The first chapter of Help! I Smell a Monster had us giggling, turning up our noses (at delightful yuckiness) and turning the page as quickly as we could to find out more – which set the pattern for the rest of this fabulous, funny and often surprising story. Alice MacAllister is an ordinary girl with an apparently-ordinary... Continue Reading →

This day-in-the-life story about a hard-working sheepdog is a lovely, gentle read, and wonderfully detailed illustrations ensure that it is a treat young readers can enjoy again and again. Kip and the farmer have a full to-do list, from letting out the ducks and hens to milking the cow and gathering the sheep, and that's... Continue Reading →

A round-up of the month's Scottish children's book news The summer break is approaching fast, and we know where the Roaring Reads gang are heading on our first outing – to Moat Brae, Scotland's new centre for children's literature, in Dumfries. The attraction opened at the start of this month in the restored Georgian property... Continue Reading →

Matt Haig has said that he wrote this book because his daughter asked him to, and it's just the sort of story the almost-seven-year-old in our house would have commissioned too. There are amazing animals, outdoor adventures, and important friendships - and it all centres on a plucky heroine who is trying to master her... Continue Reading →

There are some fantastic-looking Scottish children's books due out this summer, from animal adventures to traditional tales told anew. Here are the titles the Roaring Reads gang are looking forward to most. Clever Dog Kip, by Benedict Blaythwayt, June 6 (Birlinn) Kip the sheepdog lives on a farm, where he always has lots to do.... Continue Reading →

This gripping Second World War thriller was first published in 2016 and is being re-released this year with a brighter and bolder cover, under publisher Cranachan's new 'Gobstopper' imprint for young adults - giving us a perfect excuse to read it again. Set across parallel timelines of Norway in 1944 and Shetland in 2014, Michelle... Continue Reading →

This is the third picture book in Pauline Tait's enchanting series about Leona Rose, a fairy who lives in a cast iron kettle under an old oak tree. This time, Leona and her friends are on a mission to track down their village's lost hoard of fairy dust, before the naughty pixies can steal it... 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 chat with Justin Davies, whose first book Help, I Smell a Monster! is out in a couple of weeks. The Roaring Reads gang can't wait to get a sniff of it! 1... Continue Reading →