Harris pupils create character names for new children’s book

Pupils at Sir E Scott primary school have played a key role in the creation of a new children’s book. They worked with author Louisa MacDougall to invent the names of some of the story’s main characters.

Rory and the balloon bicycles with dedication (photo by Louisa MacDougall).

Rory and the Balloon Bicycles is the tale of a young dragon bicycle mechanic and his adventurous princess friend, who battle to save their kingdoms from plastic pollution. 

The story was imagined by local author Louisa MacDougall, and the names of key new characters were devised by pupils, including the main villain, Evil Lyn, who was suggested by 8-year-old Evelyn Christopher.

“I visited the school last year to talk to pupils about my first book, Rory and the Snack Dragons,” said Louisa. “I had just started working on the second book in the series at the time, and I knew I needed a good idea for a baddie. The children helped me to brainstorm names and characteristics, and they had some fantastic suggestions that were just what I was looking for.”

The title page of the book includes a thank you to the pupils for their contribution.

Louisa visited the school again this June to share a reading from the new book and to give pupils their copies. Evelyn even met the character that she had helped to create, who is described as “a figure in tangerine overalls with a cactus spike hairstyle and a cactussy mood”.

Rory and the Balloon Bicycles is available from bookshops and to borrow from Western Isles Libraries.