TWO Glasgow authors have been shortlisted for Scotland's biggest ­children's book award.

Ross Collins and E.B. Colin have made it to the final nine of a prestigious competition, which celebrates the most popular books by Scottish ­authors or illustrators.

Over the next five months, children all over the country will be voting for their favourite and the three winning books will be announced at the Scottish Children's Book Awards final on March 4.

Ross, who lives in the West End, has been shortlisted in the Bookbug Reader's category for the illustrations in picture book Robot Rumpus, written by Sean Taylor.

The Glasgow School of Art graduate, who is a previous winner of the award, said: "It's wonderful to be shortlisted for the award.

"To know Robot Rumpus will be in the sticky hands of so many Scottish children is a lovely feeling and an award that is voted for by the readers themselves is worth so much more."

Ross's book, and the other two shortlisted in his category, will be gifted to every primary one child in Scotland, as part of a Scottish Government and Education Scotland initiative designed to encourage P1 children to discover the joy of reading. E.B. Colin, who lives in Pollokshields, is shortlisted in the Younger Readers (8-11 yrs) category for her children's novel, Pyrate's Boy.

The swashbuckling adventure set on the high seas in 1750 follows a young lad's experiences on board a pirate ship.

She said: "I'm delighted that 'Pyrate's Boy' has been shortlisted. I had a lot of fun writing it, researching all sorts of things from poisonous snakes to Bonnie Prince Charlie.

"I loved living in 1750 and sailing the High Seas, if only in my imagination, and hope that lots of other readers will too."

The Scottish Children's Book Awards are run by Scottish Book Trust with support from Creative Scotland and are split into three age categories, with a total prize fund of £12,000.

Jasmine Fassl, head of schools at Scottish Book Trust, said: "The Scottish Children's Book Awards are much more than a celebration of Scottish literature - they are about expanding children's horizons."