This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE)

When the Pied Piper returns to Hamlelin, the children are delighted. Their parents have gone safety-mad and banned all sweets, cakes and ice cream too! When the Piper offers to help in return for some of the sweets, Ash, Freddie and Mala agree. But once the parents disappear the children refuse to pay the Piper, and the children soon find life without parents is not so easy...

Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills.

Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.

The Key Stage 2 Reading Champion Books are suggested for use as follows:

Independent Reading 11: start of Year 3 or age 7+

Independent Reading 12: end of Year 3 or age 7+

Independent Reading 13: start of Year 4 or age 8+

Independent Reading 14: end of Year 4 or age 8+

Independent Reading 15: start of Year 5 or age 9+

Independent Reading 16: end of Year 5 or age 9+

Independent Reading 17: start of Year 6 or age 10+

Independent Reading 18: end of Year 6 or age 10+