We are absolutely delighted that Scottish Author Janis Mackay has recently become Sciennes’ Patron of Reading.
What is a Patron of Reading?
Ms Bethan Owen’s P5 pupils were so utterly spellbound by the story and characters in Janis’ award winning book “The Accidental Time Traveller” that she arranged a visit to the National Library of Scotland. There they had fantastic support from NLS staff to examine the diaries and letters of a little girl called Marjorie Fleming, who lived in Fife and Edinburgh around 1820, and on whom one of the central characters in the book is based. Following discussion about the Patron of Reading Scheme with Liz Gray (City of Edinburgh Senior QIO for Literacy and Languages) and given the truly inspiring NLS experience and the fact that Janis is a local author, Ms Owen decided to contact Janis directly to ask her to consider becoming our Patron of Reading. We are all thrilled that she has agreed to link with us and has responded so enthusiastically. We look forward to welcoming Janis to P5A next week and to speak at both P1-3 and P4-7 Assemblies on Friday about her books “The Wee Seal“, “The Selkie Girl” and “The Reluctant Time Traveller.“
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Janis Mackay (2nd from left) receiving Scottish Children’s Book Award in 2013 |