An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales

Slithering stoorworms, mischievious brownies, fierce kelpies and magical selkies—these are the creatures of Scottish folklore. 

Award-winning children's author Theresa Breslin has collected the best-loved tales from all over Scotland. Retelling each in its own individual style, she presents funny tales, moving stories, and enchanting fairy tales. Soar with the goshawk, dive with selkies and battle with the stoorworm, as each story is brought to life with Kate Leiper's exquisite illustrations that brim with otherworldly beauty. 

See also the companion volume, An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Mythical Creatures

A wonderful gift, this is a truly stunning book to be treasured for a lifetime and will be enjoyed by parents and grandparents as well as children.

(Ages 6–100 years)

“Some familiar tales and some that are less so make up this elegantly designed and produced collection with Scottish roots and branches.

“The volume sits nice and flat when opened, the type is large and clear, and the soft, evocative pictures range from full double-page spreads to tiny, exquisite images around the page numbers (a tuft of grass, a sprig of berries and a turnip, among other designs). Each of the 11 stories opens with a page of muted color on the left on which some lines from the coming tale are inscribed in a paler version of the hue. On the right, the name of the tale and a brief description of its source are framed in an image that carries and echoes through the pages. 'The Wee Bannock' recalls 'The Gingerbread Man,' and 'Whuppity Stourie' brings to mind 'Rumpelstiltskin,' but the rhythms and much of the detail reflect their Scottish sources. There’s a lovely, brief story from Sir Walter Scott, 'The Goshawk and the Brave Lady,' that touches on the enmity between England and Scotland and in which the heroine rescues herself for her own true love. Breslin supplies a selkie story. Most of the Scots words are clear in context, but there is a strikingly informative glossary as well.

“A genuinely beautiful collection that begs to be read aloud—or told—again and again.” (Folk tales, ages 7-12)

—Kirkus (Oct. 15, 2012)

Illustrated by Theresa Breslin and Kate Leiper 

160 pp.   

8 1/2" x 11"