A SALTCOATS cafe have teamed up with a giant dog to bring pop-up reading to the Three Towns.

Publishers, The Lunicorn Press, who were regional finalist in the Small Press of the Year category at The British Book Awards 2019, and their 6ft costume dog character, Badger the Mystical Mutt, have teamed up with Café Del Greco to present a brand new concept to customers this summer - Pop-up Café Reading Culture.

Badger is a 6ft furry pooch and he’s coming along with his authors for a Pop-Up Café Reading Culture Day which takes place on Wednesday, July 17 between 10am and 2pm. He’ll have signed books plus free postcards, stickers and bookmarks. Kids, parents, grandparents – this is a photo opportunity not to miss.

Authors McNicol and Jackson take their Badger Mutt character on the road to visit schools, bookshops, libraries, book festivals and various other events throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Badger the Mystical Mutt said: “I’m hosting sessions at a variety of library events throughout Scotland for the Summer Reading Challenge. The Pop-up Café Reading Culture concept is a way of re-enforcing the importance of reading for pleasure during the summer holidays. I’m particularly keen to visit Café Del Greco because I believe there is toast on their menu, my all-time favourite snack.”

Café Del Greco said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the global superstar Badger the Mystical Mutt to our café. But we’ve been fore-warned to hide the toast.”

The Badger series of illustrated books for five-nine year olds, subtly addresses, with humour, issues such as bullying, disability and prejudice. Friendship and self-belief is at the core of all the books.