Paddington Bear goes Gaelic to find new fans
Young Gaelic readers are in for a treat as the story of one of the most beloved characters in children’s literature has been translated into Gaelic.
For the very first time, Micheal Bond’s Paddington is available to read in Gaelic, thanks to the translation of Gillebride MacMillan.
Paddington stories have delighted children all over the world for more than 60 years, with renewed interest in recent years, thanks to a new television show on Nickelodeon – The Adventures of Paddington – and two hit Paddington feature films, with a third, Paddington in Peru, due for release in November 2024.
The Gaelic translation of the story was published by Belle Kids on Monday April 15, and is supported by the Gaelic Books Council.
The 32-page picture book, illustrated by R W Alley, tells the classic story of the bear who travelled all the way from Darkest Peru when, quite by accident, he meets Mr and Mrs
Brown at Paddington Station.
They quickly realise they cannot leave the little bear all by himself in the big city and decide he must come home with them to stay. Life will never be the same for Paddington.
Teachers have welcomed the news, with one head of a Gaelic medium primary school in the Highland Council area saying: “It’s always great when a book is translated into Gaelic that the children would be familiar with.”
Kay Hutchison, founder of Belle Kids, said “We’re really pleased to be able to publish this book for Gaelic-speakers.
“As a Gaelic learner myself, I’m very keen to help support anyone learning this beautiful language, especially children.”
Belle Kids has published other picture books in Gaelic, having first become interested in publishing Gaelic stories for children when launching its Sgeulachdan a’ Chaiptein Bobo series based on the PS Waverley.