Queens Hospital Host Book Reading With Award-Winning Scottish Author

JAMAICA, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens hosted a special literary celebration Wednesday featuring award-winning Scottish author Molly Arbuthnott, who gave patients and families an exclusive reading of her new book, "Oscar the Hebridean Cat", one day before its global release.

Children and staff dressing as characters from the story and participating in cat-themed activities, including puppets, coloring stations and stickers.

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Arbuthnott also signed about three dozen copies of her books, which were given to children visiting the clinic to take home.

Oscar the Hebridean Cat follows Oscar, a Siamese cat living in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, and his friend Mercy as they explore friendship and the natural world. The story features watercolor illustrations.

The event also highlighted literacy resources available to children and families through hospital and community partners. Representatives from Reach Out and Read discussed its program providing free books to children from birth through age five during well-child visits, while Express Ed highlighted its efforts to provide reading materials in Jamaica, Queens and surrounding neighborhoods.

Queens Public Library representatives also shared information about resources at its 63 branches, including early childhood programs and English for Speakers of Other Languages classes.