“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”
Emilie Buchwald
Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Word
On the Train from Glasgow to Ayr, I observed a father reading to his two children as they were cosied up and all ears. I asked mum what book was holding so much attention. It was The Broons Annual.
The Broons are a beloved Scottish comic strip family who’ve appeared in The Sunday Post since 1936. They live at 10 Glebe Street in the fictional town of Auchenshoogle. The strip follows their humorous day-to-day lives, often highlighting Scottish culture, family dynamics, and generational quirks.
The family includes:
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Paw and Maw Broon – the no-nonsense father and practical, loving mother.
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Granpaw – the mischievous old-timer with tall tales.
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Eight children – including stylish Maggie, brainy Horace, mischievous twins, and the wee Bairn who often steals the show.
They also holiday at their countryside cottage, the "But and Ben." The Broons represent a warm, humorous slice of Scottish life, cherished across generations.