Celebrating World Read Aloud Day With The Pictou Bee Press

The 16^th annual World Read Aloud Day is Wednesday, February 4^th. It is a day that highlights the importance of sharing stories and reading them aloud. The Pictou Bee Press, in Pictou, Nova Scotia, recently published four children’s picture books, and in honour of World Read Aloud Day, I am reviewing them. Established in 2022, The Pictou Bee Press’ mission “is to publish quality books celebrating the remarkable history and culture of northeastern Nova Scotia for readers of all ages.”

Hanging Out with the Haggis by Laurie Stanley-Blackwell and Illustrated by Teresa MacKenzie

In the spring, the rare Nova Scotian haggis or haggi, comes out of hibernation. If you can find one, they are often seen without shoes, wearing kilts, and tartan caps. They can be found in Pictou and Antigonish Counties, as well as Cape Breton. They are plump in the summer, furry in the fall and often assemble in clans. But these wild animals are incredibly hard to find.

The illustrations in Hanging Out with the Haggis are so full of life and beautifully convey the fun nature and good humour of the text. Written in verse, with some Gaelic sprinkled in, it is a story that celebrates all the Scottish traditions brought to Nova Scotia and passed down. Hanging Out with the Haggis will likely encourage many questions and discussions about this imaginary creature named after a famous Scottish dish.

Included in the back of this fun and adorable book is some useful advice for Haggis Hunters, such as bringing binoculars and a magnifying glass to help search for clues. There is space for field notes for haggis sightings, with the date, time, location and a place for comments. It also includes a place to draw a picture of what your haggis looks like.

*Bonus: on the back of the book is a QR Code to listen to the book on Audio.

**Wouldn’t it be fun if The Pictou Bee Press came out with a haggis stuffed toy that matched the illustrations? Child care professionals could hide one or two in their classrooms or outdoors, read the story, including the advice for Haggis Hunters. Then everyone could go on a Haggis Hunt. I am sure kids who have read this story would also like their very own Haggis.

Dr. Laurie Stanley-Blackwell is a retired history professor whose research interests include the history of Maritime Canada. She has written several children’s books, including Big Rory of Market Square, Big Rory Returns to Market Square, The Pets that Came to Palmerston Street /Na Peataichean a thàinig gu Sràid Phalmerston, A Pictou Christmas, Hanging out with the Haggis, and My Best Friend Forever.

Since her childhood when she read by flashlight, Laurie has been an avid reader. She fondly remembers being read to as a child and later sharing this treasured experience as a parent with her daughter. With its whimsical images and playful storyline, this book is designed to delight and engage the pre-reader and young reader in both English and Gaelic.

Teresa MacKenzie is curator of the McCulloch House Museum & Genealogy Centre in Pictou, Nova Scotia. She is the author and illustrator of Pictou town (The Pictou Bee Press, 2023), and the illustrator of The Pets That Came to Palmerston Street / Na Peataichean a thàinig gu Sràid Phalmerston (The Pictou Bee Press, 2023) and A Pictou Christmas (The Pictou Bee Press, 2023). Her illustrations are full of joy and life, and reflect her ability to bring a child’s perspective of wonder to her world view. Teresa recently created for Pictou’s new public library an impressive 8-foot mural of the buildings, both old and new, on Water and Front Streets in the downtown.

Publisher: The Pictou Bee Press (Revised edition, October 2025)
Softcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-920297-10-0

The Crow That Wouldn’t Go written and illustrated by Matea Drljepan

The Crow That Wouldn’t Go is a delightful picture book about a crow that would rather stay home and explore his own community than travel, but he does admit that he is a bit lonely and would like more crows to stick around. His crow friends try to convince him to travel and see the world, but in return, he tells them of all the great reasons to stay at home, of all the fun things to do and see in Antigonish. Will his reasons be compelling enough to convince his friends to give Antigonish a chance and stay?

The Crow That Wouldn’t Go is Matea’s first children’s book. She not only wrote it, but she also created all the wonderful illustrations. It is an unapologetic tribute to Antigonish, the community in which she lives. This picture book also pays homage to crows. In the back of this book are some amazing facts, legends, and folklore about these complex creatures.

A notable feature about the illustrations is that a crow can be found on each of the pages. This feature can not only draw kids’ attention to the story, but can also create some interesting conversation.

Dr. Matea Drljepan has three children and enjoys turning her hand to all things artistic. She was born in Bosnia and came to the Niagara region in Canada in 1997. As a child, she took oil painting classes and excelled at drawing. While attracted to art, her interest in the natural world led her to a PhD in geology from the University of Western Ontario. Matea and her partner James moved to Nova Scotia in 2018 and were instantly impressed by the pervasive sense of community. She found work at St. Francis Xavier University assisting faculty with their technology needs. Since moving to Nova Scotia, Matea has honed her writing skills, publishing her first short story, “The Ham Thief” in The Antigonish Review in 2023. The Crow That Wouldn’t Go is her first children’s book.

