Join us for fun book-related activities at Corstorphine Library tomorrow – Monday, 29th September – from 4 – 5pm.
Eleven organisations are set to share £650,000 as part of a drive to grow the Scots language across the country.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes announced the funding on a visit to Bill and Bain printworks in Glasgow where she unveiled a new Scots language children’s book. The Auchtermichty Aw-Stars is being produced by Scots Hoose Yaldi and features three Scots language plays about a youth football club.
It is part of a series of Scots books and comics which will be printed and distributed to hundreds of schools and nurseries through the investment.
Census figures published last year found that 35% of people aged 15 or under had some Scots skills, an increase of 6% from 2011.
Other initiatives receiving support include:
Ms Forbes said: “These plays are part of a series of free Scots books, comics and poems which aim to provide young people with a better understanding of the language so that it can continue to grow.
“Scots is a treasured part of our history, heritage and culture. It enriches communities and research shows that learning the language benefits young people’s literacy skills and confidence.
“The funding represents a £150,000 uplift compared to last year. To grow Gaelic and Scots, we also brought forward the Scottish Languages Act to establish Scots and Gaelic as official languages and introduce teaching standards for Scots.”
Matthew Fitt, a co-owner of Scots Hoose Yaldi, said: “For many children and young people, reading a story or comic in Scots for the first time can be a transformative learning experience.
“We work very hard to improve Scots language provision for young Scots speakers in Scotland’s schools.
“It’s good to be recognised by the Scottish Government for our efforts, especially if it means we can help more young Scots speakers enjoy and learn about their own Scots language.”
National charity Scottish Book Trust has partnered with the Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) to host a special free event for 300 school children to celebrate 10 years of Read Write Count, on Wednesday 20 August.
Read Write Count with the First Minister is a universal national book gifting programme for pupils in Primary 2 and 3 all over Scotland. Since 2015 over 2.5 million books have been gifted to children.
The book Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam by Tracey Corderoy and Steven Lenton was in the very first Read Write Count bag in 2015. The writer and illustrator duo will now host a special event at EIBF tomorrow at 11am. 300 school children will attend the free event with hundreds more watching on live stream across Scotland.
Research by Scottish Book Trust revealed that 85% of parents said that Read Write Count bags helped them to engage better with their children’s learning, while 90% of schools felt that gifting the bags had made a positive impact to their relationship with families.
One parent of brother Ollie, who received the first Read Write Count bag in 2015, and younger sister Elia, who will receive her own bag this year in Primary 2, commented: “We have always loved getting our Bookbug bags so when Ollie got his drawstring Read Write Count bag we were chuffed to have new books and games to use as a family!
“Now Elia will get her own P2 bag this year – we can’t wait!”
First Minister John Swinney said: “Books have the power to open our imagination to new worlds, which makes introducing reading from a young age so vitally important. We also know that nurturing positive relationships with reading supports improved wellbeing and attainment for children.
“Over the past ten years, the Read Write Count programme has played a vital role in supporting more children to access and take joy in reading, and it is more important than ever to recognise and celebrate this incredible milestone.”
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “It is wonderful to mark the milestone and legacy of ten years of Read Write Count.
“Gifting books to children to enjoy with their families and carers is vital, helping to give them not only the best start in life but the lasting benefits that comes with having books at home.”
The event will also launch the books and contents of the 2025 Read Write Count bag, which will be distributed through schools during Book Week Scotland in November. Read Write Count with the First Minister is funded by Scottish Government.
The twinkle lights are up, the books are on the shelves, the food trucks have pulled up – oh yes, the Book Festival site at Edinburgh Futures Institute is ready for all the amazing authors, artists, costume characters, musicians, thinkers, dreamers, and, most importantly, YOU – our wonderful audience – to start arriving from Saturday. 9th August – i.e. TODAY!.
