Thistle Street: Picture Kelpies

Mike Nicholson is the author of children's novels Catscape and Grimm (both Floris Books). He won the Kelpies Prize for new Scottish children's fiction in 2005. Mike lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. Thistle Street is his first picture book. Claire Keay is an artist and illustrator based in Essex in England. Claire has illustrated two previous children's books: I Love You All Year Long (Tiger Tales) and My ABC of Bible Verses (Make Believe Ideas). She also illustrates greeting cards and sells her paintings worldwide.

'Thistle Street' sells itself as a "braw Scots story for bairns". And so it is! Mike Nicholson's tale of the happenings in a Scottish village is designed to introduce some Scots vocabulary to young readers. Told in rhyme, each page uses a Scots word and Claire Keay's illustrations to ensure that its meaning is clear to everyone. The book creates a warm sense of a bustling community with its friendly words and dynamic pictures.' -- The Scotsman 'What's lovely about this is that the language introduces fantastic Scots words like stushie and clarty and crabbit ... the value of having a book that celebrates these wonderful words is something special and the simple drawings are easy to follow.' -- Lothian Life 'This funny story, told in bright rhyming verse, is full of the lively characters who work and live on the street ... Packed with details to spot on each page, the warm illustrations will draw children into the friendly neighbourhood of Thistle Street.' -- MADE: Mums and Dads Edinburgh 'What a terrific way to learn a few strange sounding Scottish terms! It is like learning a whole new language. If you want to know what 'Daunder', 'Blether', 'Stushie' and 'Braw' mean, in a fun-filled story based in a typical Sottish village, then this book is ideal for you.' --Early Years Educator 'A great book which gives a real flavour of Scotland and its culture.' -- Creative Steps

'Thistle Street' sells itself as a "braw Scots story for bairns". And so it is! Mike Nicholson's tale of the happenings in a Scottish village is designed to introduce some Scots vocabulary to young readers. Told in rhyme, each page uses a Scots word and Claire Keay's illustrations to ensure that its meaning is clear to everyone. The book creates a warm sense of a bustling community with its friendly words and dynamic pictures.' -- The Scotsman 'What's lovely about this is that the language introduces fantastic Scots words like stushie and clarty and crabbit ... the value of having a book that celebrates these wonderful words is something special and the simple drawings are easy to follow.' -- Lothian Life 'This funny story, told in bright rhyming verse, is full of the lively characters who work and live on the street ... Packed with details to spot on each page, the warm illustrations will draw children into the friendly neighbourhood of Thistle Street.' -- MADE: Mums and Dads Edinburgh