bc books new titles 2016

BC BOOKSNEW TITLES

2016

Catalogue Covers.indd 2 09/02/2016 15:37

ISBN: 9781780273945Price: £9.99Format: 198 x 129mm hbk Rights: UK & Commonwealth exc. CanadaAugust 2016 Children’s Fiction 9–12

Alexander McCall Smith

Sands of Shark IslandA School Ship Tobermory Adventure

After successfully thwarting a dastardly plan to steal rare marine animals from the sea around the Scottish island of Mull, Ben and Fee MacTavish feel they can relax and continue learning all about nautical life on board School Ship Tobermory.

But it’s not long before their everyday routine is interrupted by an extraordinary event. Ben, Fee, their fellow students and the crew of the Tobermory find themselvesembroiled in another adventure that leads them thousands of miles from Mull to a small island in the Caribbean, where they learn extraordinary details about Captain Macbeth’s past and come face to face with modern-day pirates.

This is the second installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s brand new children’s fiction series.

ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH is one of the world’s most prolific and most popular authors. For many years he was a professor of Medical Law, then, after the publication of his highly successful No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, which has sold over twenty-five million copies, he devoted his time to the writing of fiction and has seen his various series of books translated into over forty-six languages and become bestsellers throughout the world. He has written more than forty books for children.

ISBN: 9781780273334Price: £9.99Format: 198 x 129mm hbk Rights: UK & Commonwealth exc. CanadaOctober 2015 Children’s Fiction 9–12

Illustrated by IAIN McINTOSH. Iain McIntosh’s illustrations have won numerous awards in the worlds of advertising, design and books. He has illustratedAlexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street series and also the series of children’s stories featuring Precious Ramotswe.

School Ship TobermoryFollow the exploits of the children who go to a most unusual school – the sail-powered training ship Tobermory. When a film crew arrives in Tobermory Bay, Ben and Fee are invited to be extras.

But their suspicions are soon aroused – is the film crew genuine, or are they up to something sinister? Ben and Fee soon discover the truth when they uncover a dastardly plan masterminded by a South American businessman .

Praise for the Precious series:

‘Great for children, and one for grown-up fans to sneak a read of too!’ Bookbag

‘This delightful tale for children reveals how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we all know and love!’ Western Morning News

‘In a relatively short story, the author manages to bring us a wonderful evocation of African life’Parents in Touch

Also AvailableThe Precious Ramotswe Mysteries

Well before Precious Ramotswe founded her Number One Ladies Detective Agency, as an eight-year-old girl she was already solving mysteries. Here, in these delightful, enchanting tales for children, we find out how the young Precious became the crafty and intuitive private investigator we all know and love!

Alexander McCall Smith’s sassy female detective takes on a new dimension in this delightful children’s series.

ISBN: 9781780273273Price: £9.99Format: 198 x 129mm hbk Rights: UK & CommonwealthJuly 2015 Children’s Fiction 9–12

ISBN: 9781846973208Price: £6.99Format: 198 x 129mm pbk Rights: UK & CommonwealthSeptember 2014 Children’s Fiction 9–12

ISBN: 9781846973185Price: £6.99Format: 198 x 129mm pbk Rights: UK & CommonwealthJuly 2014 Children’s Fiction 9–12

ISBN: 9781846972546 Price: £6.99Format: 198 x 129mm pbk Rights: UK & CommonwealthJuly 2014 Children’s Fiction 9–12

Precious and the Zebra Necklace

Precious and the Monkeys

Precious and the Mystery of the Missing Lion

Precious and the Mystery of Meerkat Hill

‘Enchanced by elegant woodcuts by Iain McIntosh, this would be a delightful story to read out to children or a classful’ Sunday Times

‘It is utterly charming and the illustrations are beautiful. A delightful book which is over all too soon’ Euro Crime

‘A detective is born! What a delightful, breezy read!’ Mary Pope Osborne, bestselling author of The Magic Tree House series

Debi Gliori

DEBI GLIORI was born in Glasgow and studied at Edinburgh College of Art. She is well known both for her picture books and her novels for children, and has been shortlisted for all the major prizes, including the Kate Greenaway Award (twice) and the Scottish Arts Council Award. Debi was the Shetland Islands’ first Children’s Writer-in-Residence. She published her first book in 1990 and since then has published so many successful books that she has lost count. She has written and illustrated No Matter What, The Trouble with Dragons, Stormy Weather and, most recently, The Scariest Thing of All.

Praise for The Tobermory Cat:

‘will delight those who love the Isle of Mull and cats’ The Times

‘a witty and wonderful book’ Scotsman

A Hebridean Alphabet

ISBN: 9781780271996 Format: 224 x 259mm pbkRights: WorldOctober 2014

This is a beautifully conceived picture flat in which Debi Gliori describes and illustrates all kinds of things you might see over the course of a single day in the Hebrides.