If you still haven’t decided what to come along to yet, we’ve got you! This e-news will give you plenty of events to pick from:
The 2025 What Kids Are Reading report, published today by leading edtech provider Renaissance, includes data from over 40,000 pupils in Scotland and reveals how children’s reading habits are evolving across the UK and Ireland.
Drawing on data from over 1.2 million pupils, the report shows that five years on from the disruption of lockdown, young readers are engaging with more challenging books—and understanding them better.
Although the number of books read has declined slightly year-on-year, pupils still read on average 20.7 books a year—far more than the median UK adult, who reads just three.
In schools using Accelerated Reader, a structured programme that supports reading practice and comprehension, quiz scores have improved since last year. Primary pupils are now achieving 80% accuracy on reading quizzes (up from 77% last year), while secondary pupils have reached 72% (up from 69%).
Pupils are also scoring highest on their favourite books, many of which are more challenging than their most-read titles. In Year 5, for example, favourite books had a reading level nearly two years above the average for that age group, with quiz accuracy reaching 94%.
These patterns suggest that when pupils are given the freedom to choose books they love, they rise to the challenge—and understand them deeply.
Additional insights from the National Literacy Trust’s Annual Literacy Survey, included in the report, show that while overall reading enjoyment has declined to 35%, its lowest level since 2005, Accelerated Reader users buck the trend.
Among pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), 37% of those using Accelerated Reader say they enjoy reading, compared to 32% of their peers.
A similar pattern appears among boys, with 31% of Accelerated Reader participants reporting enjoyment, versus 27% of non-participants—suggesting structured support may be helping to close the enjoyment gap.
This What Kids Are Reading report also shows how children’s reading habits are changing. Jeff Kinney remains the most-read author across UK schools, with Diary of a Wimpy Kid still topping the charts.
But newer voices are gaining ground. Titles by Marcus Rashford, Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and Matt Oldfieldare now among the most-read books in schools.
Books such as The Breakfast Club Adventures, Little People, BIG DREAMS, and Black Men in Science mean more pupils are seeing their experiences reflected in the stories they read—supporting not only literacy development but also helping pupils see themselves in the stories they read—fostering confidence, connection, and a lifelong love of reading.
Crispin Chatterton, Director of Education at Renaissance, said: “This year’s What Kids Are Reading report highlights the real progress schools are making in helping children read with greater understanding.
“It’s especially encouraging to see disadvantaged pupils reporting higher enjoyment of reading in school—showing how targeted support can help more children build confidence and enjoyment in reading.
“At Renaissance, we’re proud to work alongside schools to create inclusive, engaging reading experiences that help all pupils succeed.”
Professor Keith Topping, author of the report, commented: “This year’s findings are encouraging. The narrowing of the enjoyment gap, particularly among disadvantaged pupils, suggests that structured reading time and access to tools like Accelerated Reader are making a real difference.
“When pupils enjoy reading, they read more — and when they read more, they achieve more.”
Access the What Kids Are Reading 2025 report here: www.whatkidsarereading.co.uk
Table 44: Favourite Books within Primary Schools
| Rank | Book(Position last year in brackets if in list) | Author | Number of Times Voted For |
| 1 | The Extremely Embarrassing Life of Lottie Brooks (4) | Katie Kirby | 7271 |
| 2 | Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (7) | J.K. Rowling | 5965 |
| 3 | Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1) | J.K. Rowling | 4247 |
| 4 | The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks (6) | Katie Kirby | 4075 |
| 5 | The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks | Katie Kirby | 3840 |
| 6 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | J.K. Rowling | 3289 |
| 7 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix | J.K. Rowling | 2361 |
| 8 | Catching Fire | Suzanne Collins | 2061 |
| 9 | Skandar and the Phantom Rider | A.F. Steadman | 1823 |
| 10 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2) | J.K. Rowling | 1494 |
Table 45: Favourite Books within Secondary Schools
| Rank | Book(Position last year in brackets if in list) | Author | Number ofTimes Voted For |
| 1 | A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder (2) | Holly Jackson | 7718 |
| 2 | Good Girl, Bad Blood (4) | Holly Jackson | 4676 |
| 3 | As Good as Dead (8) | Holly Jackson | 3451 |
| 4= | Five Survive | Holly Jackson | 2002 |
| 4= | Unravel Me | Tahereh Mafi | 1346 |
| 6 | Skandar and the Phantom Rider | A.F. Steadman | 922 |
| 7 |
Ratho primary and nursery pupils were treated to a special reading from Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated Axel Scheffler at Ratho Library on Wednesday (11 June).
