This is the second in Alexander McCall Smith's circus series for younger readers, and it matches the sparkle of the first, with family fun, high wire excitement, and a delightful dose of mystery. Billy, Fern and Joe Shortbread are circus children whose lives as performers are bound to be the envy of readers, especially when... Continue Reading →

Seven Stories is a Roaring Reads feature in which a Scottish children’s author shares some stories about their own life. This month we've been chatting to Caroline Logan, whose debut fantasy, The Stone of Destiny, had us gripped from start to finish. Her reality has been pretty exciting too! 1) NEWS STORY (What's the story... Continue Reading →

When a woman's desperate screams break the isolation of her hideout, Ailsa steps in to defend the stranger and the wounded seal she is holding. It's a generous, instinctive act that leads the teenager into an adventure that even excellent axe skills and five years of fending for herself have done little to prepare her... Continue Reading →

When Gail's shadow disappears on the morning of her twelfth birthday, she views its loss as just another a symptom of her life falling apart. When her troubled big sister's shadow follows, Gail is compelled to set out on a search - meeting new friends and remarkable creatures, and discovering truths about herself along the... Continue Reading →

Elin Watts and Jamie Lee have complicated lives. He, trying to manage his ADHD and strained relationship with his mum, and she, striving to be perfect enough to win her absent father back. When their divorced parents' new relationship forces the children to share a home, their lives intersect - and get even more complicated.... Continue Reading →

We couldn't wait to get our hands on this book, the second in Michelle Sloan's Animal Adventure Club series, which follows a quartet of wildlife-loving children and their exploits helping out at the local nature reserve. In The Baby Otter Rescue, floods are causing upheaval around Pittendooey and changing everyone's plans, but it is still... Continue Reading →

Stanley and Martha delight in finding the perfect presents for everyone, but they meet a big challenge when they decide to get a birthday gift for Len, the friendly ogre who has just moved in next door. The usual presents just don't seem to work, and this picture book wittily explores why not, as the... Continue Reading →

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 →