By Sam Leith (author)
"A celebration of childhood reading and children’s literature for adult readers."
Paperback In Stock £12.99 £11.69
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When Philip Pullman declares a book “one of the best surveys of children’s literature” - you take note. You grab it by both hands. And read it voraciously.
In a landscape where reading is increasingly measured, assessed and squeezed into outcomes, this is a timely and necessary reminder of why reading matters in the first place.
Sam Leith takes us on a journey through the history of children’s literature - from folklore and fairy tales to modern classics - but this is far more than a literary overview. At its heart, it’s about the power of stories to shape imagination, identity and emotional understanding. It reconnects us with the idea that reading is not just a skill to be taught, but an experience to be nurtured.
For teachers, this book offers something deeper than pedagogy. It brings you back to the why: why reading for pleasure underpins attainment, why access to books matters so profoundly, and why creating space for children to discover stories - freely and joyfully - is one of the most important things a school can do.
Leith writes with clarity and warmth, weaving insight with moments of recognition that will resonate with anyone who has ever seen a child “click” with a book. It’s a powerful reminder that the stories children encounter don’t just support learning - they stay with them, shaping how they think, feel and see the world.
A thoughtful, inspiring read for teachers, librarians and school leaders alike. And a compelling case for putting reading for pleasure back at the heart of education.
Can you remember the first time you fell in love with a book?
Read the full description
The stories we read as children matter. The best ones are indelible in our memories; reaching far beyond our childhoods, they are a window into our deepest hopes, joys and anxieties. They reveal our past - collective and individual, remembered and imagined - and invite us to dream up different futures.
In a pioneering history of the children's literary canon, The Haunted Wood reveals the magic of childhood reading, from the ancient tales of Aesop, through the Victorian and Edwardian golden age to new classics. Excavating the complex lives of our most beloved writers, Sam Leith offers a humane portrait of a genre and celebrates the power of books to inspire and console entire generations.
'A MARVEL' PHILIP PULLMAN
'A DELIGHT' JULIA DONALDSON
'GLORIOUSLY ENTERTAINING' TOM HOLLAND
Sam Leith is Literary Editor of the Spectator . He has also written extensively for the Guardian , TLS , Financial Times , Telegraph and Daily Mail , and was a judge for the 2015 Man Booker Prize. His previous books include You Talkin' To Me?: Rhetoric from Aristotle to Trump and Beyond , and Write To The Point: How to be Clear, Correct, and Persuasive on the Page .
*A Sunday Times, Irish Times, Financial Times, Independent, Daily Mail, TLS, Economist, Prospect, Evening Standard and New Statesman Book of the Year 2024* Can you remember the first time you fell in love with a book? The stories we read as children matter.
The Haunted Wood features in the following genres: Books for Teachers, Recommendations
Paperback. £11.69, down from the £12.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Haunted Wood was written by Sam Leith and published by Oneworld an imprint of Oneworld Publications
The Haunted Wood has 592 pages
£11.69, reduced from £12.99. In Stock.
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