Inspired by the landscape, seascape, weather, animals and birds, this is not simply an exquisite alphabet book,but also a wonderful celebration of some of the most magnificent scenery in Britain.

ISBN: 9781780273587 Format: 224 x 259mmRights: WorldJune 2016

Young children will love this counting book in which the Tobermory Cat wakes up hungry and sets off in search of something to eat. But will he find enough to fill his empty tummy?

Tobermory Cat 1, 2, 3

Price: £6.99 32ppColour illustrations throughoutPicture Book 3–5 years

The Tobermory CatThis is the story of a very special ginger cat who, once upon a time, didn’t feel special at all. Join the Tobermory Cat as he becomes a legend!

Price: £9.99 hbk32ppColour illustrations throughoutPicture Book 3–5 years

ISBN: 9781780271316 Format: 224 x 259mm pbkRights: WorldJuly 2013

Price: £6.99 32ppColour illustrations throughoutNovelty Book 3–5 years

James RobertsonIllustrated by Kate Leiper

The Book of the Howlat

Originally written in the 1440s by Richard Holland, a Scottish cleric who was chaplain to Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray, The Buke of the Howlat is one of the great poetic gems of fifteenth-century Scots.

Believing himself to be ugly, a young owl (howlat) decides to speak to the most handsome bird of all, the peacock, and ask his help so that Nature can change him. But the peacock isn’t sure this should be done – after all, Nature doesn’t usually make mistakes – and summons a council of birds to make a decision. A huge feast takes place, and Nature herself appears and orders all the birds present to give the owl one of their feathers.

But the result is not what they expect. The howlat’s initial joy turns to unbearable arrogance at his new-found beauty, and drastic action must be taken . . .

JAMES ROBERTSON is one of Scotland’s most significant writers, whose novels include Joseph Black (winner of the Saltire Scottish Book ofthe Year and the Scottish Arts Council Book of the Year 2003/2004), The Testament of Gideon Mack (longlisted for the Man Booker prizein 2006), And the Land Lay Still, and The Professor of Truth (2013). He is general editor of Black and White Publishing’s Itchy Coo imprint, which produces books in Scots for young readers.

KATE LEIPER is an artist and illustrator who regularly exhibits and undertakes commissions throughout the UK. She is particularly drawn to mythical and animal subjects and has previously worked on Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales and An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Mythical Creatures (both Floris).

ISBN: 9781780273754 Price: £9.99Format: 278 x 216mm hbkRights: World English LanguageAugust 2016Age 7+32ppColour illustrations throughout

ISBN: 9781780273761Price: £9.99Format: 278 x 216mm hbkRights: World English LanguageAugust 2016

Also available

The Buke of the HowlatScots Edition

Age 7+32ppChildren’s Fiction 9–12Colour illustrations throughout

Alan BurnettIllustrated by Scoular Anderson

ALLAN BURNETT is a freelance writer and editor based in Sweden. He has worked as deputy editor for the Scottish Standard and as deputy foreign editor for the Sunday Herald. He is the author on a number of bestselling children’s history books, including World War I Tales of Adventure, World War II Tales of Adventure, The Story of Scotland and Invented in Scotland (all Birlinn).

SCOULAR ANDERSON lives in Dunoon and is one of Scotland’s best-known and best-loved children’s authors and illustrators. He has been published widely by many UK publishers and makes regular appearances at book festivals and children’s events.

The Celts And All ThatCelts and All That is a book bursting with blood-curdling battles and dead important details about the ancient Celts. Everything you need to know about human sacrifice and headhunting is all in here – plus a recipe for making your own Celtic bog butter.

Packed with incredible illustrations of everything from iron-age jewellery to timber fortresses, this is an essential guide to a brilliant bunch of ancient Europeans who shaped our world. The Celts had roads, technology and inventions long before the Romans turned up – but did they also run around naked, as the Romans claimed? You’ll find an intriguing answer to that and many other crucial questions inside. Plus you’ll learn to tell the difference between Celtic myths and historical facts – but you’ll also love the magical legends of Celtic heroes and villains, warrior princesses and monsterslaying wizards.

ISBN: 9781780273921 Price: £4.99Format: 198 x 129mm pbkRights: WorldJuly 2016112ppColour illustrations throughoutChildren’s History 8–12 years

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The Vikings And All ThatVikings and All That is a skull-splitting saga about the wild, seafaring warriors who burst into history in the 8th century and looted, plundered, pillaged and burned their way from their native Scandinavia to the British Isles and much of Europe. Packed with fantastic, fun illustrations of everything from the Vikings’ warships to their favourite board games, this is the book that answers all the key questions you might have.

