Are you staying in Scotland for your holidays this year?
Do your children think that’s going to be boring?
In Coo Clayton and Alison Soye’s delightful Maggie’s Magical Islands, young children can join in a whirlwind trip around the Hebrides and find out just how much fun they can have right here in their own country.
Maggie and her Mum are up in the attic packing for their holidays when they find a map of the Highlands and Islands. They were both hoping for an adventure – and now they’ve found one! One of the islands is marked with a cross – what treasure will they find when they get to Lewis?
Mum decides to take Maggie island hopping, and so they set off on the ferry.
Maggie’s Magical Islands is magical in many ways; there’s a camper van sitting waiting for the intrepid travellers in Arran, and when that develops engine trouble, up pop two bicycles. A tent appears for them to try camping on Islay, a creepy castle greets them on Mull, and after a swim in Skye’s fairy pools they find a handy (if somewhat luxurious…) bothy in which to spend the night. Along the way they see lots of ‘magical’ things, and best of all, when they finally get to Lewis, they’re invited to stay in a lighthouse.
But the real treasure is only revealed to Maggie as darkness falls, and the sky is filled with waves of light.
We all know sunshine isn’t guaranteed in Scotland, and Maggie’s Magical Islands doesn’t shy away from that fact – the tent almost gets blown away in a storm, and those fairy pools are freezing – but instead of sunbathing, what Maggie and her Mum have is a great time exploring all that the islands have to offer. Alison Soye’s illustrations are full of detail and bursting with colour – they really help to bring the story alive.
We all know sunshine isn’t guaranteed in Scotland, and Maggie’s Magical Islands doesn’t shy away from that fact – the tent almost gets blown away in a storm, and those fairy pools are freezing – but instead of sunbathing, Maggie and her Mum have a great time exploring all that the islands have to offer. Alison Soye’s illustrations are full of detail and bursting with colour – they really help to bring the story alive.
If you’re thinking of taking your children to the islands this year, Maggie’s Magical Islands could be a great way to fire their enthusiasm. And even if you’re not, they’ll still enjoy Maggie’s adventures; there’s even a squirrel for them to spot on every page.
Maggie’s Magical Islands by Coo Clayton and Alison Soye is published by Black and White Publishing Ltd, Edinburgh and costs £9.99.
Coo and Alison’s previous books include Maggie’s Mittens and Maggie’s Monsters, both published by Black and White Publishing Ltd.
