Nature Hub

  Edited by  Vinuri Randhula Silva, Books and storytelling have long been part of our human identity. Author Cerrie Burnell shows this is why stories are for everyone – whatever your background We all know that glorious feeling of clutching a book in our hands. Whether it’s a brand-new gift, or something we’ve borrowed from a fabulous library, or perhaps a long-loved family treasure creased from re-reading... But there is a specialness that comes from holding a story and knowing that you can step in or out of it, whenever you wish. When my daughter asked me, ‘But how did the first book begin?’, I didn’t have a coherent answer. I’ve just always accepted that books are a kind of magic. But the journey of a book and how they first began is its very own cross-cultural, historical adventure that weaves its way around the globe. Spoken word and cave drawings Before we had books, we had stories. Storytelling was a communal act: a retelling of daily life to teach a lesson, instil a warning or

  By Angie Brown BBC Scotland, Edinburgh and East reporter Edited by Amal Udawatta Image caption, David Taylor said he cannot refurbish the Elephant House café until the building's owner makes sure it is structurally safe A café where JK Rowling wrote parts of her Harry Potter books cannot reopen because the building's owner has gone into liquidation, the BBC understands. The Elephant House café was one of several properties badly damaged in a blaze on George IV Bridge in Edinburgh in August last year. Café owner David Taylor said no work had been carried out to repair the building and he was left in limbo. Liquidator Mike Solomons said it was "addressing issues" around the fire. Mr Taylor, who has 12 years remaining on his lease at the property, said his insurance company had signed off £350,000 to renovate the café after the fire. The five-storey building damaged by the fire houses a number of other businesses such as the Oz Bar, Merchants restaurant and rental flat