Borders-based author Claire McFall has been named the winner of the very first Scottish Teenage Book Prize. Claire’s third novel, Black Cairn Point, garnered votes from young people (aged 12 – 16) across the country to beat off stiff competition from Keith Gray’s The Last Soldier and Joan Lennon’s Silver Skin. Continue reading Inaugural Scottish teenage book prize winner revealed
Tag: reading
And the Bookbug Picture Book prizewinner is …
Author Nick Sharratt has been announced as the winner of the very first Bookbug Picture Book Prize for his picture book Shark in the Park on a Windy Day, published by Picture Corgi. Continue reading And the Bookbug Picture Book prizewinner is …
And Edinburgh’s most borrowed book in 2016 was …
Edinburgh’s most borrowed books of 2016 have been published, revealing a penchant for crime and mystery amongst city readers. Psychological thriller The Girl on the Train topped the list of fiction books borrowed from the capital’s libraries last year, followed closely by Ian Rankin’s Even Dogs in the Wild and Peter May’s Coffin Road. Continue reading And Edinburgh’s most borrowed book in 2016 was …
Some Hibs stuff for your Christmas stocking?
Ready, steady, read! First Minister marks start of Book Week Scotland
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today met Glasgow school pupils taking part in the First Minister’s Reading Challenge on the first day of Book Week Scotland. Continue reading Ready, steady, read! First Minister marks start of Book Week Scotland
Three free books for Scotland’s P1s
As part of Book Week Scotland 2016, the national celebration of reading taking place between 21 and 27 November, Scottish Book Trust will gift three free picture books to every Primary 1 child in Scotland.
The books, all by Scottish authors or illustrators, will be gifted in the Bookbug Primary 1 Family Bag and children will receive this year’s shortlisted books for the book Bookbug Picture Book Prize. The titles include: There’s a Bear on My Chair by Ross Collins, Hare and Tortoise by Alison Murray and Shark in the Park on a Windy Day by Nick Sharratt.
Also included in the Bookbug bag will be an activity booklet full of games and fun things to do, along with a voting slip to enable children to declare which of the three picture books is their favourite.
Marc Lambert, Chief Executive of Scottish Book Trust, said: “The beginning of school is the point at which books start to become associated with learning in a child’s mind. The Bookbug Primary 1 Family Bag has been designed to show children how pleasurable and fun reading can be. The intention is to help them to get more out of school and inspire them to seek out and devour more books.”
For more information about Book Week Scotland 2016, visit www.bookweekscotland.com, where you can find information about all the events taking place in your local area, vote for your favourite Scottish book to screen adaptation, take part in a #ReadingDare and discover a whole host of resources and ideas to help you celebrate and share whatever it is you love to read.
Initiated by the Scottish Government and supported, along with a Readers in Residence programme in libraries, by £200,000 from Creative Scotland, Book Week Scotland will be delivered by Scottish Book Trust. Book Week Scotland in libraries is funded byThe Scottish Library and Information Council.
Book gift packs for all P2 and P3 children
Every P2 and P3 child in Scotland will receive a pack containing books, games and other materials to help improve their literacy and numeracy skills. Education Secretary John Swinney launched the first packs at Towerbank Primary School, as part of the Read, Write, Count campaign delivered by Scottish Book Trust which encourages parents to actively engage in their child’s learning journey. Continue reading Book gift packs for all P2 and P3 children
Book Week events: the one that (nearly) got away!
We recently gave you ten unmissable Book Week events happening across the city this month. Well, we have another – Pentlands Book Festival takes place from 11 – 26 November. Continue reading Book Week events: the one that (nearly) got away!
Saltire shortlists announced
Multi-award winning writers and household names Irvine Welsh, James Kelman and Jenni Fagan feature alongside emerging talents Chitra Ramaswamy and Martin MacInnes in the shortlists for the 2016 Saltire Literary awards, unveiled on Thursday. Continue reading Saltire shortlists announced
Book Week Scotland: a voyage of discovery
BOOK WEEK SCOTLAND
21 – 27 NOVEMBER
View the Book Week Scotland 2016 events programme here
Edinburgh events: edinburgh
#BookWeekScot
- Hundreds of free events will take place across the country
- Top names such Alexander McCall Smith, Liz Lochhead, Will Self and Jodi Picoult
- Over half a million free books will be given away
- Search launched for the favourite Scottish book to screen adaptation
- Celebrities and authors will reveal their reading confessions
The full programme for Scotland’s fifth national celebration of books and reading has been announced. Working with a wide range of partners, Scottish Book Trust will deliver a feast of activities and events across the country during the 2016 edition of Book Week Scotland, all rooted in this year’s central theme of Discovery.
The key focus of the week will once again be a rich and varied events programme for all tastes and ages. Author events will abound with the UK’s best-loved writers and illustrators visiting libraries in every local authority, a programme funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), and appearances from such bookish heavyweights as Will Self, Lisa McInerney, Jenni Fagan, Jill Mansell, Simon Scarrow, Isabel Greenberg, Clare Mackintosh, Jodi Picoult, Alexander McCall Smith, whose event is programmed by East Lothian Libraries, and Liz Lochhead and Christopher Brookmyre, whose events are programmed by Cove and Kilgreggan Book Festival. Well-known personalities such as Alan Cumming, programmed by Literary Dundee, Nick Crane and Tony Robinson will also make special appearances in locations across the country.
