Writer & Educator

Gill Arbuthnott

Hello and welcome to my website. Here you can browse my books, check up on what events I’m doing in the coming months and find out how to book me for a visit.

‘Using words, pictures and lots of fascinating facts, author Gill Arbuthnott and illustrator Chris Nielsen bring a new generation of space fans a fascinating countdown of the technologies, innovations and stories that led humans from flying in a hot air balloon to walking on the Moon…. The book’s design and Nielson’s atmospheric illustrations reflect the vintage feel of the 1960s with their clever use of colour and texture while Arbuthnott, a former science teacher who loves combining scientific fact with wonderful anecdotes of people and places, brings life and vitality to the exciting history and innovations of space travel.’

“Earth's oceans cover 70% of its surface, but they're still the most unexplored part of the planet! This beautiful book tells the story of human ocean exploration - from its sandy beaches to its dark depths - explaining what we have so far discovered and how, from sunken cities and shipwrecks to incredible creatures and more! So dive in and meet marine biologists, famous adventurers and legends of the sea!”

“From the Big Bang to the abundance of life that surrounds us today, this beautiful book – the third by the award-winning duo Gill Arbuthnott and Chris Nielsen – is the story of evolution, from the very first cells to ourselves…Analyse fossils, walk with the dinosaurs, join Charles Darwin on his exploration of the Galápagos islands and marvel at some of the random and bizarre acts that have shaped our world in this beautifully illustrated book.”

“This book is a fantastic introduction into the world of the microscopic. It covers a broad range of topics with brilliant humour. It cleverly uses storytelling and comic book formats to not only tell the science, but also the people and the history behind microbiological discoveries. I challenge anyone who thinks bacteria and viruses are boring to read this book!”

“Just as Peter Jackson’s film They Shall Not Grow Old breathes new life into WW1 history with its colourising of black-and-white contemporary film, A Secret Diary brings to life contemporary WW1 teenage writing for a young modern readership, and transports them to the Front Lines via the skills of the author and the illustrator : an ordinary teenage boy made quite extraordinary by his reporting of his experiences.”

Gill's Picture Books

For the Younger Reader

Follow the adventures of “Rory the Mouse” or “Sunshine” the Giant Panda.

The Giant Panda Party Sunshine, the giant panda, is grumpy. His birthday is coming and he’s sure no one will remember. But his best friend Sweetie has a plan. She sneaks around the zoo at night, asking all the other animals whether they can sing. Will grumpy Sunshine get a giant birthday surprise?

Lost at the Zoo When Rory the mouse falls out of Sam’s pocket in Edinburgh Zoo, he is afraid he’ll never find Sam again. ‘Have you seen Sam?’ Rory asks, and tries to describe his owner. Rory meets lots of animals as he searches the enormous zoo for Sam.

The Giant Panda Party & Lost at the Zoo are illustrated by Joanne Nethercott and published by Picture Kelpies.

Excited about Science

Science for Reluctant Readers

Dive in to find out about the Black Death, Smallpox and other hideous diseases. Or maybe you’d prefer farting herring, or glow-in-the-dark mice? No? Then how about dinosaur detectives, or the man who weighed the earth? They’re all in these easy to read books.

Science for Middle Graders

How does DNA make you unique, but like other people? Why are you like a doughnut? Which metal screams when you bend it? How did life begin? What do frogs and Frankenstein have to do with electricity? These and lots of other questions you never realised you needed answered are here to entertain and educate you.

Science for the whole Family

From hot air balloons to space stations, canoes to submarines and cells to humans (and every other living thing); from villainous viruses to your personal microbe army… these books will take you on a guided tour through some fantastic stories of scientists and scientific discovery.

‘Balloon to the Moon will answer all the questions any potential astronauts might pose. It covers the entire spectrum, from mankind’s first attempts to get off the ground via balloons in the 1700s to the space race as it developed in the 50s, 60s and 70s, with revealing descriptions of the personalities involved as well as the technology. It all makes for a fascinating story, and one that will appeal to readers of all kinds. Concluding with a page on space careers and the future of humankind’s exploration of our universe this is a book to inform and inspire. ‘

Andrea Reece - "lovereadingforkids"

Listen....

to Gill reading her stories

As part of the BBC Radio Scottish Schools 2nd level or the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Stargazing: Stars and Constellations

Lochie doesn’t really fit in at school. He says he’s from Australia, but is he really? He and his friend both decide to study Proxima Centauri for a school project. Will they fall out? And why does Lochie know so much about a distant planet?

Broomhouse Primary Meet Gill Arbuthnott

The L.A.B travelled to Edinburgh to team up with pupils from Broomhouse Primary School for an interview with the children’s author Gill Arbuthnott.

Bannocks for Bannockburn

It’s the day before the battle of Bannockburn. Rob is the baker’s son and Janet is the blacksmith’s daughter in a village near Stirling. If only they could help the Scottish army! But they’re too young – there’s nothing they can do. Or perhaps there is…

Marilyn's Hands

I was invited by the Edinburgh International Book Festival to contribute to ‘Elsewhere’ – a collection of new writing on the theme of identity. Marilyn’s Hands is my first short story for adults.