The children were also each gifted a copy of the classic story, which has inspired a special artwork inside the new Ratho Library. This was unveiled when the library opened its doors in March.
A quote from the book was chosen by the local community in 2023, when a public vote was held to select words for the artwork from a range of beloved children’s books. The winning quote is now displayed above the children’s library section, alongside illustrations of Rowena frog and other characters from the book.
Each child who attends the early years centre adjacent to the new library was given a copy of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book by publishers Macmillan Children’s Books to celebrate its opening.
Culture and Communities Convener Councillor Margaret Graham said: “It’s wonderful to see some of our youngest library-goers enjoying the new space at Ratho, and even better, their very own copies of Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book!
“I recently visited the library and was really impressed with all that’s on offer, including this striking artwork, which clearly has the community at its heart. Their involvement, along with our dedicated team at the library and Macmillan Children’s Books, has helped to create a design which will inspire young minds for years to come.
“Thanks to Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and Macmillan for their support throughout this process, including the gift of these books to our local nursery pupils, which I know will be well-loved.”
Julia Donaldson said: “I have long campaigned on the valuable role that public libraries play in communities and in developing a love of books, and I am very pleased that there is now this new library in Ratho.
“I want to thank everyone who voted to see ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book’ featured on the walls in the children’s area and I hope this joyful space introduces a new generation of readers to stories they will treasure for life.”
Axel Scheffler said: “It is an honour to know that ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book’ was chosen by the local community in Ratho to feature in their new library.
“I would like to thank them all and also the librarian team who have worked so hard to make this happen. I am so pleased that Rowena frog and Charlie will welcome young readers into the children’s area and I hope they will inspire families to discover great new books together.”
On Wednesday, pupil librarians from Ratho Primary School helped publishers Macmillan Children’s Books to gift a copy of the book to a small group of nursery children to then take back to share with the other children at the nursery.
Ratho Library offers a broad range of services to customers, including access to a wide variety of digital and printed books, free public access to computers, free public Wi-Fi, collection of NHS hearing Aid batteries, support with National Entitlement Cards alongside an exciting programme of events and activities for children and adults.
The library will host Tech Donation Boxes later in the year where everyday tech devices can be upcycled.
Edinburgh International Book Festival announces its 2025 programme with close to 700 events featuring writers from all over the globe, taking place from 09-24 August, as it returns to Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) for the second year, inspiring vital discussion and dissection of the cultural zeitgeist on a global stage.
With a lineup ranging from Yellowface author R F Kuang, who appears as part of the festival’s newly programmed Young Adults strand, which directly responds to topics of social and cultural importance often driven by the digital landscape, to firm festival favourites Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre, V E Schwab, and Ali Smith, there is something for every audience to enjoy. In a first for the August Festivals, the Book Festival also unveils plans for a dedicated children’s zone, offering families an oasis away from the bustle of the city this summer.
The key theme this year is Repair, with the Festival seeking to explore the many things around us which feel broken, and how we might seek to fix them. Using informed insights from a range of experts, lessons learned from our ancestors, the richness and connection offered by the natural world, hands-on activities, and our own inherent humanity, the Festival offers a wide range of active opportunities to rebalance the mind, reinvigorate the spirit, reconcile with others, and restore a sense of calm and hope in the face of a world in chaos.
