A Hamilton dad has penned a fun book based on the Scottish traditions of Halloween.
Author and illustrator Mark Mechan is delighted and proud of his first children’s book ‘Tumshie: The Forgotten Halloween Turnip Lantern’ which has been published by Waverley Books, the firm renowned for publishing Scottish interest books.
In Tumshie, which Mark also illustrated himself, the story centres around a father and son carving lanterns and making a Halloween costume together before taking to the neighbourhood for some guising.
Mark took inspiration for the book from his own family, as a dad of three over the years he has made many a Halloween costume for his children.
The graphic designer and illustrator, explained: “Tumshie is a family-centred book in which the dad explains the Halloween of yesteryear and how things have changed like when he was a boy, sweets were a special treat, and a bag of monkey nuts and a mandarin was an exciting surprise.
“And the Halloween lantern was not a huge bright-orange pumpkin like nowadays — but a small and very tough Scottish turnip.
“It sees the pair make a costume for Elliot, which is a crocodile made from cardboard painted khaki, green wellie boots, string and ping pong balls for eyes.
“And when the time comes to go out guising, the tumshie lantern is nearly forgotten in a tale that sees ‘guising’ unfold in a story that blends now with yesterday.”
Mark added: “This book will appeal to those who think it is vital to spark the imagination, and to think about sustainability and creating good costumes and things from boxes, eco paint — and imagination.”
Tumshie - The Forgotten Halloween Turnip Lantern” is available now from Glasgow publisher Waverley Books for £7.99.
