Glasgow children’s writer wins award for cheeky picture book ‘This Is A Dog’.

Glasgow author and illustrator Ross Collins won a significant award voted for by his favourite fans- the children who read his books.

“My first event in a year will be on World Book Day, at my son’s school, to celebrate winning the Bookbug Prize,” he smiles. “That’s a wee ray of sunshine.”

According to the Glasgow Times, one of the 62,000 Scottish pupils to receive This is a Dog in their Bookbug Award Family Bag will be Collins’ own son.

Collins explained how important it was to win an award voted for by his young readers: “It’s always a very special one to win because it’s decided by the children who are reading the books, which is lovely.”

“To get books into children’s lives, especially this year when they have been stuck at home and everything has been so difficult, is a real achievement. Books have provided a great way to entertain, educate and comfort children this last year, and a welcome break from screens. This is an amazing initiative.”

This is a Dog is a cheeky play on those repetitive early years picture books full of simple language and animal illustrations. As the book progresses a dog begins to sabotage each page, forcing himself into each page and making sure the spotlight is on him.

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“Until you are a parent, you never have to read books like these,” Collins explains. “They are excellent books, of course, kids enjoy them and they are educational and a real rite of passage.”

“But reading them again and again as an adult can feel like your brain is bleeding out of your ear, and it was while I was reading one of them to Ridley for the millionth time that I thought – I wonder if anyone has ever mucked about with this?”

Parents will find Collins’ book to be a breath of fresh air in among some of the more repetitive picture books, and the cute photobombing dog is bound to bring laughs to bedtime story time. Check out the video below to see a reading of the award-winning book.

Collins had to accept his award from the children over video call on World Book Day due to COVID-19 restrictions, but looks forward to getting back into schools, reading to the children and making them laugh.

Viccy Adams, Literature Officer, Creative Scotland said: “Given the uncertainty and turbulence of the past year, it is more important than ever to lift up the voices of children and their families and to celebrate the joys and benefits of reading for pleasure. Congratulations to Ross.”