The theme will be explored from every angle including by Robert Macfarlane, Louise Welsh, and ‘barrister for the earth’ Monica Feria-Tinta discussing the beinghood of nature with debate around whether rivers should be granted personhood, and political repair and conflict resolution will be in the spotlight as human rights lawyer Philippe Sands and journalist Steve Crawshaw ask whether ‘justice’ can really be restored. Elsewhere historian Olesya Khromeychuk and journalist Jen Stout honour the legacy of Ukrainian novelist and war crimes researcher Victoria Amelina, who died from injuries caused by a Russian missile attack, and Omar El Akkad, Katie Kitamura and Yiyun Li extol the role that literacy and reading have in maintaining a democracy.
Indigenous Australian writer Melissa Lucashenko,and Anishinaabe journalist and author Tanya Talaga illuminate First Nations perspectives on truth, legacy, and repair, while artist, musician, performer, and writer Siôn Parkinson and mycologist Nicholas P Money champion the infinite potential of mushrooms, and journalist Ash Sarkar will wade right into the middle of the culture wars.
There will also be interactive events such as trying the Japanese art of kintsugi with Halle O’Neal, and exploring ‘multisolving’ with Alex Pearson.
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “This year’s key theme of Repair starts from the belief that the brilliant ideas of writers and thinkers can help us repair a host of seemingly ‘broken’ things in our society, from the cycle of fast fashion and our relationship with the environment, to cultural reparations and the state of our politics. It’s a statement of hope and resilience, and an invitation for our audiences to think about what repair might mean for them.
“At a time when important conversations can feel impossible to have without igniting conflict and anger, we want the Edinburgh International Book Festival to provide a safe place for challenging but considered discussions.
“This year our programme features over 600 writers and artists from 35 countries, who have a wide range of perspectives on topics of personal, social and global importance. We invite you to come and learn something new, feed your curiosity and to broaden your horizons.
“The Book Festival is also a space for play and creativity, and we have an imaginative feast in store for audiences too – from stories from all around the world, to commissions of brand-new music and theatre, a Frankenstein themed cabaret, and a brand-new Kids Zone for our youngest audiences and their families, as well as a dedicated Young Adults programme for the very first time. So we hope people can have a fully rounded experience, all under one roof. We can’t wait to see you there!”
The 2025 programme will hinge around a range of new themes. Hundreds of the world’s best fiction writers, including many of Scotland’s most exciting voices, and dozens of debut authors, will share their new and most notable works in the Brilliant Fiction strand. Leith legend Irvine Welsh continues the antics of the Trainspotting crew through the 1980s and 90s, A L Kennedy exploresthe nature of justice and mercy, and the power of Andrey Kurkov hope and kindness; Judy Murray plays a match of mystery and murder; Bella Mackie brings us a comical mystery of fatal family dynamics; and Girl on the Train author Paula Hawkins introduces her new thriller.
The Festival also gathers some of the most exciting fiction writers working internationally, including Korea’s Hwang Sok-yong, Ukraine’s Andrey Kurkov, Spain’s Javier Cercas, China’s Liu Zhenyun, Brail’s Cacica Juma Xipaia, France’s Laurent Binet, Aotearoa-New Zealand’s Becky Manawatu, and Germany’s Daniel Kehlman.
The recently announced Front List series will return for the second year at McEwan Hall, in partnership with Underbelly, to present an expanded series of exciting events representing the breadth of the Book Festival’s offering, with a star-studded host of authors which includes Maggie O’Farrell, Ta-Nehisi Coates , Nicola Sturgeon, Yulia Navalnaya, Ian McEwan, R F Kuang, Ally McCoist, Ruth Jones, Butter author Asako Yuzuki, Mark Kermode and guest Brian Cox.
