ITCHY COO'S NEW TITLES
 
Katie's Zoo
A Day oot for Wee Folk
 
James Robertson
Illustrated by Karen Sutherland
 
 
 
Katie's Zoo is the sixth in the Katie-series, following the bestselling success of Katie's Coo, Katie's Moose, Katie's Ferm, Katie's Beasties and Katie's Year.

In this new book, Katie spends a day at the zoo, meeting some of the bonnie, braw animals and birds that stay there, among them the tiger 'in his strippit coat', the koalas with 'hairy lugs', and an array of bright and beautiful birds and reptiles. But Katie's favourite animals are kept till last...Who could that be bringing up the rear of the penguin parade?
 
Each Katie book is slightly different, and in this one the story is told in short, easy sentences containing simple Scots words. Katie is as cheery and inquisitive as ever, and there are lots of things to look at and point to in Karen Sutherland's wonderful illustrations.
 
 
 
 
 Katie's Zoo should prove just as popular as its predecessors.
 
 Click here for a keek at Katie's Zoo.

The Hoose at Pooh’s Neuk
 
A.A. Milne
Translated by James Robertson
Illustrated by E.H. Shepard
 

 
'I'm Pooh,' said Pooh. 'I'm Teeger,' said Teeger.
'Oh!' said Pooh, for he hadna ever seen a craitur like this afore. 'Does Christopher Robin ken aboot ye?'
'Of coorse he does,' said Teeger.
 'Weel,' said Pooh, 'it's the howe-dumb-deid o the nicht, which is a braw time for gaun tae sleep. And the morn's morn we'll hae some hinny for oor breakfast. Dae Teegers like hinny?'
'They like awthin,' said Teeger cheerily.
 'Weel, if they like gaun tae sleep on the flair, I'll awa back tae ma bed,' said Pooh, 'and we'll dae things in the mornin.'
 
Following on the success of Winnie-the-Pooh in Scots, here comes the second volume of stories featuring Pooh, Wee Grumphie, Heehaw, Hoolet and all the other creatures of the Forest, and introducing the strippit bampot Teeger. The House at Pooh's Corner was first published in 1928 and is a classic of children's literature. This edition contains the original Ernest Shepard illustrations. Click here for a keek at The Hoose at Pooh's Neuk.
 
Media coverage of The Hoose at Pooh's Neuk:
 
Edinburgh Guide - 3 July 2010 
The Times - 27 March 2010

Precious and the Puggies 
Precious Ramostwe's Very First Case 

Alexander McCall Smith
Translated by James Robertson
Illustrated by Iain McIntosh
 

 
Alexander McCall Smith’s Precious and the Puggies is his first detective story for younger readers published in Scots aheid o its English version. Translatit intae Scots by James Robertson and wi bonnie illustrations by Iain McIntosh, this book is a truly groond-breakin title.
 
Kent tae readers aroond the world as Mma Ramostwe, young Precious must solve her very first case involvin her freend Sepo, a piece and some cheeky puggies and so become a detective.

Click here for a keek at Precious and the Puggies and check oot oor book lauch photos. Read a customer review Precious and the Puggies here.

'Language is one of our greatest treasures. It is a great pity in my view that some languages are dying out, because that means that the richness and the variety of human life are diminished. Every language has something to offer – a way of looking at the world, a story to tell about a particular group of people, a stock of poetry and song. The disappearance of a language is like the silencing of some lovely bird.
I have long admired the Scots language and I admire people who are determined that we should not forget how to speak and read Scots…’                                                              Alexander McCall Smith

Precious and the Puggies is an exciting, brand new story featuring Botswana’s PreciousRamotswe. It has been specially written by Alexander McCall Smith for Itchy Coo and will be available only in Scots in its first year of publication.

Alexander McCall Smith’s bestselling series featuring the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency has been translated into more than 45 languages, but he describes the fact that Precious Ramotswe’s latest adventure is appearing in Scots, as the ‘icing on the cake’. Written with younger readers in mind, and focusing on the eight year old Precious Ramotswe’s very first case, Precious and the Puggies has been translated into Scots by author and Itchy Coo editor James Robertson. The award-winning illustrator, Iain McIntosh, has provided stunning illustrations for the book.

James Robertson said: ‘Alexander McCall Smith is not alone in the deep affection he feels for Scots, a language used on a daily basis by hundreds of thousands of people. It is one of Scotland’s most valuable assets and this book, along with the popularity of Itchy Coo’s other titles, demonstrates its vitality and our determination that it should flourish in today’s world.’

Dr Gavin Wallace, Head of Literature at the Scottish Arts Council, said: ‘Here is another wonderful coup for Itchy Coo, one of the most remarkable phenomena in Scottish publishing of recent times that has revolutionised attitudes towards the Scots language and proved it to be an expressive medium of infinite creative possibility – and indeed, universal relevance and appeal. This glorious partnership between Itchy Coo and the unique Alexander McCall Smith will prove that Scots is indeed Precious!’

Media coverage of Precious and the Puggies
 
Stirling Observer - 5 March 2010
The Independent - 11 February 2010
Telegraph - 9 February 2010
The Scotsman - 9 February 2010