As part of the theme of discovery, a brand new Book Generator quiz will be available on the Book Week Scotland website, enabling participants to uncover the perfect book match for themselves or the ideal present for a friend. Celebrities and authors such as Simon Mayo, A.L. Kennedy, Susan Calman and Lemn Sissay will provide additional inspiration by revealing which book they would give to everyone in Scotland for Christmas.
Booklovers far and wide will also be encouraged to take on a Reading Dare, with the joint aim of helping others to begin or continue their reading journey, and of challenging themselves to try something new. Those who need some inspiration can visit www.bookweekscotland.com to try out the Reading Dare Randomiser, which might suggest anything from gifting a book to a stranger, to proposing to the person you love with a line from your favourite poem.
To ensure that Book Week Scotland is accessible to as wide a range of people as possible, there will also be an outreach programme working with 20 local and national organisations. These partnerships will be tailored to specific audiences, and will include Dyslexia Scotland, Scottish Prison Service, 5 local authority Community and Learning Development teams and organisations like Fare Scotland, Sunny Govan FM, the Maker’s Bistro, Open Book and many others.
Participants will take part in a range of activities including finding out what friends and family like to read and gifting a specially chosen book, running book/film discussion nights, sharing and celebrating adult learners’ reading achievements, running a “write to recovery workshop” to encourage people to use creative writing to improve mental wellbeing and a “Reading, Writing and Self-Management” event to celebrate people using reading and writing to manage their long term health conditions.
For those who have an interest in discovering new writing talent, 150,000 free copies of a short story and poem collection written by the people of Scotland, Secrets and Confessions, will be handed out during the week via libraries, bookshops and other outlets.
School pupils across the country can also get into the Book Week Scotland spirit, with the three free picture books shortlisted for the Bookbug Picture Book Prize gifted to every Primary 1 pupil in Scotland in the Bookbug P1 Family Bag, and free bags of books, writing materials and counting games gifted to all Primary 2 and Primary 3 pupils. The bags, produced in partnership with Education Scotland and Scottish Government as part of Read, Write, Count, provide fun materials for parents and children to use to have fun learning at home.
Additionally, children across the country can tune in to watch award-winning children’s author and Ruby Redfort creator Lauren Child in a special free Authors Live webcast on 24 November at 11.00am. Several secondary schools will also enjoy a personal visit from hip hop artist Dave Hook of Stanley Odd fame, who will tour schools around the country during the week.
The week will conclude with the unveiling of the nation’s 10 favourite Scottish book to screen adaptations – will cult movie Trainspotting triumph, or will Robbie Coltrane’s Gruffalo snap up the top spot? Voting is open now at www.bookweekscotland.com – film, TV and book fans can choose their number one page to screen adaptation from an eclectic shortlist of 40.
For more information about Book Week Scotland 2016 and how you can get involved, visit www.bookweekscotland.com, where you can find information about all the events taking place in your local area, vote for your favourite book to screen adaptation and discover all sorts of ideas to help you celebrate and share whatever it is you love to read.
Comments:
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “It’s a fantastically positive endorsement of Scotland’s thriving literary scene that Book Week Scotland is now entering its fifth year, bigger, better and bolder than ever before. Authors, booksellers, libraries, readers and partners too numerous to mention have really taken this national festival to heart and made it what it is – a joyful, democratic and inclusive celebration of reading’s unique capacity for empowerment, enrichment, education, solace, pleasure and growth. The 2016 programme is our best yet, with world-class authors and more programmed events than ever before.”
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, said: “Book Week Scotland has gone from strength to strength since it was established in 2012, gaining the support of some of Scotland’s leading authors, including Christopher Brookmyre and Liz Lochhead. The importance of reading for pleasure cannot be underestimated, it can be a force for good in so many ways, helping people realise their potential.
“The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging reading in all our communities and, over the last four years, thousands of people have enjoyed events and free books during Book Week Scotland. It’s now a firm fixture in the calendar for thousands, and I encourage people the length and breadth of the country to embrace Book Week Scotland 2016”.
Leonie Bell, Director, Arts and Engagement, Creative Scotland, said: “The fifth year of Book Week Scotland promises to be a real celebration of Scotland’s incredible literary culture, from new writers to old favourites. With an outreach programme ensuring that everyone across Scotland is able to enjoy the magic of reading and a plethora of book-related events, talks and dares to embark on, Scottish Book Trust is taking us on a reading adventure like no other.”
Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive, Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) said: “The Scottish Library and Information Council is delighted to support Book Week Scotland in this its 5th year. Scottish Book Trust has pulled together a stellar programme which will tantalise and engage audiences across the country. Scotland has a proud literary heritage and it’s great to see today’s authors celebrated in such an imaginative and inspirational way.”
Author Jodi Picoult said: “I am delighted to be part of Scotland’s celebration of books and writing, and love coming north of the border to meet my fans. I can’t wait to be there!”
Initiated by the Scottish Government and supported, along with a Reading Champions programme in libraries, by £200,000 from Creative Scotland, Book Week Scotland will be delivered by Scottish Book Trust. Book Week Scotland in public libraries and Further Education College libraries is funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council
PICTURES: ROB McDOUGALL