Kenneth Steven

An evocative journey through geology and landscape, seen through the eyes of one of Scotland’s most beloved poets and storytellers. Blending lyrical prose with personal reflection, Kenneth Steven explores mountains, glens and shores in search of gemstones and crystals. He recounts his delight at discoveries of gold glinting in Highland burns, freshwater pearls embedded in mussel shells, and aquamarines, garnets, amber and agates hidden in the wild places where others rarely roam. Beguiled by their forms, colours, and sometimes glittering bril- liance, he finds the thrill of unearthing riches more precious even than the gems themselves. Stone by stone, he considers the origins and allure of these natural treasures, revealing not only their geo- logical stories but their place in history and imagination. Steven’s deep connection to the land shines through as he interprets the meaning and magic, inviting readers to see both the landscape and its hidden gems with fresh wonder.

I am going further north, he said I do not know what I will find perhaps I will not come back all I know is that I must seek this somewhere with all my soul In the 7th century, Irish hermit monks left the island of Iona and dared to cross an unforgiving ocean to the wild, unknown shores of Iceland. What did they find there, on the edge of their world? Inspired by this incredible journey, poet Kenneth Steven distilled their experience into this sequence of poems that are sparse and pared to the bone, suggesting simple fragments of story recorded by the monks after their return to Scotland. A Song Among the Stones has been taken and interpreted by numerous artists and musicians in Scotland and beyond, the latest of whom is Simon de Voil.

We whisper our prayer of thanks for this day - bless our sleeping tonight, Father God. Introduce young children to the practice of praying to God at the end of each day at bedtime. This prayer book models words of thanks to God, thoughts about others and asking for help. Inspired by Psalm 121, children will be comforted by God's blessing and care looking after them as they sleep. Each prayer ends with a repeated phrase, which encourages young children to learn and join in. The prayers ask God for safety and protection for animals, family and friends, other children in need, for the new day tomorrow and asks for help to be kind and caring like Jesus. Good Night: Prayers for Bedtime is written for young children and their parents or carers to say together at the end of the day, establishing the routine of ending the day with God. There is a space to write their own bedtime prayer as well. The charming illustrations and padded cover make this bedtime prayer book an ideal gift for a special occasion, celebrating a child's birthday or faith journey. It is a heart-warming prayer book ideal as a gift from a grandparent, godparent or family member to give to a young child.

Poet and essayist Kenneth Steven takes us on a series of meditative quests in search of his “atoms of delight”—treasures, both natural and spiritual—through some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes. The short pieces in this captivating collection, whose title pays homage to Scottish Renaissance writer Neil Gunn, invite readers to accompany Steven as he seeks out crystal-clear waters, a glimpse of an elusive bird, delicate orchids, plump berries, or pebbles polished by time and tide. Appreciative of the grace of silence and the value of solitude and simplicity, he takes journeys that prompt introspection and provoke memories as we pause, breathe, and discover alongside him the transformative power of nature's small gifts and wild places. This is an evocative book that will inspire you to pay close attention as you explore your environment and reflect on the fleeting moments of pure joy that nature has brought into your life. As you set out on your own pilgrimages, you will discover the extraordinary that can be found in the everyday when you take the time to look for it.

This new poetry collection from Scottish poet Kenneth Steven captures small moments of revelation or epiphanies, which come unexpectedly as gifts amid the ordinary. An uncleared breakfast table, the sight of someone working outdoors, an old photograph, and the features and sounds of the Scottish landscapes that so inspire his work, all become, in the poet’s words, portals to a greater reality: ‘the small moments that make up the whole story. This is the sudden going through the door into the bigger world.’ Many of them are written in the sonnet form, whose brevity and economy of expression mirror the essence of this book, and whose very form turns from the ordinary to the extraordinary in a moment.

Nick is a lovable character, a real boy growing up with the effects of Down syndrome, who lives with his parents, three sisters, and a brother on a farm in northern California. Having loving support from his family, Nick lives with a great zest for life. Inspired by a poem by St. Augustine, this story is about Nick, who becomes a keen observer of the beauty of God's creation and the goodness of a loving family.From a little boy, whom his father once described as only two chickens high, he is growing into a young guy who clearly has great potential to live life creatively and with a sense of adventure.Megan Dean is an author, illustrator, muralist, art teacher, and a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. She lives with her family in a small town in northern California.

Böner om välsignelser som du vill ska följa det lilla barnet hela livet. Med utrymme för att uttrycka vad du själv önskar be för. Detta är fin liten presentbok, vackert illustrerad och med tänkvärda böner och bibelord. Detta är en fin liten doppresentbok, vackert illustrerad och med tänkvärda böner och bibelord som lämpar sig att ge som en livslång gåva vid dop och barnvälsignelse.

A lifetime of blessings inspired by God’s creation for the child you love. Ideal baptism gift for a godparent, grandparent, or family member to give to a young child full of blessings for their life ahead. Inspired by sensing God’s presence through the natural world around us, this beautifully illustrated gift from you will be treasured throughout their lives. Includes space to write your own words of blessing.

The early Celtic Christians placed great emphasis on the importance of care for God’s creation, as seen in a number of beautiful and tender stories. The story of Saint Kevin and the Blackbird is perhaps the most beautiful of them all.

Dealing with bereavement, bullying, and a father-son connection, Silverwing explores the healing power of nature and art. After he lost his mother to cancer, 10-year-old Douglas hasn't been able to communicate with his father, and their house is a place of sadness. When they find an injured Greylag goose, they nurse the bird, and themselves, back to health. As they work together and start talking again, they discover much more about Douglas' mother than they ever knew before. Includes illustrations througout and a fact file on the Greylag goose.

