Introducing Mr. B.: The Friends Collection

Introducing Mr. B. -- The Friends Collection This is the second of three books, which are assembled short stories for children inspired by Robert Burns poems. The books are organized to suit different reading capabilities and this second book is for intermediate readers. There are four short stories; The Environment Club, -- Is it really global warming? The school club plans to save a river and its fish. No Kidding - Andrew's granddad takes on Google in providing some advice. The Horse Thief -- At the cinema Hamish and Lorna laugh at a commercial message. Working people -- Fiona gets help with her homework when she calls Allan on Skype. These stories are informative, fun, use uncomplicated dialogue and require no knowledge of the Burns poems that inspired them. This is the main part of the book. At the back of the book we have included the original Burns poems. To ease the reading and understanding of some old Scots words we have put a line by line interpretation of the meaning. While we recognize this will be a challenge to young readers we hope it will be a shared experience with a more mature member of the family. By exploring the poems in this way will potentially awaken an appreciation of Burns work and lead to a desire to find more. At least more in the other two books of this series.

I was born in Perth in Scotland and schooled in Glasgow. At the age of twenty three I emigrated to Canada, where I have spent my adult life raising a family and working. But absence does make the heart grow fonder. Throughout the years I have organized Burns suppers for the Rotary Club, attended Burns suppers at the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and participated in Burns suppers at friends homes. Perhaps Burns is in my genes as my grandfather was the president of the Glasgow Bridgeton Burns Club 1934/35.