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B is for Bagpipes: A Scotland Alphabet will appeal to kids who want to know more about Scotland whether it's due to their having read a story, watched a TV show or seen a children's movie like Brave that is set in Scotland or because they want to know more about their own Scottish heritage. It will also appeal to curious 8-12 year olds who simply enjoy reading about other countries. I also recommend the book as a read aloud for children 6 and older.

Because the 40-page book is filled with illustrations and contains both brief and longer sections of text for each letter, it's the kind of book kids may prefer to dip into again and again, each time selecting a different letter or two to read about, rather than reading it straight through.

The Picture Book Format and Contents

B is for Bagpipes: A Scotland Alphabet follows the same format as other books in the nonfiction Discover the World series published by Sleeping Bear Press. Every letter in the alphabet is introduced in an illustrated single or double-page spread. For each letter, the object or activity that begins with that letter is introduced with a brief rhyme.
Several paragraphs of detailed information are also provided. Younger children will enjoy the rhymes and the illustrations when you read the book to them. Independent readers ages 8-12 will likely want to read all of the information on the pages with subjects that interest them.

The book begins with a full page map of Scotland and a spot illustration of a map showing all of the continents with an arrow pointing to Scotland.

The selection of topics by the author, Eve Begley Kiehm, and the detail-filled watercolors by Alexa Rutherford will appeal to middle grade readers. The topics covered include the history, arts and culture, food and recreation of Scotland. The alphabet book begins with "A's for Auld Lang Syne" and goes on to cover a myriad of subjects, including bagpipes, haggis, kilts, the Loch Ness Monster; Mary, Queen of Scots; Robert Burns; United Kingdom and Yule.

The Author and Illustrator

Eve Begley Kiehm, the author of B is for Bagpipes, has written several books about Scotland. While she presently lives in the United States, Kiehmwas was born in Scotland, has a master’s in Scottish History and Literature from Glasgow University and enjoys regular visits to Scotland.
The book’s illustrator, Alexa Rutherford, received her art education from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, Scotland and lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. Rutherford provided the cover art for more than 30 books in the Kelpie series published by Cannongate and has illustrated books for Scottish Childrens Press and other UK and U.S. publishers. You can preview a number of the double-page spreads in B is for Bagpipes on Alexa Rutherford’s Web site.

(Source: Sleeping Bear Press, Scottish Book Trust, Alexa Rutherford’s Web site)

The Discover the World Series and Web Site

As I mentioned, B is for Bagpipes: A Scotland Alphabet is part of the Discover the World series of books published by Sleeping Bear Press. For each country featured in a book in the series, you’ll find a wealth of resources on the Discover the World Web site. A drop down menu below the introduction to the B is for Bagpipes Web page provides links to information about Scotland in a variety of categories.
These include Cultural Links, Recipes, Activities & Games, Expressions and Holidays, among others. The Cultural Links include information about everything from Loch Ness, famous for the Loch Ness Monster, to the Great Highland Bagpipes. I would have liked to see some photographs of Scotland, in B is for Bagpipes, along with Alexa Rutherford's watercolor illustrations, but I was pleased that the companion Web page provided links to many photos of Scotland.

You’ll find lots of activities your children can enjoy at home, as well as in school, in the 17-page Teacher’s Guide to B is for Bagpipes: A Scotland Alphabet that you can download as a PDF. Once they’ve read the book, your kids will want to see how much they remember by completing a Scottish Crossword and a Who’s Who in Scotland? matching activity. They can also try some Gaelic, draw a family crest, write a story about My Adventure With the Loch Ness Monster and enjoy many more Scotland-related activities.

My Recommendation

Because of the way B is for Bagpipes: A Scotland Alphabet is formatted, it can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages. I would recommend it as a read aloud for children 6 and up, as well as for independent readers 8-12. If you are planning a trip to Scotland, the book will be of interest to all ages, from 6 to adult, in your family. (Sleeping Bear Press, 2010. ISBN: 9781585364534)

More Scotland-Related Resources

Here are some Scotland resources from other About.com Guides that I think you will enjoy: Highland Games - All About Traditional Highland Games in Scotland, What You Need to Know About... The Loch Ness Monster, Scottish Shortbread Recipe and Haggis, Scotland's National Dish.
If seeing the movie Brave is what made your children interested in Scotland, they will enjoy the Brave - Movie Related Crafts, Activities and More suggested by Carey Bryson, the About.com Guide to Kids Movies & TV. If your kids enjoy doing the will-o'-the-wisp science experiment she suggests, encourage them to try some of the science experiments in the children's book 101 Great Science Experiments.