"Steven has an Irish monk’s attentiveness to the fragility, mystery, and hidden beauties of things." —Peter Leithart, First ThingsThe book is a gathering together of all of Kenneth Steven’s poems concerning the island of Iona through the years. These comprise poems that have been published in journals both at home and abroad, and broadcast on BBC Radio. A lengthy introduction tells the story of the forging of those first links with Iona, and those that have come through adult years. This is a book both for those who know and love the island, and for those who may yearn to visit but have not yet had the chance. It’s essentially a love song to a precious and an extraordinary place that has been the author’s spiritual home from earliest childhood days.

Kenneth Steven is deeply rooted in the landscape of his native Highland Scotland and in his love of the Celtic Christian story. Natural and spiritual images abound and the interplay between them makes his poetry at once local and universal, the small and familiar revealing a glimpse of a vast and hidden divine reality This new collection includes poems based on everyday sights and experiences – autumn mornings, flights of birds, mountains and lochs, sunrise and moonrise colouring the landscape, creatures of the day and night making their shy appearances, memories of childhood and the exchanges of love. In addition, there are poems inspired by ancient abbeys and symbols of faith and sequences for Christmas and Easter.

The Spirit of the Hebrides combines the poetry of Kenneth Steven with the photography of Alastair Jackson and features images of Skye and Raasay in homage to one of Scotland’s leading 20th century poets, Sorley McLean. The Spirit of the Hebrides explores islands as places to be discovered; places which shy away from recognition, yet are in some way familiar. Kenneth Steven’s poetry reflects on the link between people and the land; how identity is shaped by wild places; the passing of many of the old ways of the Hebrides; the enduring beauty of these islands; the hospitality of their people and the depth of their spiritual awareness. Alastair Jackson’s photography captures the wilder and remoter parts of Skye and Raasay, often in bad weather, but showing a glimmer of sunshine and hope on the horizon. His wide horizons and stormy sky offer a glimpse into both the turbulent past and the deep spirituality of the Hebrides. This book uniquely captures the spirit of the Hebrides. *Longlisted for the Highland Book Prize 2019. "The result is a beautiful and evocative book that explores the land and seascapes of these islands, their vast skies and their resilient, shifting beauty in all seasons and weathers" -- Highland Book Prize 2019

A new collection of poems inspired by the landscapes of Scotland and beyond, and dedicated to Kenneth’s late sister, peace activist Helen Steven: ‘She was Scotland to me …’ Kenneth Steven is best-known as a poet, although he’s also very much a novelist and children’s author. It’s the wildscape of Scotland that has been his primary inspiration. He grew up in Highland Perthshire and was taken every summer to the west coast and the islands. At the heart of those islands was Iona, the place that from childhood has been his spiritual home. The poems are full of shining images of land and sea, and of echoes of the people who once lived in these wild and remote places; a potent reminder of the history in our geographies. Kathy Galloway Kenneth is regarded as one of Scotland’s finest poets and prose writers, gaining excellent reviews for his work. His admirers have included the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes. Ron Ferguson

Elemental, timeless stories, set in Italy, Finland, Ireland, Russia, Germany, Scotland and America, reveal the impact the seasons can have on our inner being Although each is complete in itself, these beautifully crafted tales contain recurring motifs so our understanding of one is enriched by the reading of others. The perspectives shift mesmerizingly as layer upon layer of human experience is uncovered. Ambiguity, mystery and spiritual searching abound, as the author meditates on many of the themes found in his highly acclaimed poetry: betrayal, lostness, bullying, the miraculous, faith and the power of love.

IN 2020, BRITAIN IS AT BREAKING POINT...In a country sorely divided, what happens to empathy and tolerance, to generosity of spirit? And can hope survive? In 2020, years of economic turmoil, bitter debates over immigration, and anger at the political elites have created a maelstrom, a dis-United Kingdom. The country is a bomb waiting to explode. Then it does. As the nightmare unfolds, a myriad of voices - from across the political and social spectrum - offer wildly differing perspectives on the chaotic events...and unexpectedly reveal modern Britain's soul with 20/20 acuity. Thoughtful, compassionate and sometimes provocative, Kenneth Steven's 2020 is a parable for our times.

The story of Deirdre of the Sorrows is widely known in Ireland, yet all but forgotten across the water in Scotland. This great tragic love story, which has its roots in the ninth or tenth century, is very much shared by both countries. For Deirdre, according to the legend, fled with her lover Naoise to Argyll. The oldest song in Scotland is believed to be Deirdre's haunting farewell to her adopted land as she returns once more to Ireland. In this new sequence, Deirdre of the Sorrows, Kenneth Steven beautifully reimagines the legend of this love story; he brings back to life Deirdre's journey and attempts to capture its timeless power.

In this intimate new collection, the Christian poet Kenneth Steven reflects on bereavement, marital breakdown, the pain of separation from his beloved young daughter and the search for ‘home’. Previously his poetry has focused on the natural world. Now he finds himself struggling to address his harrowing circumstances, and it becomes clear that the words he needs will only be found by journeying inside to a deeply personal place. What emerges through the testing of faith is that most ancient of healing truths: darkness and pain open the way to hope and healing . . . it’s when we are broken, we let in the light. 'A gentle light from an unseen source pours into the distilling simplicity of these poems.' Mark Oakley, Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral

En fantastisk historia med underbara bilder! En bok där du hittar nya saker varje gång du läser den. När jorden svämmar över bygger den gamle Noah en gigantisk ark, där han tar ombord all världens djur. Men mitt ute på havet börjar båten att läcka vatten! Vad i all världen ska Noah ta sig till? En humoristisk och engagerande tolkning av den gamla folksagan om hur hunden egentligen fick sin blöta nos. Hur hunden fick sin blöta nos fick Norska kulturrådets pris för bästa bilderbok för barn när den gavs ut i Norge.