Scots book awards

If sales and library lending figures are anything to go by, Itchy Coo books have been very well received by children, teachers and the general public. This popularity has not gone unnoticed by the judging panels of several prestigious awards. 

An Animal ABC by Susan Rennie/Karen Sutherland illustrator, Itchy Coo, 2002

The Times Educational Supplement and the Saltire Society 2002 Prize for Educational Publications. This lively full-colour title introduces younger readers to modern Scots through fun alliterations and Karen Sutherland’s bright engaging artwork. The book, now in its third edition, is read by bairns, young and old, in Scotland and around the world.

The Hoose o Haivers by Fitt, Robertson and Rennie, Itchy Coo, 2002.

Scottish Arts Council Children’s Book of the Year Awards 2003, Special Commendation.

This book takes on tales from Ovid’s Metamorphoses and repackages them in dynamic, easy-to-read Scots. Now used as a core text in Scottish high schools, this book has done much to bring the modern wean back to reading the classics.

Eck the Bee by Ann Matheson and James Robertson/Karen Sutherland illustrator, Itchy Coo, 2002.

Special Commendation: The Times Educational Supplement and the Saltire Society 2003 Prize for Educational Publications

Eck the Bee is an activity book full of poems, stories, games, quizzes and songs. It offers primary teachers a substantial Scots Language course that will engage, entertain and educate pupils. Karen Sutherland’s gorgeous illustrations make this a fun teach-yourself book for any age

King o the Midden, edited by Matthew Fitt and James Robertson, Itchy Coo, 2003.

Shortlisted for Scottish Arts Council Children’s Book of the Year Award 2004.

This book’s subtitle is ‘Manky Mingin Rhymes in Scots’ and its contents do not disappoint. A romp through some of the more unsavoury aspects of respiration and table manners, King o the Midden is a poetry collection that has been talked about as much in the staffroom as in the playground. Encouraging 10 year olds to read is no mean feat; with Bob Dewar’s inspirational art mercilessly tickling the oxters of each poem, this book does exactly that.