Fascinating Non-Fiction will explore everything from moving memoirs to scientific excavations, family odysseys to travelogues. Highlights include Naga Munchetty exposing the misogyny she discovered to be rife throughout the British healthcare system, smash-hit podcaster Adam Buxton rambling on in his inimitable manner with his new memoir, I Love You, Byeee, indefatigable comedian Ivo Graham extolling the benefits of failure, and Labour politician Diane Abbott discusses her inspirational new memoir, A Woman Like Me.
Good Information, brings together a host of trustworthy experts well versed in sifting out hard fact and cutting through murky algorithms to give you an honest account of a diverse range of topics.
Highlights include technology adviser to the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales Richard Susskind explaining the impacts of AI, Gabriel Gatehouse, Deborah Baker, and Leor Zmigrod exploring why conspiracy theories can be so seductive, and Deborah Frances-White tackling how to have difficult conversations.
New World Orders gathers the most authoritative voices across international and domestic politics, conflict, economics, and law to engage with and dissect current affairs. Vince Cable explores the emergence of new superstates and a host of voices including Avi Shlaim, Ilan Pappé, Pankaj Mishra, Penny Johnson, Raja Shehadeh, Anne Applebaum, Omar El Akkad, and Fady Judah unravel the long and catastrophic history between Israel and Palestine, including the most recent and devastating series of attacks.
Brainwaves holds up a magnifying glass to all things cranial, including mental health, neuroscience, and psychology. A host of scientists, psychologists, technologists, and authors offer their insights into the wonders, and limitations, of what lies between our ears (and beyond), including mathematician Marcus du Sautoy’s exploration of the creativity of numbers, Joseph Jebelli’s treatise for the transformative power of rest, and Lucy Easthope’s framework on how to cope with crisis.
The 2025 Festival will also see the return of some of 2024’s most popular programme themes, including How to Live a Meaningful Life, guiding audiences new and deeper ways of creating connection, resilience and hope, amongst the chaos, and the expanded Table Talks series, with top chefs and food writers taking to the stage – or rather around the table – in intimate gatherings with audiences to enjoy delicious food and make memories together.
Music, Poetry and Performance showcases the very best of the poetry and spoken word sphere at the Festival’s Spiegletent, which will return for the second year, including indie songwriter Hamish Hawk with an original and exclusive homage to Scotland’s pre-eminent poet-eccentric Ivor Cutler, andfresh poetic talent alongside well-established voices like Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, Makar Peter Mackay, Karen McCarthy Woolf, Len Pennie and Michael Mullen.
Elsewhere, Olivier Award-winning Harriet Walter gives an overdue voice to the women of Shakespeare, a starry cast including Vanessa Redgrave and Viggo Mortensen perform powerful messages of protest from around the world in The People Speak, and Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood shares the band’s intimate inside story.
Special Editions also brings a selection of quirky and upbeat events including cabaret, live podcasts, and exclusive talks. Val McDermid unveils the world premiere reading of her brand-new play, And Midnight Never Come, Outlander’s Sam Heughan raises a glass to the art of the cocktail and the moments they’ve marked on his incredible journey, Caroline O’Donoghue’s wildly popular Sentimental Garbage podcast returns with another live Book Festival edition, and comedian Tim Key tells of high tales and low moments in Hollywood.
Audiences will have the chance to take an in-depth look at the little details that make a writer’s work really sing or expand on their own creative skills with an exciting range of Workshops. From How to Become a Bookbinder with Rachel Hazell, to exploring the archives of Muriel Spark and Jackie Kay at the National Library of Scotland (the latter with the author herself) and engaging with some of the most knowledgeable minds around, not least Booker Prize-winning novelist and screenwriter Eleanor Catton.
And our wide-ranging Thought Exercise seriesoffers the chance to engage in deep discussion with figures including Pulitzer Prize finalist Deborah Baker, author and psychoanalyst Josh Cohen, diplomat and former Ambassador to Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Russia, Laurie Bristow, and economist John Kay.
