Sharon Tregenza Zoo Event

The Scottish Book Trust children’s programme, in association with Edinburgh publisher Floris Books, invited children from Carrick Knowe Primary and Leslie Primary to meet Kelpies Prize winner Sharon Tregenza as well as some special guests courtesy of Daniel the animal-handler and Edinburgh Zoo.

Sharon spoke about her writing (she has written hundreds of short stories) and read to the children from her first novel Tarantula Tide. Tarantula Tide deals with the issue of illegal animal smuggling in the Shetland Isles.

If you would like to find out more about Sharon and her writing you can visit her website or you can check out the Tarantula Tide website.

Chris Newton interviewed Sharon about Tarantula Tide on the day of the event, you can listen to the interview here.  

Pupil Comments

I really enjoyed my time at Edinburgh Zoo. It was very good meeting author Sharron Trageza the writer of a brilliant book. We are reading Tarantula Tide in class and she read from where we left off. This was her first inspiring book so maybe the second one she's writing will be like that. The reason she wrote this book was because of illegal smuggling of animals and making horrible thing with their skin. It's a pretty horrible reason but I'm glad some reasons came up. It I became a writer I would write sci-fi stores about aliens and robots. I really love writing stories. Thank you for letting us come to the zoo and see amazing creatures especially the cockroaches. P.S. hope next book goes well.

Fraser, 10, Leslie Primary School

I think the event was spectacular, fantastic, terrific and amazing. I liked the talk about the animals and thoroughly enjoyed holding and petting the animals. I also learnt a lot more about the illegal smuggling. I also found out that being an author is one of the best jobs! Ps I think your book is fantastic. I think Tarantula Tide is an amazing book. its is very interesting. I'm trying to write a book myself and I hope it is as good as Tarantula Tide is.

Sara, 10, Leslie Primary School