Reading Schools Ambassadors
Meet our current and previous Reading Schools Ambassadors
Since its launch, the Reading Schools programme has had the privilege of enjoying the support of fantastic author ambassadors, who help us to promote reading for pleasure, celebrate school successes and develop excellent resources.
Over the years, a number of authors have supported the Reading Schools programme, connecting with our fantastic schools and hearing directly from learners across Scotland and all the amazing reading adventures they have been having.
As well as our current Reading Schools Ambassadors, below you’ll find information on all of the authors we have worked with, what we’ve been up to with our ambassadors and what we are planning for the future!
Nadine Aisha Jassat
Introducing our newest Reading Schools Ambassador, Nadine Aisha Jassat! The Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award winner and Carnegie nominee will be joining the Reading Schools programme in 2025, working with our secondary schools, supporting our young reading leaders and embarking on a whole host of reading adventures with us!
Nadine Aisha Jassat is an Edinburgh-based author of books and poetry for children and teenagers, including The Hidden Story of Estie Noor, The Stories Grandma Forgot and Let Me Tell You This.
Check out Nadine’s appearance on Authors Live(this will open in a new window)
Alastair Chisholm
Representing primary schools this year, we are ecstatic to announce Alastair Chisholm – the winner of the 2022 Bookbug Picture Book Prize, the 2024 InspiREAD Picture Book Award and the coveted Queen’s Knickers Award – as our new ambassador! We are delighted to welcome Alastair to Reading Schools, where he will be getting to know our fantastic accredited schools, hearing about all the amazing reading cultures popping up across Scotland and supporting schools as they embark on their Reading Schools journeys.
Alastair Chisholm is based in Edinburgh and has written a number of well-loved books for children and young adults, including Inch and Grub, One Hungry Dragon, Orion Lost and Reek.
Check out Alastair’s appearance on Authors Live(this will open in a new window)
Brian Conaghan
Brilliantly supporting our secondary schools has been the award-winning author Brian Conaghan. Over the last two years in the role of ambassador, Brian has led virtual sessions with Reading Leadership Groups, attended trophy presentation events and developed excellent resources to support Scotland’s secondary schools on their journey to accreditation. A proud supporter of library services, Brian also spoke at a number of our professional learning events, championing adult readership in schools and the importance of libraries.
Brian Conaghan is a Lanarkshire-based author of YA and middle grade fiction, with titles including Treacle Town and Cardboard Cowboys.
Check out Brian’s appearance on Authors Live(this will open in a new window), read his 'teachers as readers' guide(this will open in a new window) and explore his creative writing lessons resource(this will open in a new window)
Vivian French
Having proudly represented our primary schools is celebrated author and illustrator Vivian French MBE. Vivian has not only worked tirelessly to promote Reading Schools during her own events, she also met Reading Leadership Groups in a number of online sessions, presented Reading Schools trophies to accredited schools and illustrated gorgeous recommendation bookmarks that schools receive in their programme welcome packs.
Vivian French is an Edinburgh-based writer of over 300 picture books, fiction, non-fiction, plays and poetry collections for children and teenagers, including Oliver’s Vegetables and The Robe of Skulls.
Pamela Butchart
Blue Peter Book Award-winning author and illustrator Pamela Butchart supported Reading Schools while it was still in its pilot phase, recording some brilliant video messages to encourage participating schools and celebrate their fantastic reading achievements!
Pamela also delivered an amazing live event in Glenrothes for a cluster of soon-to-be Reading Schools.
Pamela Butchart is a Dundee-based author of much-loved picture books and novels for children, including The Spy Who Loved School Dinners and My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat.
Abi Elphinstone
To help schools celebrate their first Reading School’s accreditation, Abi recorded a very special message of congratulations, encouraging schools to keep reading for pleasure and discover the magic of books.
Abi Elphinstone is an East Lothian-based author of celebrated middle-grade adventure series’, including The Unmapped Chronicles, The Dreamsnatcher and Ember Spark.
Check out Abi’s appearance on Authors Live(this will open in a new window)
Ross MacKenzie
Blue Peter Book Award winner Ross MacKenzie was our very first ‘official’ Reading Schools Ambassador in 2023. As well as meeting Reading Leadership Groups in a collection of virtual sessions, we took Ross across Scotland’s Central Belt to visit accredited schools and to see the amazing work learners had been undertaking to promote positive readership and reading for pleasure in their schools.
Ross MacKenzie is a Renfrewshire-based author of well-loved middle-grade fiction, including The Nowhere Emporium, Evernight and The Colour of Hope.
Check out Ross’s appearance on Authors Live(this will open in a new window)