Product guide

Coorie Doon: A Scottish Lullaby Story by Jackie Kay

Coorie Doon: A Scottish Lullaby Story by Jackie Kay is a picture book about bedtime songs, family rituals and the way childhood memories carry into later life. It follows Shona from being a child sung to by her parents to caring for her father as an older adult, with illustrations by Jill Calder.

At a glance

A bedtime story built around familiar folk songs and old Scots language.
Follows Shona from childhood bedtime routines to caring for her father years later.
Illustrated by Jill Calder.
The listing says a QR code links to a video from Jackie Kay and free song recordings by Peggy Seeger, Claire Brown and Suzanne Bonnar.

Price

£5.05Save 37%

Reference price: ~~£7.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Connects lullabies and bedtime routines with an intergenerational story rather than a single-night settling narrative.
Includes Scots language and named folk songs, offering a distinct Scottish cultural focus.
A QR-linked video and song recordings are described as accompanying the book.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Walker Books
Publication date	1 Jan. 2026
Language	English
Print length	40 pages
Reading age	3 - 7 years
ISBN-10	1529532213
ISBN-13	978-1529532210

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions	19.6 x 0.6 x 27.6 cm
Weight listed	194 g

What to know before buying

The listed reading age is 3 - 7 years. The story also moves forward to Shona at age sixty, so its generational theme may suit shared reading beyond that stated age range.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Families looking for a bedtime picture book centred on lullabies, familiar songs and family rituals.
Readers interested in Scots language and Scottish folk-song references.
Adults choosing a story for shared reading across generations.

Less suited to

Buyers seeking a story confined to a young child's present-day experiences rather than one that spans generations.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.2 / 5 · 26 ratings

5 stars63%63%
4 stars10%10%
3 stars17%17%
2 stars5%5%
1 star5%5%

Aggregate ratings lean positive, with five-star ratings the largest category, but the distribution also includes three-star and lower ratings. Without written feedback, these figures do not show what readers liked or disliked. They cannot establish whether the lullaby, Scots-language or intergenerational elements worked well for particular readers.

Frequently asked questions

What is Coorie Doon about?

It follows Shona through childhood bedtime songs and, years later, as she sings to her elderly father. Its themes include family rituals and memories.

Which songs are mentioned in the listing?

The description names Tiree Love Song, Goodnight, Irene and Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go?

Does the book include audio or video?

The listing describes a QR code linking to a video from Jackie Kay and free audio recordings of songs from the book.

What age is the book listed for?

The stated reading age is 3 - 7 years.