Katie Morag and the Riddles; Katie Morag's Rainy Day Book

It is nearly 20 years since the first 'Katie Morag' book was published and in that time this frisky young Scot and her attendant cast of characters have won many devotees. Set on the island of Struay, based on Hedderwick's own Hebridean home, part of the charm of these books is the seemingly unchanging nature of island life. But time does not stand still in Struay. Comparing the panoramic views of the village and coastline in Katie Morag Delivers the Mail (1984) and the same landscape on the endpapers of this latest offering it is apparent that change occurs, even in this seemingly most timeless of locations. A bistro has been built on to the post office, there is a tea room, a craft shop and a new pier. However, sheep and hens still seem to safely wander the street and the closing endpapers depicting the familiar night time view of the village do not indicate that the bistro or other developments are causing any unruly behaviour in the village.

Here, in a fit of exasperation at an outbreak of squabbling, the Teacher sets his pupils four riddles to solve, and predictably enough the effort of solving them helps to calm the tension. As in the previous 'Katie Morag' books it is not the plot that really counts, but the characterisation and the depiction of a community of individuals with which Katie Morag and her friends interact.

It is interesting to note that newer printing techniques have brightened the colours, giving more effect to the detailing and visual asides at which Hedderwick excels.

The Rainy Day book contains a variety of puzzles and other activities, all featuring Katie and her friends. Indeed, one is to 'spot the difference' in the village past and present. It may be that some of the activities are too advanced for the average readership of the stories and will require help from older readers, who will, however, have a good reason to revisit and recapture the magic of the island of Struay.