Book cover titled 'Iain's Shop: Growing Up Islascatian' by Stasia Blair, featuring a young boy at a table with traditional blue berry bundles and baked goods, with smiling people and a ship in the background.

How much can one coin change?

When coins are few, creativity is everything.

In the colonial village of Glen Alba in 1679, eight-year-old Iain MacLeod sets out to help his family in the only way he can think of… by opening a tiny shop. But this is no ordinary shop, and Iain is no ordinary merchant. With a notebook in hand and a heart full of ideas, he begins trading, tinkering, and learning what it means to build something that matters.

As the seasons shift and the sea brings new visitors to his village, Iain’s shop becomes more than a place to barter — it becomes a place of stories, surprises, and quiet determination.

Full of Highland charm and cozy adventure, Iain’s shop is a heartfelt tale of small hands doing big things. Perfect for readers aged 6 - 10 and their grown-ups, it’s a story about creativity, community, and the quiet magic of making something from almost nothing.

“Each chapter uncovers what it means to create something meaningful from the smallest beginnings.”

Parents and Teachers-

Thank you for choosing Iain’s Shop as part of your lessons

Overview — Iain’s shop is a historical fiction chapter book set in 1670 in the fictional village of Glen Alba. The story follows ten-year-old Iain MacLeod as he uses creativity, persistence, and entrepreneurial spirit to help his family raise money to buy the land they live on. Through monthly vignettes, Iain experiments with different trades and crafts — from sea charms to pies to dried apples — learning valuable lessons about effort, honesty and community.

Why Read This Book?

  • Encourages critical thinking and creativity.

  • Introduces economic and social concepts in an age-appropriate way.

  • Builds historical awareness and empathy for others.

  • Reinforces themes of honesty, family support, and hard work

A variety of cookies and bowls of blueberries on a checkered cloth.
A historical scene on a beach with three ships at sea in the background. Two men with a barrel and table standing on the sand, and a boy walking nearby, all dressed in old-fashioned clothing.

Things to do while reading this story…

  • Ask your child about their favorite chapter or business idea Iain tries.

  • Talk about how money works, how your family shops, saves, or trades.

  • Let your child set up a small pretend shop at home.

  • Practice writing or drawing in a ‘merchant’s notebook’ like Iain’s.

  • Cook something together that ties in with the book, such as oatcakes or berry pies!

Discussion Questions

  • What job would you do if you were Iain?

  • What do you think was Iain’s hardest challenge?

  • Why do you think being honest was so important to Iain?

  • What do you think is more valuable — money or ideas? Why?

Educational Materials

Math worksheet titled 'Iain's Shop - Math Worksheet One' with five word problems about shopping and cost calculations, featuring a small illustration of seashells and a larger illustration of a hen with eggs.
A vocabulary worksheet titled "Iain's Shop - Vocabulary Worksheet" with three parts: matching words with definitions, fill-in-the-blanks using words, and drawing a picture of a chosen word. Contains illustrations of a blacksmith, merchant, and fireplace.
Page from a reading comprehension worksheet titled 'Iain's Shop,' containing questions about two chapters, with illustrations of buttons under chapter 1 and seashells under chapter 2.
A word search puzzle titled 'Iain's Shop Wordsearch' with hidden words related to a shop, such as 'IAIN,' 'SHOP,' 'COIN,' 'PIE,' 'SEA,' 'WIND,' 'SHELL,' 'ROPE,' 'APPLE,' 'BERRY,' 'HONEY,' and 'FIRE.' The puzzle has a grid of letters, and an illustration of stones at the bottom of the page.
Math worksheet titled 'Iain's Shop — Math Worksheet One' with five word problems including illustrations of coins, apples, pennies, and feathers.
A boy standing on a beach holding a basket, surrounded by floating sea charms and shells, with the ocean in the background and seagulls flying overhead. The text at the top reads, 'Collecting Sea Charms.'
A reading comprehension worksheet titled "Iain's Shop Reading Comprehension by Chapter 4th Grade" with questions for chapters 1 and 2, accompanied by two sets of five black and white illustrations: one set of buttons and one set of shells.
A grid with six sections listing words: Forge, Merchant, Barter, Hearth, Coin, Charm. Each section contains a small box with the text "Iain's Shop."