Young Calum's life takes a strange turn when his school explodes before his eyes. What's even stranger, is that he thinks his presence may have had something to do with it. The school's closure means an early start to the summer holidays, so Callum and his three best friends have time to enjoy their west... Continue Reading →

In our Seven Stories feature, we ask a Scottish children’s author to share some stories about their own life. This month we meet Alan McClure, whose debut, Callum and the Mountain, revels in the greatness of our Great Outdoors. We loved exploring his fantastical world, and couldn’t wait to find out what inspired it. 1)... Continue Reading →

There are nine days to go until Christmas, so today we are picking our nine favourite Scottish children's titles of 2019. Just for fun, each is reviewed below in nine words (which wasn't quite the time-saver intended). We hope you enjoy our quick celebration of a wonderful year for children's books, from our corner of... Continue Reading →

There is a lot to be said for a powerful title, and Barbara Henderson's new novella has that and much more. The words “Black Water” capture the essence of the dark, dangerous Solway Firth smuggling scene, and captured this reader's curiosity from the outset. The story follows Henry, a 13-year-old apprentice exciseman, who is trying... Continue Reading →

Being a children's author isn't always about making up stories in your head. Sometimes, it's about researching a subject so that you know it inside out, then sharing that knowledge in a way that excites and inspires young readers. Barbara Henderson is a maestro when it comes to this particular skill, and we're delighted that... Continue Reading →

Katinka's life as a dancer in the Tzar's circus comes to an abrupt end when her powerful benefactor dies and she must flee St Petersburg's Winter Palace in fear of her life. She stands out for many reasons – her quick wits and quicker feet among them – but her 'hunched back' (which saw her... Continue Reading →

This is a beautiful picture book, with a beautiful message - that there is wonder to be appreciated everywhere - to match. Maisie and Pip have arrived at their grandparents' cottage for a holiday, but it's already dark and while Pip is happy to watch the stars appear, Maisie yearns for action. When excitement arrives in... Continue Reading →

The last few weeks of 2019, and the first of 2020, are promising some fantastic new Scottish children's books. Here's our pick of what's coming soon... In date order... Black Water by Barbara Henderson (Cranachan) October 31 Barbara Henderson has a knack of placing charismatic children at the heart of historic events, and she's set... Continue Reading →