Wee Mac Arran 2024
Wee Mac Arran is a children's book festival hosted on the Isle of Arran, organised by a local group of book-loving volunteers.
Some of Scotland's finest authors, illustrators and storytellers are invited to "Scotland in miniature" to present to Arran children and young people, as well as to visitors to the island.
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With something for book lovers of all ages, please join us on the 31st of August and 1 September 2024.
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Entry is free but spaces may be limited.
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Children must be accompanied by an adult. ​
We enjoyed a fantastic event in August/September 2024, please enjoy the video below which shows just a tiny bit of the fun that was had:
We would love it if you joined us for the next Wee Mac in 2026 - watch this space and follow us on facebook for updates!
All events are hosted at The Isle of Arran Heritage Museum, who also have all the books for the Wee Mac Arran Children's Book Festival in stock!
Wee Mac Arran Festival Programme 2024
Mike Nicholson: Saturday 31st August | 11am
Someone's sent the museum a blackmail letter threatening to steal a prized exhibit from the Space Zone. Can the Museum Mystery Squad stop the gravity-defying thief before an out-of-this-world artefact takes off? The latest Museum Mystery Squad book has allthe usual ingredients –mind-bending mystery, perplexing puzzles and terrible jokes.
Mike Nicholson is an Edinburgh-based author who loves nothing better than writing a story packed with cliffhanger endings, ridiculous gadgets and wincingly-baddad jokes. His favourite joke is ‘What’s brown and sticky?’ ‘A stick’. Mike makes cracking shortbreadand can wiggle his ears at different times if asked politely.
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Alan Dapré: Saturday 31st August | 12.15pm
Alan Dapré shares Grizzly Ben, his heart-warming picture book about a boy who becomes a bear!
Filled with lovely read aloud language, Grizzly Ben offers plenty of opportunities for audience participation of the roaring, stomping kind, so get ready for a lively session.
Expect lots of props, wordplay, laughter and fun as Alan shares his hairy, bear-y, not-too-scary story with you. Perfect for wee grizzly bears & bairns.
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Visit Alan Dapré's website here.
Ross MacKenzie: Saturday 31st August | 1.30pm
Ross MacKenzie is the author of several award-winning books, including The Nowhere Emporium, winner of the Blue Peter Award and the Scottish Children’s Book Award. He lives in Renfrew, where he grew up, with his wife and two daughters, but spends much of his time in another world.
The shop from nowhere can appear at any time, in any city. Its labyrinth of rooms contains wonders beyond belief.
But to enter you must pay a price.
When Daniel stumbles into the mysterious Nowhere Emporium in Glasgow, he opens the door to a world of breathtaking magic and looming danger.
Debi Gliori: Saturday 31st August | 2.30pm
Debi Gliori is a Scottish writer and illustrator, originally from Glasgow, now living outside Edinburgh. Along with her partner, she is owned by five children, one dog, two guinea pigs and has made over seventy five books. She plays fiddle, loves her gravel bike, knits obsessively and bakes bread like a boss.
When Small throws a wobbly, the unflappable Large is on hand to reassure and comfort, even when Small turns into a variety of beasts and bugs. This story has been read in millions of homes across the planet, and is currently celebrating its 25th birthday.
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Visit Debi Gliori's website here.
Ceitidh Hutton: Sunday 1st September | 11.00am
Cha tomhais thu bu bràth cò ghluais dhan taigh ri taobh Grumpa. You won’t believe who has moved next door to Grumpa. Calum wants to play football but a girl has moved next door. She won’t want to play ... or will she?
Award winning writer of Gaelic children’s picture books, Ceitidh has also been shortlisted in the Gaelic Literature Awards. Best known for her Gàidhlig Grumpa series she also writes English women’s contemporary fiction with a dash of Gaelic, a large sprinkling of humour and a wee drop of Scots.
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Lindsay Littleson: Sunday 1st September | 12.00pm
Lindsay Littleson is an award-winning middle-grade author who lives in a village near Glasgow with her partner Ian and their noisy cat, Roo. Lindsay’s books include Euro Spies, Carnegie-nominated Guardians of the Wild Unicorns, The Titanic Detective Agency and Kelpies Prize-winning The Mixed-Up Summer of Lily McLean, which was also longlisted for the Waterstones Children's Books Prize. Her latest novel, Ice Cream Boy, comes out in May 2024.
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​Twelve-year-old Luca Verani has his future all mapped out: who needs school when he's going to take over his family's ice cream cafe? But then his aunt announces she's selling the struggling business and Luca realises that his nonna's memory is disappearing. Plus, he's starting high school and one of his best friends Sitara is being targeted by racist bullies. As Luca's worries pile up, will his dreams melt away?
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Chae Strathie: Sunday 1st September | 1.00pm
Chae Strathie is an award-winning children’s author and journalist who grew up in a tiny village surrounded by a forest in Scotland, which probably explains a lot. His first attempt at professional writing was creating a Star Wars comic at the age of seven. He sold two copies and made a total of four pence. A regular at major book festivals, Chae has toured the length and breadth of the UK and visited schools as far afield as Romania, reading his stories, acting the goat and singing silly songs about worm ice cream and beard-growing. He lives in Dundee with three annoying cats and a very old goldfish called Lazarus.
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Bloody battles, magical myths, and gruesome ghosts -Scotland has it all! Chae Strathie’s latest book, ‘Scotland: The People, The Places, The Stories’, is a celebration of our country’s rich culture and history, featuring stunning illustrations from six Scottish illustrators. Join Chae as he takes you on a tour of Scotland and discover the secrets that make it so special
Greta Yorke: Sunday 1st September | 2.00pm
Greta Yorke is an award-winning children’s writer and poet. She is a retired primary schoolteacher, a member of Ayr Writers’ Club and lives in Prestwick.mShe writes all genres but predominantly children’s books with an educational input.
Her Tartan Witch books aim to introduce Scots language to a new generation.
‘Tartan Witch’ tells of how the witches decide to make a spell so they can understand what their Scottish friend says when she arrives on holiday. The book is humorously illustrated as Tartan Witch seems to have gone from one disaster to another giving opportunities to identify things which are specifically Scottish.
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Visit Greta Yorke's website here.
Meet the Therapets!:
Saturday 31st August & Sunday 1st September
Therapets go with their owners to cheer and comfort the elderly, and people with disabilities in Homes, Hospitals and Hospices.
We also go to Schools and help children with their reading.
Scooter and Finn look forward to seeing you all at the Wee Mac Book Festival.
Play Talk Read with Bonnie the Bus:
Saturday 31st August & Sunday 1st September
The Play Talk Read team will be running free drop-in sessions where families can hop on board Bonnie the bus for lots of fun activities that you and your wee one can do together.
They have arts and crafts, messy play, fancy dress and lots of books for you to enjoy –check out their Facebook page to find out more!
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Activities are aimed at families with children 0-4 years old. Bonnie will be parked up in the grounds at The Arran Heritage Museum. No booking necessary.
Want to keep in the loop? - follow the Wee Mac Children's Book Festival on the dedicated Wee Mac page here
If you would like to be kept up to date with arts and creative events happening on Arran you can sign up to the free Arran Theatre and Arts Trust newsletter here.
And if you are looking for info on the McLellan Book Festival you can see the webpage here or follow the McLellan Book Festival facebook page here.
