The Scottish Selkie

Peter has heard of the legend of the Selkie seals who can turn into humans, but he can't believe it when he rescues a real, live Selkie from the oysterman's nets. The two become friends, and Selkie teaches Peter the language of the sea. But someone else has his eye on the Selkie, and danger threatens Peter and his new friend.

A classic Scottish folktale, retold with hauntingly beautiful illustrations.

Two beautiful traditional Scottish fairy tales, The Selkie Bride and In the Kingdom of the Seals, are brought to enchanting and haunting new life by two creators who are themselves eerily linked to the magical world of the shape-shifting selkies, who are seals in the water and humans on land. For Kate's ancestors were the McPhees, who, legend says, are descended from the union of Dougal McPhee and his melancholy selkie bride, while Fiona's McDonald ancestors, lairds of the Western Isles, have a strange connection to the McPhees as well, a connection she only discovered while working on the book! 'The tales, told by an author with an obvious talent for folklore, would make an excellent choice for young readers looking for a unique alternative to standard titles, and would be a beautiful introduction to the rich world of folktales.' (Junior Bookseller and Publisher, Term 1 2014) About the author Kate Forsyth wrote her first novel at the age of seven, and is now the bestselling, award-winning author of 26 books, published in 15 countries. She has been voted one of Australia's Favourite 25 Novelists. The Wild Girl tells the story of star-crossed lovers Wilhelm Grimm and Dortchen Wild, the young woman who told him many of the world's most famous fairy-tales. Bitter Greens, her retelling of 'Rapunzel',was called 'the best fairy tale retelling since Angela Carter'. Kate's books for children include The Gypsy Crown and The Puzzle Ring, lauded as 'a richly told tale of history, magic and intrigue by a wonderful storyteller.' Kate has spoken at conferences and festivals around the world, including at Oxford University, and has taught writing in the UK, the US, Fiji, Greece, Singapore and Australia. She recently finished her doctorate of creative arts in fairy tale retellings. Her website is www.kateforsyth.com.au About the illustrator A graduate of the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney, Fiona McDonald has worked as a graphic designer, doll-maker, cloth sculptor and artist. She is also the author of several books of non-fiction, including the best-selling The Popular History of Graffiti(Skyhorse Publishing 2013), as well as an illustrated novel for younger readers, Ghost Doll and Jasper(Skyhorse, 2012). Currently she works as a graphic designer as well as running her own toy-making business, Granny Fi's Toy Cupboard. Two Selkie Stories from Scotland is her first picture book. Coming soon:Two Tales of Twins from Ancient Greece and Rome, retold by Ursula Dubosarsky, illustrated by David Allan (August 2014).ISBN: 978-0-9922838-3-4 Once Upon a Christmas Annual, multi-author illustrated collection of stories, poems, memoirs and more from some of Australia's best children's authors and illustrators, compiled and edited by Beattie Alvarez. Paperback, around 160 pages, ISBN 978-0-9922838-5-8 (November 2014)

In an old wooden sloop, Philip Marsden plots a course north from his home in Cornwall. He is sailing for the Summer Isles, a small archipelago near the top of Scotland that holds for him a deep and personal significance. On the way, he must navigate the west coast of Ireland and the Inner Hebrides. Bearing the full force of the Atlantic, it is a seaboard which is also a mythical frontier, a place as rich in story as anywhere on earth. Through the people he meets and the tales he uncovers, Marsden builds up a haunting picture of these shores - of imaginary islands and the Celtic otherworld, of the ageless draw of the west, of the life of the sea and perennial loss - and the redemptive power of the imagination. Exhilarating and poignant, Marsden's prose has been widely praised. Bringing together themes he has been pursuing for many years, The Summer Isles is an unforgettable account of the search for actual places, invented places, and those places in between that shape the lives of individuals and entire nations.

The strange and magical world of the shape-shifting selkies is brought to enchanting life in these two fairy tales from Scotland, The Selkie Bride and In the Kingdom of the Seals, hauntingly retold by best-selling author Kate Forsyth. Illustrations by Fiona McDonald.

“The Scottish myth of the selkie—a seal that can transform into human form—inspires a tale of life on the margins, forgiveness and redemption” (The Guardian). Donald, a young fisherman, is overwhelmed when he comes across a group of exotic women dancing on the shore beneath the moonlight. They are selkies—seals that shed their skin once a year and become human for a few hours. Overcome by their beauty and magic, Donald kidnaps one—a choice that will determine his future. Now, back home in his close-knit Scottish village, he must take responsibility for what he has done. Donald has been bullied and isolated all his life, but thanks to his mother and his stolen selkie wife, he finds the courage to question, then change the culture of the town that has been mired in the past for generations. Yet despite their mutual happiness, he can never truly forgive himself for the thoughtless act that brought his wife to him. This enchanting story works its way to a surprising yet satisfying ending. Based on a beloved Scottish legend, Sealskin is a timeless tale of the responsibilities of love—and the inner strength required to atone for terrible wrongs. “A haunting tale of family and consequences . . . The writing is sorrowful and lovely, with a well-earned, satisfying conclusion.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A powerful tale of love, learning and forgiveness, Sealskin is a bold and moving read that I was sad to put down.” —The Bookbag “Well-written and atmospheric . . . Bristow paints a vivid setting and knows how to tug on the heartstrings.” —Fantasy Literature

From ancient druid lore, springs the tale of a mysterious, dark warrior, a fiery Pict Princess, and the shadowy secret standing between them. A fiery Pict Princess, Bethoc, aims her bow at King Kenneth MacAlpin but misses. To save her life, she is forced to wed the King's cousin, Malcolm. Just as the Scot warrior and the Pict princess begin to forge a bond, Malcolm must reveal his incredible secret and choose between two worlds: one with Bethoc or one without.

Ancient legend from the coasts and islands of Scotland and Ireland about a young crofter and his seal bride and the fateful ending of their marriage.