The Lass and The Quine

By Ashley Douglas; Illustrated by Kate Osmond

In 2021, Scotland became the first country in the world to embed LGBT+ inclusive education across the curriculum, following the campaigning efforts of Jordan Daly and Liam Stevenson, co-founders of the TIE campaign. TIE is now a charity which delivers LGBT+ inclusive education on the ground. The Lass & The Quine started life as a poem commissioned by TIE as part of a learning pack of eight original LGBT+ inclusive poems in Scots by four poets, launched in 2023. The poems and learning resources can be found on the TIE website.

The Lass & The Quine is the first original LGBT+ inclusive children’s book published in the Scots language. An illustrated storybook for children of primary school age based on the poem ‘The Lass and The Quine’ by Ashley Douglas. It is a new Scots fairy tale that challenges those you know in a clever and enjoyable way. The story concerns ‘a lass and a quine whae are awfie different in ivery wey, but whae faw heid ower heels in luve – meetin a wheen animals o the forest alang the wey!’ It has a timeless feel, but what makes it so special is that the love story is one between a girl and a princess, not a girl and a prince.

Reviews of The Lass and The Quine

‘An absolutely smashin story frae an absolutely stoatin scriever’ – Thomas Clark, award-winning children's author, Peppa's Bonnie Unicorn and Diary o a Wimpy Wean
‘Stories are how we make sense of the world and of ourselves, but for too long, some folk's stories have been left untold. This gallus wee fairytale is set to change that and in doing so, is sure to become a classic.’ – Amina Shah, National Librarian of Scotland
‘Scots speakers have waited too long for this kind of representation, and this book is bound to excite and empower new generations. A delightful wee tale that will charm Scots lovers of all ages, The Lass and The Quine subverts our expectations in the most gentle and rewarding ways.’ – Mae Diansangu, Doric poet
‘Bairn or adult, this affa rare tale, alang wi the bonniest o illustrations, will mak yer haert sing!' – Shane Strachan, writer and former Scots Scriever