Reading together · · 4 minute read
Scottish Story-Time Activities: A Family Reading Adventure
You do not need a packed suitcase to share a little adventure. A picture book, a comfortable corner and a few playful ideas can turn an ordinary afternoon into a family journey to Scotland.
In Poopie Doo and the Great Scottish Adventure, Poopie travels with Great-Great-Uncle Bebo and Oaty MaBoaty. Their adventures include meeting Highland cows, trying haggis and learning Highland dancing. The book offers a starting point for talking about curiosity, family and trying something unfamiliar.
The activities below are extra ideas for home, not instructions from the book. Pick one that suits your child, and leave the rest for another day. Listening, pointing and making up a silly answer all count as joining in.
1. Pack an imaginary adventure bag
Before opening the book, ask: “If we could step into this cover, what would we take?” Invite everyone to choose one useful thing and one wonderfully silly thing. A raincoat and a pocket-sized dragon? A snack and a singing pillow?
Younger children can point to things around the room. Older children might explain their choices. Then look at the cover together: is there anything in the picture that makes you change what you would pack?
2. Make a tiny map of your reading journey
If you have a map, find Scotland together before you read. Keep this a moment of discovery, not a geography test. Without a map, draw a pretend route from your sofa to the story, adding a starting dot and an arrival star.
As you read, let your child add one picture to the route: an animal, a place or something a character tries. Explain that your drawing is a story map, not a real travel route. It only needs to make sense to your family.
3. Become picture detectives
Choose one illustration and take a quiet look before discussing it. Ask, “What caught your eye first?” You might notice different details, which is part of the fun. Follow with “What makes you think that?” if your child wants to explain.
Try noticing a colour, an expression or a small background detail. Avoid racing to spot everything. One interesting conversation is enough. For more prompts to use with any book, visit our six gentle story-time questions.
4. Talk about trying something new
Poopie’s unfamiliar experiences can open a conversation about your own. Ask, “Can you remember something you were unsure about at first?” Offer a small example yourself, such as joining a new group or learning a game.
If food comes up, keep the conversation pressure-free: being curious does not have to mean taking a bite. A child might ask what a food is called or listen to someone describe it. Different families enjoy different things, and it is fine to say, “I’m not ready yet.”
5. Make a one-page adventure scrapbook
Fold your paper into three sections headed “I noticed”, “I wondered” and “I would try”. Let your child draw in each section, dictate a sentence to you or fill just one space. A younger sibling could choose a crayon colour or add their own marks.
Keep unanswered questions too. “I wonder what that animal eats” is a lovely reason to look for another book together. You do not have to know every answer during story time.
Bring the adventure back to your family
Finish by choosing one small shared adventure for another day: reading in a new cosy spot, making an imaginary travel ticket or asking a relative about a memorable journey. Let your child decide whether to keep the scrapbook or read a favourite page again.
Scotland is the setting, but your time together is the heart of this activity. There is no perfect performance to give and no worksheet to get right—just a story, a few discoveries and someone to share them with.
Explore Poopie Doo’s Scottish Adventure →