phonic knowledge as they work through the 36 books over 6 stages; opportunities for segmenting, blending and matching sounds and letter blends; lively illustrations by a variety of artists; flexible activities that can be tailored to your phonic teaching; and, an exciting interactive CD-Rom to accompany Stages 1+ - 2. Stage 2 titles practise the sound made by the following letters: "The Odd Pet" - v y z j n k e, r l d b f h i u, s m c t g p a o; "Miss! Miss!" - ll ss ff zz; "This and That" - sh ch th; "Fish and Chips" - sh ch th wh; "Singing Dad" - ng ll ff; and, "Doctor Duck" - ck ng qu x.