It feels like the perfect time for a new Highland Games book. There are a signs that the dark days are over and we can start getting excited about spring and summer…and in our household of highland-dancing, chanter-playing, constantly-running kids, that will always include an outing to the Highland Games (usually the brilliant ones at Inveraray and Taynuilt).
The Great Highland Games Chase, by Kate Abernethy and illustrator Laura Darling, captures both the excitement and the energetic chaos of a Games Day. It is a great introduction to Highland Games traditions for visitors to Scotland, and an affectionate homage to each element, for anyone already familiar with these vibrant events.
The rhyming story follows Wee Rascal, a cheeky Scottie dog, who has run off with a delicious-looking hat, as she dodges caber tossers, runaway cows and dizzy dancers, and gets the better of judges and farmers – causing mayhem along the way.
Little readers will have a lot of fun counting along as the queue of characters in the chase builds, and will enjoy the rhythm and pace of words, that build to a buzz reminiscent of the noises of the grounds on Games Day. We loved Laura Darling’s energetic illustrations, particularly on pages where the line of characters wrapped around the text.
A read-along-riot of a story that will only become more enjoyable with repetition.
The Great Highland Games Chase, by Kate Abernethy and Laura Darling (Picture Kelpies)
Roaring Reads 