If you want sensible answers, packed with historical facts and thoughtful revelations about the Vikings’ civilised side, then this is the book for you. But if you want boatloads of bearded, shield-biting maniacs bearing down on defenceless, sandal-wearing villagers, then this is DEFINITELY the book for you!

ISBN: 9781780273938Price: £4.99Format: 198 x 129mm pbkRights: WorldJuly 2016112ppColour illustrations throughoutChildren’s History 8–12 years

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Also Available


William Wallace And All That

Mary Queen of Scots And All That




Robert the Bruce And All That

Robert Burns And All That

TIM ARCHBOLD was born and brought up in Northumberland. As well as writing and illustrating children’s books, his work has appeared in the Radio Times, Good Housekeeping, BBC Gardener’s World, Good Food and Country Living; and he has worked with Hampton Court, Museum of London, Ashmolean Museum and National Maritime Museum Greenwich. He is the illustrator of previous BC Books title, The Secret Dog.

Every day Clarty Jim McCloud’s granny makes him sandwiches. But not ordinary sandwiches; these sandwiches are so truly terrible that every day Clarty Jim feeds them to a hungry catfish on the way to school.

One day Jim gets a job at Shove & Bargeworth Ironwork Company and no longer passes the river where his fishy friend lives, so the catfish gets hungry and searches for other things to eat. Find out what happens when he swims up river and arrives at the Shove & Bargeforth Great and Grand Garden Party. There are lots of tasty cakes to eat, but what attracts his attention is something altogether different . . . WillLady Margery Bargeforth’s baby really be eaten by a catfish? Will Clarty Jim save the day?

Tim Archbold

Clarty-Jim McCloud

ISBN: 9781780273488Price: £7.99Format: 171 x 176mm hbkRights: WorldJune 201648ppIllustrations: b/w throughoutChildren’s Fiction Age 5-7

Tappety Tam FairleyTappety Tam Fairley is the odd-job man in High Hope village, where he keeps everything neat and tidy. So much so, in fact, that High Hope wins the Best Kept Village competition every year – much to the annoyance of the inhabitants of Low Hope Village, who have never wonanything at all.

As the annual competition draws near again, the High Hope village committee meets to give Tam his list of odd jobs to spruce up the place and ensure that High Hope wins the award yet again. But who is the mysterious Mr Tallboy who also attends, and why does he want to change the items on Tam’s list? Should the street really be filled with elephants, and the pond filled with fresh custard?

ISBN: 9781780273471Price: £7.99 Format: 171 x 176mm hbkRights: WorldJune 201648ppChildren’s Fiction Age 5-7

Tim Archbold Benedict Blathwayt

BENEDICT BLATHWAYT spent much of his youth, childhood and early years of married life on Mull. He has written and illustrated over 50picture books for Julie MacRae, Walker Books, Hutchinson, OUP and Rex Fox, among others, and his work has appeared in 14 languages.

He won the Smarties Prize in 1988 for Tangle and the Firesticks.

Bear’s AdventureBear is one of the family. He goes everywhere with his young companions. Then one day, somehow, Bear is left behind at the seaside. As the sun goes down, the tide comes in, and Bear begins his great adventure. Find out how he gets home in this delightful story written and illustrated by one of Britain’s favouite children’s authors.

ISBN: 9781780273143 Price: £6.99 Illustrations: colour throughoutPicture Book 3–5 years

ISBN: 9781780273129 Price: £6.99Illustrations: colour throughoutPicture Book 3–5 years

ISBN: 9781780273655 Price: £6.99Format: 200 x 200mm pbk Rights: World

FerryFind out what happens when Captain Kit welcomes his passengers aboard his ferry in this charming board book.

Benedict Blathwayt’s award-winning illustrations are full of detail which are guaranteed to stimulate the interest of very young children (ages 0-5 years) and help develop their powers of observation.

ISBN: 9781780273136 Price: £4.99Format: 129 x 171 mmBoardBookRights: World

Also Available

May 201632ppIllustrations: colour throughoutPicture Book 3–5 years

June 201612ppIllustrations: colour throughoutBoard Book 0–5 years

Joan Lennon

Silver Skin

ISBN: 9781780272955Price: £6.99 Format: 224 x 156mm pbkRights: WorldOctober 201532ppColour Illustrated throughoutChildren’s Fiction 3-7

ISBN: 9781780272849Price: £6.99 Format: 198 x 129mm pbkRights: WorldJune 2015224ppChildren’s/Young Adult 12+

Here Come the Trolls

Ron Butlin

Skara Brae, Orkney, 3,000 BC. The sun is fading, crops are failing, fierce storms batter the coastline and the villagers fear that the end of the world is near. When a strange young man, dressed in a silver suit – a ‘silver skin’ – emerges from the sea and bursts into flames, the community is thrown into confusion. Voy, the village wise woman, believes he’s a kelpie, a mythical being believed to have magical powers,and hides his silver skin. Cait isn’t so sure, but helps nurse him back to health and finds herself drawn to him, as he is to her. Both women have their own – very different – reasons for keeping him alive.