Publisher: The Pictou Bee Press (June 2025)
Softcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-920297-07-0

My Best Friend Forever by Laurie Stanley-Blackwell and illustrated by Sophia Lawrence

This book is “Dedicated to childhood best friends, real and imaginary.” On that first page, a space is provided to draw a picture of yourself and your best friend.

My Best Friend Forever is a charming picture book that honours the many facets of friendship. Written in verse, My Best Friend Forever captures childhood in all its forms so that each child who reads it will see something of themselves in it. It cherishes and shouts out to all types of friendships. My Best Friend Forever explores the joys, sorrows, and magic of childhood.

At over 1,000 words, My Best Friend Forever is a significantly longer picture book that is geared toward more mature preschoolers and young learners. The art on the pages captures the attention of the reader and visually assists in the telling of the story.

Sophia Lawrence is a Nova Scotian queer artist, writer, and youth-educator. A Fine Arts graduate from Mount Allison University, she works in such media as painting, video, puppetry, and drawing. The Pictou Bee Press is pleased to introduce Sophia’s creative talents to its readers. Her work is light-hearted and playful. This is the first children’s book that Sophia has illustrated and we are sure that it is the first of many.

Publisher: The Pictou Bee Press (October 2025)
Softcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-920297-09-4

Meeting The New Neighbours/ A’ cur fàilt’ air na Nabaidhean by Laurie Stanley-Blackwell, illustrated by Karen Megronigle and translated into Gaelic by Effie Rankin.

Meeting The New Neighbours/ A’ cur fàilt’ air na Nabaidhean features dual-language text on each of its pages. Gaelic on the top and English on the bottom, separated by the animal or critter that is investigating what type of animal just moved into the barn.

This book is all about perspectives. Each of the curious critters that go in or near the barn to investigate the newcomers reports back on what they either saw, felt, or heard. Each of them is partially right and partially wrong. Then the wise owl asks if anyone actually talked to the newcomers to find out who they are.

This amusing, adjective-rich picture book is both fun and playful. By providing a translation on each page, it may encourage an interest in learning a second language. There is also a link via a QR code to a recording of Effie Rankin doing a reading of A’ cur fàilt’ air na Nabaidhean in Gaelic.

The dedication states, “This book is for you and for all who share in the joy of bedtime stories.”

Karen Megronigle lives in Cape George, Nova Scotia, with her husband, Stephen, two donkeys, two dogs, and one cat. As a gifted artist, she delights in her natural surroundings. Karen operates the Garden Studio where she sells her creations, which range from artwork to jewellery in many different media. This is her third children’s book, the previous two being Big Rory of Market Square and Big Rory Returns to Market Square.

Effie Rankin was born in North Uist in the Western Isles of Scotland and is a native Gaelic speaker. She holds an MA in Celtic Studies from the University of Glasgow and an Education Diploma from Jordanhill College. Effie immigrated to Nova Scotia in 1972 to help initiate a Gaelic program in several schools in Inverness County, Cape Breton. She has taught Gaelic at many levels elsewhere in Canada, including St. Francis Xavier University, and in the United States.

Effie is the compiler and translator of As A’ Bhràighe | Beyond the Braes: The Gaelic Songs of Allan The Ridge MacDonald, 1794-1868 (UCCB Press, 2004). She also prepared the Gaelic translations for the following two children’s books, Around the Year with the Malagawatch Mice | Feadh na Bliadhna Còmhla ri Luchain Mhalagawatch (Cape Breton University Press, 2011) and The Pets that Came to Palmerston Street /Na Peataichean a thàinig gu Sràid Phalmerston (The Pictou Bee Press, 2023).

Publisher: The Pictou Bee Press (November 2025)
Softcover | 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-920297-11-7

As the East Coast Advocate for The Miramichi Reader, discovering a small press that focuses on publishing books celebrating the unique history and culture of northeastern Nova Scotia is exciting.

As the East Coast Advocate for The Miramichi Reader, discovering a small press that focuses on publishing books celebrating the unique history and culture of northeastern Nova Scotia is exciting. Each of the above picture books is remarkable, with content not seen in many, if any, picture books. The attention given to a language actively being preserved is commendable. Gaelic is found in both Hanging Out with the Haggis and Meeting The New Neighbours/ A’ cur fàilt’ air na Nabaidhean.

Sue Slade

Sue Slade has a Bachelor of Child Study from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax. After working with children and adults with special needs, she now has her midlife dream job of working with books. Sue manages an independent, locally owned bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange, and is known for planning and executing amazing, engaging book events. Through her charismatic sharing centred around books and community, Sue has created an interactive cornerstone for authors, customers, and book lovers of all ages. Sue is an avid reader, and her reviews cross over many genres. As the East Coast Advocate for The Miramichi Reader, Sue champions Atlantic Canadian literature by featuring the diverse works and unique communities that define her home region.