Previous edition: 2008.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-266) and index.

Developing a personal knowledge about books -- Reading for purpose and pleasure -- Reading and responding -- Narrative, narration and structure -- Aspects of narrative: character, setting and themes -- Traditional stories and fairy tales -- Fantasy and realism -- Time and place in children's fiction -- Words and picture -- The pleasure of poetry -- Reviewing book provision and policy: schools and classrooms.

This book introduces students and teachers to English-language literature for children, and its role in promoting reading for pleasure and creating lifelong readers. The author focuses on a range of fiction relevant to the National Curriculum, and covers a variety of genres and features, including poetry, non-fiction, traditional stories, and picture books. Concepts and terminology are explained through an extensive range of examples. This revised edition includes - investigative activities and practical exercises for personal or classroom use - examples from world literature and work in translation highlighting the range of diverse material available for teaching inspiration - coverage of social, cultural and political reading practices to increase understanding of factors that influence children's reading experience - coverage of disability and equality issues to help inform teaching strategies that overcome barriers to learning.