Nicola Grove’s motivation in compiling this book is grounded in a belief that “narrative and poetry are fundamantal to our emotional and cognitive functioning” and that this is true for all children. Her ideas and arguments are designed to encourage and equip teachers to use challenging material and ideas with pupils with special needs.

It is well-grounded in current research on language development (and, as such, is a rich store of references), but is also practical. Throughout the book there are useful sidebar quotations and hints, ranging from “Making a resonance board” to a thumbnail critique of Hilaire Belloc’s “Tarantella”.

Well-informed, succinctly written and persuasive in its advocacy, Ways Into Literature was first published in 1998 as Literature For All, when it won the NASENTES Academic Book Award. Deservedly so. It is good to have it available in this new edition, with updated appendices and bibliography.

Michael Thorn

Deputy head, Hawkes Farm primary school, East Sussex