Sound the fanfare! It’s Book Week Scotlan, the national celebration of books and reading! The theme this year is ‘Blether’, so let’s have a wee chat about what’s happening…
Get the FREE Book Week Scotland Book
Blether features true stories from across Scotland.
- Pick up a free copy at your local library
- Download a PDF to read on your mobile device of PC
- Download a copy for your e-reader
- Download a copy to read on your Kindle
- Listen to the Blether stories via Soundcloud
Find out more about the Blether Book on the Book Week Scotland webpage .
Join in the Digital Festival
If you can’t get to events near you (or would rather just not leave your comfy couch) check out the Book Week Scotland Digital Festival! Details are on the Book Week Scotland website.
Have a blether with Helen Fitzgerald and Doug Johnstone!
Two incredible authors join us for a chinwag on Thursday night.
Worst Case Scenario is Helen Fitzgerald‘s a dark and gripping new book. We’ll also hopefully get to chat with her about The Cry, the TV adaptation of which, had us glued to our seats. We’ll maybe even get a sneak peek of upcoming Australia Day, which although not even yet released, will be making its way to our screens in 2020.
Joining Helen is our favourite crime-writing drummer, Doug Johnstone. In addition to gracing stages across the country (including Glastonbury!) with crime-writing, rock n’ roll super group, The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, Doug has a back catalogue of thrilling, moving fiction. His new book Breakers has been winning praise all over place.
Enjoy Book Week Scotland with your family
Books for your bump
This Book Week Scotland we’re encouraging you to blether to your newborn-to-be about books!
Did you know that babies can hear your voice from around 22 weeks of pregnancy?
Our Reading to Your Bump session is a friendly, relaxed story session, where you can meet other parents to be and get tips for reading to your nearly newborn.
- Come along to the session at Bo’ness Library, 2pm, on Wednesday 20th November. No booking necessary.
Bookbug Sessions
Sing, giggle and snuggle along with stories, songs, rhymes for preschool children from age 0. Never been before? Book Week Scotland is the perfect time to head along. All our libraries run weekly Bookbug sessions.
Our friendly, inclusive groups will give you a warm welcome and Bookbug sessions are a great way to meet other parents and grandparents.
Storytimes
If ever there was a week to join in a library storytime, it’s Book Week Scotland! Our weekly storytime are perfect for youngsters getting ready to start school.
Join a library group
Most of our libraries offer opportunities for you to join in with a book or craft group. They’re a great way to meet new folk, find something different to read and learn something new.
We also have THE library craft group with the best name in all of Scotland: The Chronicles of Yarnia!
Get a flavour of our reading groups by checking out some the cracking reads we’ve discussed in our library catalogue list.
Celebrate our Writing Rammy winners
Our short fiction and poetry contest The Writing Rammy wound up at the end of the October and, for the last month, we’ve been squirrelled away reading through all the incredible entries!
On Monday night we bring our winners together for a special celebration, after which we’ll reveal the talented writers and their stories. This event is closed, but watch this space for photos and your chance to read the winning stories.
Learn about our events for schools
We’ve also got a packed program ahead for schools where we’ll welcome pupils to closed library sessions with Emily Dodd and her Crime Squirrel Investigators, Artist Kate Leiper and Scots Language champion Matthew Fitt. Watch this space for photos.
And there’s lots more on across Scotland…
And of course there’s loads more on across Scotland. Head to the Book Week Scotland website for details of events, competitions and lots more book-based fun.