Rose lives with her parents in a small cottage in the forest. Her family are poor and hardworking, and Rose yearns for fun, friendship and flowers.

One Midsummer’s Day, walking wearily home, Rose hears beautiful singing and follows the joyful sound deep into the trees. As she listens, a flurry of fairies bursts out of a tiny door in the side of a hill! One of the fairies invites Rose to join their party.

Entering the fairy world, Rose is enchanted with her new friends and gladly joins in with their Midsummer song. Will she ever want to leave?

Inspired by traditional Scottish stories of fairy folk, celebrated storyteller Janis Mackay weaves a magical tale that will capture any child’s imagination. Ruchi Mhasane’s delightful illustrations sparkle with joy and vitality.

The Fairy Song is a delightful new book from the creators of much-loved traditional Scottish tale The Selkie Girl.

Fergus lives with his father by the sea, but is lonely. He wants a friend more than anything.

One day Fergus finds treasure on the beach: a beautiful fur blanket hidden in the rocks. But Fergus doesn’t know that his treasure belongs to someone else — a selkie girl has lost her seal skin and can’t go home to the sea without it.

Will Fergus give his new friend what she needs, and risk being lonely again?

This is a lovely retelling of the traditional Scottish folk tale of the selkie (a seal who can become human) adapted for a young audience. Beautifully written by storyteller and selkie storyteller Janis Mackay, the tale is accompanied by stunning illustrations by Ruchi Mhasane.

The Selkie Girl is one of the first titles released in the new Picture Kelpies: Traditional Scottish Tales range of picture books that bring classic Scottish folk and fairy tales to life for young children.

“Beautiful . . . Reflects the reality of many young people who may feel unsure of traditional clothing and how it might be perceived by others.” Inclusive Books for Children

“An affirming story about accepting and loving ourselves and our cultural traditions.” Kirkus Reviews

“A sincere ending. . . shows the rich and intricate layers of their diverse cultures that make them beautiful and empowers viewers to embrace their identity with confidence.” The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Celebrate each other’s unique identity and build tolerance, empathy and understanding of everybody’s background in this authentic and sensitively told story from Sophia Payne and the 2023 Diverse Book Award-winning illustrator Ruchi Mhasane.

Ameena can’t wait for her aunty’s wedding. She is wearing a brand-new salwar kameez – the layers of floaty fabric filled with pretty patterns make her feel like a princess. But when someone comments on her “pyjamas”, she loses all confidence, fearing that her friends might not accept her traditional clothing. Through courage, family love and self-belief, Ameena discovers what it means to take pride in the beautiful layers of her heritage, especially in the face of difficult comments.