Two picture books linked by the same Hebridean island offer an engaging introduction to local legends.

The Island and the Bear, by Louise Greig and Vanya Nastanlieva, is a rhyming story inspired by real events on Benbecula in 1980, when Hercules the bear went missing while filming an advert. Its illustrations, by Vanya Nastanlieva, capture the moods and shapes of the Hebridean coastline.

The story bear is a gentle giant whom the islanders soon realise means no harm to them or their livestock. This was true of the real Hercules too – he had been so used to cooked meat that he never hunted for himself.

Speed Bonnie Boat is a re-telling of the Skye boat song. The verses are brought to life through Alfredo Belli’s atmospheric illustrations, with simple historical explanations about Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald’s voyage from Benbecula to Skye, adding a welcome dimension.

Reader age: 6

The Island and the Bear, Louise Greig/Vanya Nastanlieva, Picture Kelpies, £6.99

Speed Bonnie Boat, Alfredo Belli, Picture Kelpies, £6.99