Kids, Kelly Apter

Julia Donaldson, James Robertson (trans) - The Gruffalo in Scots

James Robertson's translation breathes fresh life into Julia Donaldson's story

Can there be a children’s bookshelf in the land that doesn’t hold a copy of The Gruffalo? Julia Donaldson’s picture book has been a perennial hit with pre-schoolers since it was first published in 1999, with new toddlers discovering it all the…

The Henderson’s 50/50 Food Festival puts an emphasis on family-friendly good food

The vegetarian restaurant celebrates good, healthy eating in this 50-day food extravaganza

Information on healthy living comes at us from all quarters today, but when these two cuties were growing up there was only one person they needed to look to for advice – their mum. For Oliver and Catherine Henderson, having food pioneer Janet…

Programme highlights at the Edinburgh International Science Festival 2013

The 2013 fest isn't just for kids, although slime creation and balloon modelling do feature

Not to be outdone by its ever-expanding August cousin, the Fringe, the Edinburgh International Science Festival is growing bigger each year. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the City Art Centre, where 100 drop-in workshops will be taking place each…

CBeebies Live! Interview: Katrina Bryan, aka Nina of Nina and the Neurons

The Scottish actress will be appearing as part of Justin & Friends with Justin Fletcher

If they were handing out titles in CBeebies land, it’s a fairly safe bet that Justin Fletcher would be crowned king. Appointed an MBE for his services to children’s broadcasting in 2008, Fletcher is currently playing stadiums across the UK in the first…

Dreamworks' Madagascar film reborn as kid-friendly stage show

A musical version, Madagascar Live!, is coming to the SECC in March

A dancing lion, scheming penguins, a love-struck giraffe and a maniacal king lemur – there’s a lot going on in DreamWorks’ 2005 film, Madagascar. What you won’t find much of, however, is songs. But when a new stage version was being devised, a…

Gemma Elwin Harris (ed) - Big Questions from Little People

A fun, factual compilation where kids' questions are answered by experts such as David Attenborough

As anyone who has ever read an academic textbook knows, finding the simplest, most straightforward explanation isn’t always at the top of the writer’s agenda. Yet who amongst us doesn’t appreciate an easily digestible answer to a complicated…

Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales

Julia Donaldson over-kill

Scamp Theatre’s 2011 adaptation of Stick Man was a skilful blend of lively storytelling, great songs and playful actors. They did Julia Donaldson proud. So it comes as something of a disappointment to see what they’ve done with Tiddler. As you would…

The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish

The theatre production, adapted from Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean's book, is performed with gusto

Sitting in a dark room and keeping quiet for an hour isn’t for everyone – especially if you’re under ten. Promenade theatre solves that problem, with movement actively encouraged and the odd noise generally tolerated. So on that front, The Day I…

Scottish National Portrait Gallery offers kids a chance to Sleepover Under the Stars

Storytelling, snacks and songs part of the gallery's special overnight event

Standing in The Great Hall at the entrance to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, you’re surrounded by, well, greatness. Busts and statues of important figures loom over you, while above your head, tiny stars cover the ceiling, reminding us of the…

Prom on the Prom promises a fun, family-friendly fiddling frenzy

The public musical performance encourages kids to pick up an instrument

Despite the name of their organisation, the founders of Fun Fiddle are well aware that learning a musical instrument doesn’t come easy. ‘We’re called Fun Fiddle, but let’s face it, it’s not always fun,’ says Gica Loening of the Portobello-based group…

Imaginate 2013 puts an emphasis on storytelling through movement

Dance and physical theatre forms a large part of this year's kids' theatre festival

When you’re programming an international festival, language is always going to be important. Will the audience understand the words and dialect? Does it matter? But this year, it’s body language rather than foreign language that’s pre-occupying…

Benjamin Britten to be the focus of the next Children's Classic Concert

Owen and Olly are reworking the British composer's Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra

Had he not checked out a little prematurely in 1976, Benjamin Britten would have been 100 this year. Birthday celebrations are taking place across the UK, but Children’s Classic Concerts’ Britten and Beyond is the only family event dedicated to one of…

A Little Book of Monsters promises 'good, honest, wicked, disrespectful attitude'

