Finlay loved all kinds of dinosaurs, but his favourite one of all was the Loch Ness Monster! No matter how many times his older sister Sarah insisted that there was "No such thing as Nessie," Finlay persisted in his dream of documenting the reclusive lake monster's existence. When he and Sarah go to visit their Gran, also a firm believer in Nessie, Finlay is on the lookout. But after one too many times having his hopes dashed, he starts to think that Sarah was right. Until...

This charming little tale, part of Edinburgh-based Floris Books' Picture Kelpies line, intended to promote picture-books created by Scottish authors and artists, and featuring Scottish themes, is sure to appeal to young children who believe in the extraordinary, and who long to make amazing discoveries. I liked the author's matter-of-fact categorisation of Nessie as a dinosaur, reinforced by Kirsteen Harris-Jones' delightful dinosaur-themed end-paper illustrations, and appreciated the fact that Finlay's discovery remains a private and unprovable one. The happy ending to No Such Thing as Nessie keeps the mystery alive, and it is the mystery of Nessie that is her chief charm, I've always thought... ( )