CHILDREN from schools across the Irvine area enjoyed something of a scoop when they celebrated the launch of an ice cream-inspired book in a popular town shop.
Renfrewshire author Lindsay Littleson launched her new book Ice Cream Boy as part of the Tideside Book Festival in Vanilla Joe’s last week.
The event was funded by the Scottish Book Trust and Tidelines jointly, while Specsavers provided two signed books for use in the ice cream parlour.
Angela Noble, Tidelines co-ordinator, said: “Vanilla Joe’s kindly collaborated with us and Paul Tracey, the owner, allowed us to use the venue and also supplied ice cream and coffee. It's good to engage families rather than just children.
“This is the National Year of Reading and Lindsay has been at Castlepark, Elderbank, Loudon Montgomery and Woodlands Primary Schools.”
Lindsay said: “I loved going to the schools as I was a primary school teacher and taught in Kilbarchan. I am absolutely delighted with how the event has gone and that so many children from the schools I visited came along.
"The book was inspired by my mum’s dementia. I struggled with the idea until after my mum had died in 2021 and she is very much missed.”
Paul said: “My wife’s family are from Barga, so that is my Italian connection. It was originally my brother-in-law, Marco Edge, who set up Vanilla Joe’s 11 years ago and we bought it over six years ago.
“It’s great to engage children in reading and this idea came about after a chance conversation with Angela from Tidelines.
“I have three boys of my own and am always keen to get them reading. In the digital age, reading a book is almost becoming a dying art, so it is really good to be involved in the Book Festival.”
Children attending took part in an exciting competition which involved suggesting a new flavour of ice cream to be made by Vanilla Joe’s. Watch this space to find out which lucky entrant was successful.
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