A Penicuik resident is hoping to get more children into reading with a new series of football based children’s books.
Goalie for Scotland Writers F.C, and die hard football fan, Danny Scott will launch his debut book series tomorrow, May 19, set around the adventures of a ten year old boy as he settles into a new town whilst fighting for a place in the school’s football team. Featuring lively black-and-white illustrations by French illustrator Alice A. Morentorn, the book is perfectly pitched for those six years and over.
It is hoped that the young fiction about the life of relatable Calum Anderson will give reluctant readers confidence in picking up a book. By featuring characters, landscapes and situations that are similar to those of the reader, Mr Scott aims to make Calum as approachable and identifiable as possible.
Commenting on the inspiration for Calum, Danny said:
When I was a young boy growing up in Penicuik, there weren’t many books that I could relate to in terms of familiar locations and everyday situations. It definitely had an effect on my appetite for reading – I felt shut out of and unconnected to this world. When writing my own books, I wanted to create a story that young children growing up in Scotland could recognise.
The first book, Calum’s New Team, will be published alongside Danny Scott’s next two books, Calum’s New Boots and Calum’s Big Break on Thursday May 19 with the final three coming in late Summer.
In the first outing of the ten year old, football loving, newcomer, he has just moved to Caleytown from the Scottish Highlands and is worried that he won’t fit in. That is, until he finds out from football-mad new pals Leo and Erika that a new boys’ football team is starting at school. Calum is determined to impress the coach and make it onto the team, but two things stand in his way: a pair of decent boots, and the coach’s son, striker Jordan McPride.
To celebrate the launch, Danny Scott will be touring the country’s schools to encourage children to get into reading. With his fun-filled football tales, he’ll be hoping that he’s at the top of the writing league.