Young authors publish book of smuggling yarns
Pupils at Ballantrae Primary showed they’ve got the write stuff by publishing a book of their own Smuggling Tales.
The children put together an 80- page book containing 86 stories and poems they wrote and illustrated themselves.
Youngsters from primary one through to primary seven produced the work and the book is based on the Ayrshire village’s rich smuggling history from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with additions and modifications from the imaginations of the modern children.
It was launched on Friday by local author Dr Tom Smith, who shared his experience as an author.
He praised the children for their “very varied” approach to the stories and poems, and for their “vivid imagination”, before encouraging them to continue to develop their writing skills as they go through life.
Publisher Frances Wilkins of Toby Press said: “Each year, the organisers of the Ballantrae Smugglers’ Festival work closely with the children to keep Ballantrae’s smuggling history alive through stories, poetry, songs, making smuggler scarecrows and re- enactments.
“Encouraged to recall what they had heard over the years, and applying their own vivid imaginations to recreate in word and illustrations, this book celebrates an exercise in creativity rather than history. If you want to immerse yourself in the creative imagination of children who have been given free rein to produce their own smuggling stories then this book is for you.”