Preston Street Primary pupils meet Braw patron Joan Lingard

Braw.org.uk aims to provide children, parents, teachers and librarians with access to a "goldmine" of information.

The resource, funded by the Scottish Arts Council, includes about 900 Scottish books that can be searched by genre, author and title.

Braw manager Anna Gibbons said the site would promote the "joys of reading and writing to the nation's children".

She said: "There is an unprecedented number of fantastic, internationally acclaimed authors and illustrators for children living in Scotland today, including Theresa Breslin, Keith Gray, Julia Donaldson, Natalie Russell, Catherine MacPhail and Mairi Hedderwick.

'Long overdue'

"Our website has been designed to be a perfect central location for visitors to find out about good quality contemporary Scottish children's authors and illustrators and their books.

"Parents will find advice about reading with children, kids can learn about their favourite authors and illustrators, and schools can access information about innovative and imaginative reading and writing initiatives."

Theresa Breslin, the Carnegie Medal-winning Scottish children's author, said the site was long overdue.

"I regularly attend events at schools and libraries across the country and, indeed, around the globe, and am often asked where people can find more information on Scottish children's literature", she said.