Mairi Mackinnon

Mairi Mackinnon was born in England, went to school in Scotland, studied in France and Italy and worked in Spain before finally settling down in London, where she lives with her husband, three children and several thousand books. In her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking for friends, and playing the fiddle in a dance band at parties from Portree to St Petersburg.

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Featured Books, with extracts by Mairi Mackinnon

Usborne Very First Reading 1: Pirate Pat
Mairi Mackinnon
Pirate Pat allows the very beginner reader to take part in a lively and exciting story, using short sentences and simple words made up of only the letters s a t p i n m d.  Parent or carer reads...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 10: Late Night at the Zoo
Mairi Mackinnon
Late Night at the Zoo introduces the pattern sometimes known as ‘the magic e’, where the final e changes the earlier vowel sound such as ‘late’ and ‘time’.  The objective of the 15 books in the Very First Reading series...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 11: Wild School
Mairi Mackinnon
Wild School introduces more ways to spell sounds your child has met in earlier stories.  The objective of the 15 books in the Very First Reading series is to enthuse your child through rhyme to learn and to enjoy the...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 12: Circus Under the Sea
Mairi Mackinnon
The Circus under the Sea introduces ‘soft’ pronunciation of c and g, as well as the combinations wh, ph and the final y sound.  The objective of the 15 books in the Very First Reading series is to enthuse your...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 13: The Monster Diner
Mairi Mackinnon
The Monster Diner introduces different ways of pronouncing letters or letter-combinations your child has already met in their more regular forms such as ‘a’ in apricot, ask or was, ‘i’ as in kind, ‘o’ as in open or month, ‘u’...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 15: Mr Mystery
Mairi Mackinnon
 Mr. Mystery introduces combinations such as gh as in though or pronounced f as in laugh and endings such as –sion and –tion.  It also gives children practice in reading longer three or even four syllable words.  Your child will...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 2: The Dressing Up Box
Mairi Mackinnon
This the second in Usborne’s Very First Reading series introduces the letters g o c k ck e u r.  The sentences are a little longer than in book 1 and your child reads more words overall.  The repetition of...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 3: A Bus for Miss Moss
Mairi Mackinnon
As your child begins to read longer sentences, strongly supported by the rhyme and rhythm of the story the letters h b l ll f ff ss are introduced.  At this stage your child will be reading as much of...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 4: Dog Diary
Mairi Mackinnon
Dog Diary introduces the letters j qu v w x y z zz.  Your child will now be familiar with all the letters of the alphabet in their most regularly-pronounced forms, making it possible to read over 300 everyday words. ...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 6: The Queen Makes a Scene
Mairi Mackinnon
The Queen makes a Scene introduces the letter-comibinations ai ee igh oa oo.  Again, it’s important to learn to recognise these combinations.  By this stage, your child will be reading about two-thirds of the story. The objective of the 15...
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Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 7: Stop That Cow
Mairi Mackinnon
Stop that Cow! Introduces the letter-combinations ar or u row air ear ure.  Having learned these, your child will be familiar with almost all the sounds of English in their most regular spellings, making it possible to read over 70...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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Usborne Very First Reading 9: Run Rabbit Run
Mairi Mackinnon
Run, Rabbit, Run reintroduces sounds whilst also introducing different ways to spell sounds your child has met in earlier stories such as ai ee igh oa oo among others..  The objective of the 15 books in the Very First Reading...
Featured in: 3+ readers | 5+ readers
Format: Hardback - Released: 26/03/2010
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The Lion And The Mouse
Mairi Mackinnon
First Reading: Level One. The Aesop's fable showing that you shoudn't judge your friends on their size and strength. Level One titles are designed to be the first real books a beginner reader will tackle and are designed to foster a lasting enthusiasm...
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Format: Hardback - Released: 26/09/2008
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The Leopard And The Sky God
Mairi Mackinnon
First Reading: Level Three. A traditional tale from South America re told for a young audience. Titles in this level encourage the reader to develop reading stamina, increasing to 48 pages. This will include the main story (up to 450 words) as...
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Format: Hardback - Released: 28/09/2007
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The Fox And The Stork
Mairi Mackinnon
First Reading: Level One. A terrific retelling of an Aesop Fable where sneaky tricks and playful revenge take centre stage between friends.  Titles in this level are designed to be the first real books a beginner reader will tackle and are...
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Format: Hardback - Released: 27/07/2007
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The Goose That Laid The Golden Egg
Mairi Mackinnon
First Reading: Level Three. The classic fairy story of greed, gold and geese retold for a young audience. Titles in this level encourage the reader to develop reading stamina, increasing to 48 pages. This will include the main story (up to 450...
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Format: Hardback - Released: 25/08/2006
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The Runaway Pancake
Mairi Mackinnon
First Reading: Level Four. The folk tale of an independent and rather fast pancake that learns to it's cost not to trust the sly fox. Building readers’ stamina still further with all 48 pages devoted to the story (up to 750...
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Format: Hardback - Released: 26/05/2006
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