Morag the Magpie

A few pages from a speculative, self authored Picture Book, Titled ‘Morag the Magpie’ This story is aimed at children aged between 4 and 7 years old. It explores themes of difference in families and a sense of belonging. The main character is Morag, a magpie girl. She is not quite a magpie and not quite a girl, but the best of both. When her parents pass away, she is taken in by a family of rabbits. While she is happy living with the rabbits, she soon begins to notice that she is different. Her rabbit brothers and sister enjoy living underground, but she finds it too dark. They love carrots, but she does not! As the story progresses more differences become apparent, and Morag decides to learn how to become a real magpie.

 Borrowing a book about Magpies, from Grandma rabbit, Morag uses this guide to learn about her heritage. She tries to eat a worm, build a nest and sleep in a tree, as after all this is what real magpies do. However, she finds she can’t quite eat the worm and so befriends it instead. Missing her family Morag realises that although she is different, she still belongs with the rabbits after all.

I am hoping to develop this concept into a finished picture book that encourages conversations about heritage and differences in Families. (Please contact me if you would like a copy of the manuscript and dummy book)