Jackie Kay: Scots, songs, stories

Extract from COORIE DOON 

Text Copyright © 2025 Jackie Kay 

Illustrations Copyright © 2025 Jill Calder 

Reproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd, London, SE11 5HJ www.walker.co.uk(this link will open in a new window)

Award-winning Scottish writer and former Makar Jackie Kay joins us for an extra special episode of Authors Live! Jackie shares with us some of her favourite words in the Scots language, and discusses the importance of seeing yourself and your story represented in books. We are treated to a introduction to Jackie's debut picture book, Coorie Doon: A Scottish Lullaby Story, as well as a special video from Jill Calder all about how she created the illustrations for this gorgeous story.

You'll hear some of the songs that inspired the creation of the book, alongside a fantastic reading of the story itself – so, coorie doon and get ready to be swept away by the incomparable Jackie Kay.

If you only do one thing...

We know time is tight, so here is just one activity you can complete with your class before or after watching this broadcast.

Imagine yourself at 60! (LIT 2-26a, ENG 2-27a) At the end of the broadcast, Jackie asks everyone to imagine themselves at 60 years old. What do you think you’ll be like at 60? What do you hope your life is like? Write a poem or diary entry based on a day in your life at 60.

To further explore using poetry in the classroom, see our introducing poetry resource below: