Rory the Little Red Deer

Lynne Rickards; Illustrated by Jonna Dempsey

Price:
£7.99
Availability:
Not yet published - due 19 Mar 2026

Quick Look

  • Meet Scotland's answer to Bambi!
  • Set in the Scottish Highlands and starring some of Scotland's most famous animals
  • A charming story of friendship, teamwork and appreciating each other's strengths, written in Lynne Rickards' signature rhyme, accompanied by Jonna Dempsey's characterful illustrations
  • A red deer story from the best-selling creator of Skye the Puffling

Rory the little red deer and his best friend Ruby have different strengths. Can they work together? A fun rhyming story from the writer of the bestselling Skye the Puffling featuring adorable illustrations of famous Scottish wildlife.

Format:
paperback
Size:
230 x 265 mm
Publisher:
Floris Books
Subject:
Picture Kelpies
Illustrations:
colour illustrations
Age Range:
From 3 to 6 years
Extent:
32 pages
ISBN:
9781782509868
Publication date:
19 Mar 2026
Series:
Picture Kelpies

Description

Rory, a young red deer calf, loves playing with his best pal Ruby, having friendly competitions to discover who is the best: Rory can jump the highest, but Ruby can run the fastest. But when a game of treasure hunt goes wrong, can the little deer use their strengths, and those of their friends, to save the day?

Written in Lynne Rickards' signature rhyme, this is a playful tale of friendship, teamwork and appreciating others' strengths. Jonna Dempsey's characterful illustrations of Scottish animals and landscapes are full of charming details to spot.

From the author of best-selling Skye the Puffling and Rowan the Red Squirrel, Rory the Little Red Deer is a fun and lively celebration of one of Scotland's most famous animals.

Reviews

Praise for Lynne Rickards:

'A heartwarming story of finding one's place in life. The rhyming text and colourful illustrations make this a very appealing book for young readers.'
-- The Scotsman on Lewis Clowns Around

'A delightful book to read aloud to children.'
-- Childtastic Books on Rowan the Red Squirrel

'Written in a lovely rich rhyme, this is a delightful story'
-- Carousel on Harris the Hero

Author

Lynne Rickards was born in Canada and has called Scotland home for over twenty years. She grew up reading Dr Seuss books and as a result she enjoys writing in rhyme. Lynne is the author of many much-loved picture books starring Scottish wildlife, including Skye the Puffling, Oran the Curious Otter, Willow the Wildcat and Rowan the Red Squirrel. Lynne lives in Glasgow, Scotland.

Jonna Dempsey is a Scottish children's author and illustrator whose work is rooted in nature. She had a successful career as a psychotherapist, but motherhood inspired her to change her career and study Children's Book Illustration at Leith School of Art, Edinburgh. Jonna specialises in narrative non-fiction but also loves traditional stories and folklore. She lives in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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