The Festival will also debut a brand-new Young Adults programme with events tailored to audiences aged 30 and under (but open to anyone young at heart!). Highlights include Alice Oseman, creator of the smash-hit Heartstopper series, returning to the Festival, model and activist Munroe Bergdorf discussing everything from beauty standards to cancel culture, and Caroline O’Donoghue showcasing her new YA sci-fi fantasy romance.
The strand will also harness the power of the online literary sphere, byincluding a collaboration with the brilliant House of YA, Sad Ghost Club’s Lize Meddings, a special Festival edition of the Bookshop Crawl UK, and the first Scottish edition of the Insta-popular Buffy’s Book Club with Lizzy Hadfield.
Our youngest audience members can enjoy a brand-new Kids Zone, providing a much-needed hub for families amongst the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh’s festival landscape.
This year’s children’s programme will also include more than 100 exciting events for young readers, including from legendary children’s authors such as Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson, and How to Train Your Dragon’s Cressida Cowell.
There are also dozens of free, drop-in events, including the return of the popular Are You Sitting Comfortably? and Bookbug storytimes, a chance to go wild with National Museums Scotland, and the opportunity to meet beloved characters including Pikachu, the Gruffalo, and Supertato.
Community-driven events are also aplenty, with Stories and Scran celebrating the dynamic and thought-provoking work created by communities across Edinburgh and beyond, and Together We Repair challenging local writers and poets to respond to the Festival’s core theme.
During August, the Festival’s Communities team will also facilitate off-site learning events with leading writers in 9 prisons across the city, 3 workshops with patients at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children & Young People, and 2 interactive sessions with users of Streetreads, the library for the homeless community of Edinburgh.
For the second year, the Book Festival will also present its flagship industry event, Global Ink: Discover the Power of International Collaboration– uniting publishing professionals from around the world for thought-provoking discussion, followed by a vibrant drinks reception to spark new connections.
In addition to the Festival’s main base at EFI, there will be events at McEwan Hall and Elliott’s Studio, as well as special offerings at the National Library of Scotland and Dynamic Earth.
For those who cannot attend in person, 100+ events will be livestreamed and available on demand to audiences across the world to watch wherever and whenever they prefer, including to libraries in twelve Scottish local authorities. And for the first time, in addition to dozens of events being live captioned, the Festival will use AI to bring the number of captioned events to 500, meaning that an additional 400 events will be more accessible than ever before.
As well as reduced ticket prices for students, anyone over 60 and guests with access requirements, the Festival also introduces a special new ticket pricing for Under 30s, and £5 tickets for many events for those receiving low-income benefits, to tackle economic barriers to engagement.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is made possible thanks to the support of a range of funders and supporters including Creative Scotland, Edinburgh City Council, Players of People’s Postcode Lottery among others.
WHY LIBRARIES MATTER
Scottish Book Trust has undertaken independent research into the value and impact of public and school libraries in Scotland in partnership with the National Library of Scotland (NLS), the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS).
Scottish Book Trust has undertaken an independent research project, led by our Research and Evaluation Manager Éadaoín Lynch, to report on the value and impact of our public and school libraries – and showcase how they are intrinsic to removing inequity across many intersections of Scottish life.
We work across every local authority, striving to offer an opportunity for all people to tell their stories; as such, we are uniquely positioned to bear witness.
Methods include:
The full report, published in June 2025, reveals the vital and diverse role libraries play, while also unveiling the extent of closures and reduced services across Scotland over the past 16 years.
The research explores the profound impact that Scotland’s libraries have on their communities and the ways they bridge gaps for those facing the cost-of-living crisis and increasing poverty, digital inequality and the ongoing consequences of the Covid pandemic.
Our survey of 2,000 library users across the nation found that:
READ THE FULL REPORT:
Shared reading has lifelong benefits that every child should experience.
But our research shows that children whose parents or carers like reading themselves are more likely to develop a love of reading.
That’s why it’s so important we support all families to enjoy stories together!