The family concert will also feature excerpts from Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes

‘I thought he was the funniest man I’d ever met,’ recalls composer Stephen Deazley of the first time he was introduced to writer Matt Harvey. Deazley later found himself laughing out loud to Harvey’s poetry, attracting some odd looks in an Edinburgh…

Glasgow's museums' A Grand Day Out promises hands-on fun for kids and grandparents

The monthly event kicks off at the Kelvingrove Museum on Sat 2 Feb

For Wallace and Gromit, a grand day out meant a trip to the moon. Happily, the events team at Glasgow Museums have got something closer to home in mind. Starting this February, on the first Saturday of every month, they’ll be running free hands-on…

Actress Maureen Beattie discusses her part in the RSNO Christmas Concert

The kid-friendly classical performance will feature Raymond Brigg's The Snowman, narrated by Beattie

Maureen Beattie is no stranger to Christmas entertainment. Although best known for her spell in Casualty, the Scottish actress has trod many a board during the festive season, much like her father – comedian and actor, Johnny Beattie – before her. So…

Hot 100 2012: 29-20

Chvrches, Cora Bissett and Grant Morrison among Scotland's hottest cultural contributors in 2012

The Hot 100 is our list of Scotland’s 100 hottest individuals and groups who’ve made a splash this year, from comic book writers to comedians, artists to actors. If they've contributed to Scotland's cultural landscape in 2012, you'll find them here.

Kids' show Little Ulla aims to bring the festive spirit to under 5s

The show features narrative, puppetry, music and song, as well as actors who know how to have fun

With panto gags way over the head of your average five-year-old, early years Christmas shows have an important job to do. Happily, one of last year’s most successful festive offerings is back out on tour. The tale of a mountain goat who works as the…

Glasgow looks forward to 2014 with the Commonwealth Family Festival

The event will celebrate all the nations attending the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the city

It may be over a year away, but now that the Olympics are fast becoming a happy memory, it’s time for the Commonwealth Games to step into the spotlight. And in the run-up to Glasgow 2014, there’ll be no rest for that happy thistle-headed chap Clyde, as…

Oliver Cox of Owen & Olly discusses Children's Classic Concerts: Mission Impossible?

There can be few sounds more chilling than the opening bars of Jaws. Instantly recognisable no matter what context you hear them in, within seconds images of shark fins push all other thoughts aside. So it’s no surprise to find that John Williams…

Christine Devaney discusses The Adventures of Butterfly Boy

The kids' dance production is the debut project from Pucko Company

Maybe it’s because of the lack of words to explain what’s happening; or because it’s perceived as too high-brow for wee ones — whatever the reason, dance shows for children are thin on the ground. Attempting to address this lack is Pucko Company, a…

A Dream on Midsummer’s Night

Inspired kid-friendly outing for one of Shakespeare's lighter plays

Beautiful though his prose may be, understanding Shakespeare can be hard enough for adults, let alone children. With its romantic comings and goings, A Midsummer Night’s Dream may be one of the bard’s lighter plays, but there’s no denying the language…

Paperbelle

Imaginative fun for the very young

Creating a show that straddles the fine line between engaging a pre-schooler, and not scaring them, isn’t easy. Harder still to capture the imagination of the grown-up whose lap they’re sitting on or next to. Yet with this delicate, sweet and funny…

Giddy Goat

Hilltop musical fails to scale the heights

Growing up on a mountain side, the eponymous goat is too young and timid to jump off a rock, until he’s called upon to rescue a stranded sheep, and discovers his hero within. Jamie Rix’s picture book adapts well for the stage, and there’s certainly no…

Lapin Wants Ice Cream

Puppets on the beach à la Française

With a pre-schooler’s brain bearing a remarkable resemblance to a sponge, it’s the perfect time to introduce a foreign language to them. Tania Czajka knows this, and has created a cast of fun characters to deliver the message. Holidaying on the beach…

Treasure Island

Comedy on the seven seas

There’s nothing groundbreaking about this new show from Derby’s Uncontained Arts. But sometimes it’s OK to just tell it like it is, and Treasure Island has enough unusual characters and exciting plot developments for them to get away with it. Building…