Book excerpt: This book introduces the role of children′s literature in promoting reading for pleasure and creating lifelong readers. Focusing on a range of fiction relevant to the National Curriculum, it covers genres such as poetry, non-fiction, traditional stories and picture books. Concepts and terminology are explained through a wide 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. This book is essential for students on PGCE, BEd and BA Education courses, and for teachers undertaking CPD in English, literacy or children′s literature. It provides useful support material for language coordinators and literacy consultants, and can be used to support distance-learning, as an aid to self-study, or as a course text.