Rab, thousands of years from home, must learn fast about this world, so different from his own, as what was intended as a high-tech study trip turns into a struggle for survival.

JOAN LENNON is a well-known writer of novels, poetry and short stories who has appeared all over the UK at book festivals, libraries andschools. She has been a Hawthornden Fellow, the Jessie Kesson Fellow, a resident at the Chateau de Lavigny, and has received a Creative Scotland Writer’s Bursary. She posts regularly on her own blog, and on the acclaimed History Girls, Girls Heart Books and An Awfully Big Blog Adventure blogs.

RON BUTLIN is an award-winning poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer and librettist whose works have been translated into manylanguages. He regularly gives creative writing workshops in schools, and was Edinburgh Makar from 2008 to 2014.

What happens when your house is invaded by trolls – mischievous creatures who do nothing but cause havoc and mayhem? Find out in this zany and charming book which tells you how to get rid of them for good and make your house a troll-free zone!

This new take on trolls is written by a master poet and will appeal to children aged 3–7 with its funny and imaginative rhymes. The inventive poetry is complemented throughout with full-colour illustrations which bring the naughty, adventurous trolls to life.

Joan Lennon

Peter PanThe Graphic Novel

The Secret Dog

ISBN: 9781780272900Price: £12.99 Format: 295 x 210mm pbkRights: WorldJune 201596ppColour illustrated throughoutChildren’s Fiction 9–12

ISBN: 9781780272870Price: £6.99 Format: 198 x 129mm pbkRights: WorldJune 2015208ppb/w Illustrated throughoutChildren’s Fiction 7–12

Here Come the Trolls

Ron ButlinStephen White

Joe Friedman

Peter Pan is a familiar tale to many who have been enchanted by the adventures of the boy who wouldn’t grow up. In this graphic novel Stephen White goes back to the very heart of Barrie’s original tale to create a story that is dark, magical, charming and authentic. The complexity of Barrie’s original is drawn out in vibrant illustrations and engaging text to create a new vision of the tale for those familiar with it and to enchant a new generation of readers.

The stunning illustrations draw on original, authentic features from the locations that inspired Barrie to write his tale including Moat Brae House in Dumfries, the garden where he played as a boy. The result is a new and exciting version of Peter Pan that is like nothing that has been done before.

After the death of his mother, Josh goes to live with his uncle, Calum, who has a farm on a remote island. One day, when he finds a tiny Border Collie pup left to drown in the river, he decides to look after her and keep her as his own. But money is scarce and a dog that can’t earn its keep will not be welcome by Calum, and Josh must raise his new friend, Reggae, in secret.

As the pup grows and demands more attention, Josh’s schoolwork suffers, despite the help of the local vet’s daughter, Yvonne. Josh must also decide what to do with Reggae – he cannot keep her hidden forever – and decides that he will train her for the annual gathering of wild sheep. But can Reggae learn to be a proper sheep dog in under a year?

STEPHEN WHITE (‘STREF’) is an Edinburgh-based illustrator, writer, and comic book artist. For a number of years he worked for DC Thomson on The Dandy, The Beano, The Broons and Oor Wullie. His first graphic novel, MILK+ was published in 2010 and was followed by RaisingAmy in 2011. He also illustrated The Tattoo Fox written by Alasdair Hutton.

JOE FRIEDMAN, born in Chicago, has lived in London for many years, where he divides his time between writing and practisingpsychotherapy. He is author of the children’s series Boobela and Worm, and is actively involved in running creative workshops for children in the 7–11 age range.

BC BooksWest Newington House10 Newington RoadEdinburghEH9 1QSTel: +44 (0) 131 668 4371Fax: +44 (0) 131 668 [email protected]

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SALES CONTACTS

SCOTLANDSeol LtdWest Newington House10 Newington RoadEdinburgh EH9 1QSTel: +44 (0) 131 668 4371Fax: +44 (0) 131 668 4466

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Compass IPSLGW Business CentreGreat West HouseGreat West RoadBrentford, MiddlesexTW8 9DFTel: +44 (0) 208 996 [email protected]

IRELAND

Brookside Publishing Services16 Priory Hall Office ParkStillorganCo. Dublin IrelandPhone (office): +353 (0)1 2784225Phone (mobile): +353 86 225 2380

BC Books is a new children’s imprint, launched in 2015. It is designed to provide writing and illustration of the highest quality for young readers in Scotland

and beyond. Birlinn is dedicated to nurturing young readers and helping them discover a passion for reading that will last a lifetime.

www.birlinn.co.uk

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