Matthew Fitt – författare

"Wee pig, wee pig," said the wolf. "Can I come ben?""Whit? And let in a wolf that I dinna ken?I''m in my hoose and I''m no feared.By the hair on my broostlie beardAway ye go, ye big hairy cloon.""Then I will hech and I''ll pech and I will blaw your hoose doon."Here are six of the world''s best-loved folk and fairy tales, retold in lively modern Scots by Matthew Fitt and James Robertson. Familiar stories like Cinderella and Rumpelstiltskin are given a fresh look and sound in these new versions, which are ideal for bedtime, nursery and classroom reading. Great entertainment for children and grown-ups alike.Includes: Cinderella, Wee Reid Ridin Hood, The Three Wee Pigs, Snaw White, The Billy Goats Gruff and Rumpelstiltskin.

Welcome to the wonderful fairytale world of Hans Christian Andersen . . . retold for today's children in Scots for the very first time. This classic collection brings together nine favourite stories, from the fun and humour of the proud Emperor with his splendid new clothes, to the gentle sadness of the Little Mermaid. With a colourful cast of witches, princesses, toys and animals, this rich and varied collection is guaranteed to delight and entertain readers young and old. Emma Chichester Clark's glorious illustrations bring the tales vividly to life, making this book a joy to share and a gift to treasure.NINE CLASSIC FAIRY TALES TELLT IN SCOTS FOR THE FIRST TIME:The Princess and the PeaTRANSLATIT BY ELAINE C. SMITHThe Ugly Deukie (The Ugly Duckling)TRANSLATIT BY SHANE STRACHANThe Tindel-Box (The Tinderbox)TRANSLATIT BY THOMAS CLARKThe Wee Match Lassie (The Littttle Match Girl)TRANSLATIT BY JAMES ROBERTSONThe High Heid Yin's New Claes (The Emperor's New Clothes)TRANSLATIT BY VAL McDERMIDThe Tin Sodger (The Tin Soldier)TRANSLATIT BY MATTHEW FITTThe Princess and the Grumpumphieman (The Swineherd)TRANSLATIT BY SUSI BRIGGSThe Nichtingale (The Nightingale)TRANSLATIT BY ASHLEY DOUGLASThe Wee Sea Quine (The Little Mermaid)TRANSLATIT BY SHEENA BLACKHALL

King o the Midden is back, and mankier than ever, with his cast of grimy guests, like Sergeant Snoddy (fae Kirkcaldy), exploding fairies and a hungry hairy mammoth. Brewing belly laughs for kids and adults alike, this collection of ridiculous rhymes is not for the faint-humoured. Marking the 20th anniversary of Itchy Coo, and devilishly doodled by Bob Dewar, this collection of musings from mischievous Scots writers covers everything from aliens to sport, family life to superheroes and how it feels to be a fish 'Swimmin in batter'.

Katie's Coo is a collection of eight of Scotland's best loved rhymes and songs. Little ones can sing or chant along with their parents, aunties, uncles, sisters, brothers and grandparents to 'Wee Willie Winky', 'Ally Bally Bee' and more, whilst enjoying the bright colours and friendly farm animals along the way.Illustrated by award winning artist Karen Sutherland and developed alongside the Scottish Book Trust and Craigmillar Books for Babies, it's a fantastic introduction to Scots language, humour and rhythm.

'Fair fa yer honest sonsie faceGreat chieftain o the pudding race'Marking the 20th anniversary of Itchy Coo, this beautifully illustrated collection of Scotland's best loved poetry is back in the form of the extremely popular lift-the-flap book, to inspire even the youngest budding poet in a simple, entertaining and colourful way. Kids will delight in the hidden surprises within the pages, lifting the flaps to reveal where the moose is hiding and what the haggis has on its head, while singing along with parents and teachers to favourite Scottish tunes such as 'Red Red Rose' with Rabbie travelling alongside them through the story, ending up in a marvellous Burns Supper rendition of 'Auld Lang Syne'.

Zeus, high-held-yin o the gods and held-bummer o the universe, had a son and he cawed this son Hercules...So begins Matthew Fitt's exciting, hilarious and boisterous retelling of the ancient myth of Hercules and his twelve labours. When the mighty Hercules commits a terrible murder, his father, Zeus, punishes him by making him the slave of his step-brother Eurystheus. To win his freedom back, Hercules must perform twelve seemingly impossible tasks or trauchles. Hercules has to use all his strength and cunning to defeat terrible creatures, like the Lion of Nemea and the Bull of Crete, but not even he believes he can journey to Hades, the underworld, and come back alive with the fearsome fufty-heidit dug Cerberus. Matthew Fitt's rich but familiar Scots will delight young readers and draw them into the ancient world of gods, monsters and mortal combat. Vividly enhanced by Bob Dewar's energy-packed illustrations, Hercules is a perfect way to encourage children to read a sustained piece of Scots prose and also to introduce them to one of the greatest stories of all time.

This packed anthology contains a vast selection of literature in Scots. From the Renaissance makars to contemporary authors, together with work in translation from a number of different languages, it gathers into one volume writers as diverse as Robert Henryson, William Dunbar, Robert Fergusson, Robert Burns, Jean Elliot, Walter Scott, Hugh MacDiarmid, Liz Lochead, Charles Baudelaire and Feodor Dostoevsky, as well as some of the finest anonymous ballads and songs ever composed. Arranged thematically into topics such as love, home, death, jealousy, pride, ambition, freedom, work and play, it gives teachers and students immense scope both for comparative analysis and exploration of the main concerns of individual authors. It is, therefore, not only a major contribution to the study of Scots literature but a fascinating and enjoyable tour through some of the greatest writing Scotland has ever produced. Ideal for both students at upper secondary level and beyond, as well as anyone wishing to indulge in the best in Scottish literature.

What is odd about the phrase Scots wha hae? Why do you say you've got the cold in Scots? Is there a difference between ane and yin? Do you say youse to one person or two?These are just some of the questions about Scots that are answered in the Grammar Broonie, the Scottish National Dictionary Association's guide to Scots grammar. This new, expanded edition of the Grammar Broonie includes a special section of classroom exercises by well-known Scots writer and teacher, Matthew Fitt. Intended mainly for use at upper primary and lower secondary level, the Grammar Broonie aims to show that Scots has a distinctive grammar in addition to its rich vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation. The text throughout is written in colloquial Scots. This new edition of the Grammar Broonie:*identifies characteristics of Scots grammar*Explains how Scots differs from English grammar*Includes a table of Scots irregular verbs*Discusses regional variations in spelling and grammar*Draws examples from everyday Scots usage*Uses graphics to highligh important grammar points*Includes grammar exercises for use in the classroom

With strong characters and a gripping plot, the well-defined settings create an atmosphere of paranoia and danger. The exciting denouement has a surprising twist and is set on Schiehallion. The introduction includes a section on how to read the Scots in this book, Matthew has made the spelling as straightforward as possible for a population used to English spelling conventions.