Books in Classic Kelpies series

When Finn Learson literally stumbles out of a stormy sea into a small village on Scotland's Shetland Isles, he steals the villagers' hearts. He's handsome and charming, he helps with the fishing and the harvest, and he's particularly drawn to Robbie's older sister Elspeth, with her beautiful long golden hair. Yet there's something about Finn that makes Robbie and his dog Tam feel uneasy. Haunted by local tales of the Selkie folk, Robbie suspects there's more to Finn than meets the eye. But who would believe Robbie's wild suspicions? As the story reaches its explosive finale at the fire festival of Up Helly Aa, can Robbie reveal the truth in time to save his sister? One of Mollie Hunter's most popular novels for children, A Stranger Came Ashore was first published in 1975 to great acclaim. This new Kelpies Classics edition brings this much-loved Scottish classic to a new generation of children.

Kathleen Fidler's classic story is set in the ancient Stone Age village of Skara Brae on Orkney. This is a fascinating and vividly portrayed story of life nearly 3,000 years ago. Kali and Brockan are in trouble. They have been using their stone axes to chip limpets off the rocks, but they've gone too far out and find themselves trapped by the tides. Then, an unexpected rescuer appears, a strange boy in a strange boat, carrying a strangely sharp axe of a type they have never seen before. Conflict arises as the village of Skara must decide what to do with the new ideas and practices that the boy brings. As a deadly storm threatens, the very survival of the village is in doubt. Step back into the Stone Age and learn about the daily life and rituals of the ancient village of Skara Brae in this compelling, fictional account of the famous Orkney settlement. Vivid descriptions and accurate historical details bring the village to life and make this an ideal choice for those studying the Stone Age curriculum.

Ten-year-old twins Kirsty and David Murray love their crofting life in the north of Scotland. They collect shellfish, milk the cows and help their father grow oats and vegetables. Then one day the Countess's men come and burn their house, saying they must leave. The family travel across Scotland to Glasgow. City life is dirty and overcrowded, and work in the mills is hard and dangerous. The chance comes to join a ship sailing for Hudson Bay in Canada, and once again they start a long, perilous journey. Will they survive the treacherous Atlantic crossing, and what will they find in the strange new land? Kathleen Fidler had a gift for bringing characters from history to life for today's children. The Desperate Journey is her best-known story, a true Scottish classic whose thrilling plot will keep children gripped from start to end.

When the shopkeeper gives Jenny a skinny, black kitten she has no idea who she has adopted. Fankle is no ordinary cat. The fiercely clever feline has lived six lives so far: lives of adventure, danger, fortune and poverty. He's stared down angry pirates, started a blood feud, won a war, advised an empress and leapt onto the moon. Fankle tells Jenny tales of his former lives -- with the king of pirates, in ancient Egypt and even with the Empress of China. So what is he doing living in a crofter's cottage in Orkney? This classic novel by George Mackay Brown is a rich and rewarding read for adults and children alike.

It is 1745, and young Jeannie Main is a tough fisher lass in Nairn in northeast Scotland, where she lives a simple, quiet life―until a gypsy warns her of a greater fate than she ever dreamed. Jeannie Main, a poor working girl, would decide the fate of two kings. As she tries to come to terms with her destiny, Jeannie is plunged into adventure and danger that could determine the future of her country. One final test remains―risking her life by riding the Kelpie, the most feared monster in all of Scotland. Quest for a Kelpie is a fast-moving, thrilling story that takes place at a crucial moment in Scotland's history. This exciting fiction was the winner of the first BBC “Quest for a Kelpie” prize. (Ages 9-12)

Kathleen Fidler's classic story is set in the ancient Stone Age village of Skara Brae on Orkney, now a major tourist attraction. This is a fascinating and vividly portrayed story of life nearly 3,000 years ago. chip limpets off the rocks, but they've gone too far out and find themselves trapped by the tides. Then, an unexpected rescuer appears, a strange boy in a strange boat, carrying a strangely sharp axe of a type they have never seen before. ideas and practices that the boy brings. As a deadly storm threatens, the very survival of the village is in doubt. researched, and are brought to life in striking, compelling detail.