Reading Bus gears up to launch Fit Like, Yer Majesty?
27/08/08
A new book of Doric poetry, penned by scrievers from throughout Scotland, is to be launched at Fyvie Castle next month. [September].
Schoolchildren from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Moray will bring to life some of the poems featured in Fit Like, Yer Majesty? during Doric tours of the castle, at the launch on 11 September.
Fit Like, Yer Majesty? contains 47 poems, selected by an editorial committee including weel-kent storytellers, authors and poets Sheena Blackhall and Les Wheeler, and Reading Bus friend Bill Burnett.
More than 200 poems were submitted for inclusion in the book by aspiring scribes, aged 14 to 92.
Renowned artist Bob Dewar has produced 59 vibrant illustrations to complement the poems.
The launch, which will be presided over by MSP Maureen Watt, who has written the foreword to Fit Like, Yer Majesty?, will celebrate not only the book, but also the local culture and heritage of north-east Scotland.
This initiative is being led by Aberdeen City Council’s Reading Bus, in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, Moray Council and the University of Aberdeen.
Last year Matthew Fitt, of Scots Education Resources and Scots children’s book publisher Ithcy Coo, and Sheena Blackhall offered school pupils the opportunity to enhance their enjoyment of Scots and develop literacy skills. The work was so enthusiastically received that the Reading Bus team decided to compile the high quality book of Doric Verse.
Aberdeen Students’ Charities Campaign and the Scottish Arts Council provided the funding for the project.
The Reading Bus team, together with cross-agency partners, has developed a comprehensive series of learning experiences to complement the poems and their vibrant illustrations. These approaches use a variety of tools including storytelling, film animation, broadcasting, dramatisation and film making.
A selection of them will be showcased at the launch, including the animated film Three Wishes, which was created by Woodside School pupils in partnership with Station House Media Unit. The children worked with a professional animator on their translation of the poem Pearls tae the Grumphies, which is featured in Fit Like, Yer Majesty?
These activities will be made available in schools and communities in September, together with sessions for staff.
Hanover Street, Kittybrewster, Seaton and Riverside primary schools in Aberdeen are spearheading a marketing campaign to promote Fit Like, Yer Majesty?
This includes dramatised readings at bookstores and supermarkets; sales of books at bookstores, supermarkets and schools; designing book marks; creating, writing, designing and illustrating their own Doric books – The Chieftain o Mounthooley and Crocorattie – which will complement Fit Like, Yer Majesty?; special one hour Doric broadcasts on Reading Radio on SHMU 99.8fm on 4, 11 and 18 September from 11am to noon.
Hanover Street School is taking the lead in an enterprise involving bookcrossing.com. Together with pupils from Kittybrewster, Seaton and Riverside primary schools, they are organising a bookcrossing launch on Friday, 26 September from 2-3pm at Hanover Street School to promote the book internationally.
Partners from business and industry, local celebrities, and friends of The Reading Bus will be invited to join the youngsters for a short presentation and to collect a copy of Fit Like, Yer Majesty? to “plant” in locations around the world.
Each bookcrossing copy will have a special sticker so that the books can be tracked. Each primary school in Aberdeen will also be given a bookcrossing copy of Fit Like to “plant”.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
