The Roaring Reads gang are long-time fans of sticker books, so we were keen to get started on Benedict Blathwayt's Sticker Atlas of Scotland, which proved an ideal next step for a slightly older child who still enjoys that format. The idea is to attach each sticker, which pictures a highlight of the region, to... Continue Reading →

When her father, Robert the Bruce, is crowned King of Scotland, 11-year-old Marjorie becomes a princess – a title that brings attention and danger from the outset. As the Scottish king's heir, Marjorie is an obvious target for the English monarch, Edward Longshanks. In this young adult novel, his forces capture her and seek to... Continue Reading →

Bobbie and her Granny share a love of the hills and the wildlife that surround their family farm, so they are thrilled when a golden eagle appears nearby. However, their enthusiasm is not shared by the local Duke and his gamekeeper, who see the eagles as a threat to the estate's income. When Granny's dog,... Continue Reading →

The Starlight Watchmaker may be physically slight, but this book is full of heart, with plenty of excitement crammed into its just-over-100 pages, and vividly-drawn characters who stay with you long after you have turned the last one. Set in an alien world, where survival depends on the light of the stars, this is the... Continue Reading →

With its bright, magaziney cover and promise of fun, factual content, Scotland's Animal Superstars has the feel of offering something fresh – and it was grabbed enthusiastically by our nearly seven-year-old the moment she spotted it. This collection of true-life tales about amazing Scottish animals is an accessible and enjoyable read, packed with photos and... Continue Reading →

The end of the summer term marks the end of an era for us, with the littlest Roaring Readers due to start primary school after the break. One of the things we will miss most about our pre-school afternoons together is fortnightly visits to the mobile library van. We live in fairly remote village in... Continue Reading →

We fell head-over-tail for Corrie, the intrepid West Highland Terrier, in her first story, The Westie Fest, so we were looking forward to joining her for adventure number two: The Tattoo Toorie. As a Westie Fest (Highland Games) champion, Corrie is invited to take tea in Edinburgh with Corgi royalty, and to perform a special... Continue Reading →

The story of Greyfriars Bobby, Scotland's favourite Skye terrier, is widely told and loved, so we were looking forward to discovering how Michelle Sloan and Elena Bia's picture book would introduce it to a new generation of readers – we weren't disappointed. Bobby's statue is one of Edinburgh's most visited attractions, honouring his loyalty to... Continue Reading →

Wee Isla and her pony Pickle make a wonderfully endearing duo. Isla and Pickle: the Pony Party is the latest in Kate McLelland's series about the little girl and her Shetland pony (and 'very best friend'). It sees the pair invited to a pony-themed birthday party on their local beach - exciting news, except that... Continue Reading →