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Inspired by Robert Macfarlane and curated by Jennie Orchard, an anthology of essays about the joys of giving books to children and young people, from some of the world’s most beloved writers.
Remember the books that shaped your childhood, sparked your imagination, and ignited a lifelong love of reading? In The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation, some of the world’s most beloved authors share their own transformative reading experiences—the books and stories that set them on the path of becoming the readers and writers they are today.
Following the success of its first edition, The Gifts of Reading, this heartwarming collection of essays is a testament to the enduring power of books. By exploring the stories that shaped them, our authors provide a powerful guide to fostering a love of reading in the children and young people in your life.
With contributions from Tristan Bancks, William Boyd, Shankari Chandran, Horatio Clare, Nicola Davies, Imtiaz Dharker, Ursula Dubosarsky, Maisie Fieschi, Pico Iyer, Wayne Karlin, Colum McCann, JohnMichael McCann, Ann Morgan, Sir Michael Morpurgo, Dina Nayeri, Matt Ottley, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, Alice Pung, Diana Reid, Nilanjana Roy, Nikesh Shukla, Nardi Simpson, Madeleine Thien, Thelma Young Lutunatabua, and John Wood, and an afterword by Julia Eccleshare.
All royalties generously donated to the two organizations founded by John Wood, Room to Read and U-Go, promoting literacy and education for girls and young women.
“What a beautiful book it is — wise, funny, moving, generous. Every story is a gift in its own way.”
—Susan Wyndham, former literary editor at the Sydney Morning Herald
“Helping kids fall under the spell of books has never been more urgent. Recent reports show reading for pleasure among children has slumped in Australia. This inspiring collection testifies to the life-changing power of books in a child’s life.”
—Fiona Capp, The Age
“It’s the perfect gift for friends, a necessary book for all educators and parents, and a great book for all to dip into to reflect on the power of books and stories.”
—Paul Macdonald, The Children’s Bookshop
Contents
Robert Macfarlane
Foreword
Jennie Orchard
Introduction
Tristan Bancks
Reading as a contact sport
William Boyd
Out of Africa: H. Rider Haggard
Shankar Chandran
A thousand stories
Horatio Clare
The gifts of being read to
Nicola Davies
Picture reading
Imtiaz Dharker
Three poems from Shadow Reader
Ursula Dubosarsky
(I) Some children never stop reading
(II) Children and writing: In the service of the dream
Maisie Fieschi
Sanctuary
Pico Iyer
The enchantments
Wayne Karlin
Stories save lives
Colum McCann
The words made flesh
JohnMichael McCann
Presents from strangers
Ann Morgan
Presents from strangers
Michael Morpurgo
Perchance to dream
Dina Nayeri
You read it wrong
Nguyên Phan Quê Mai
How reading saved me
Matt Ottley
Alice Pung
The gift of hope
Diana Reid
The gift of forgetting: reading to escape our reflection
Nilanjana S. Roy
To Adventurers: the world in your hands
Nikesh Shukla
[There are no] rules for reading
Nardi Simpson
Yilaaluu
Madeleine Thien
On Walter Benjamin’s ‘A Berlin childhood’
John Wood
From library card holder to library builder
Thelma Young Lutunatabua
Making more magic
Julia Eccleshare
Afterword
The Gifts of Reading for the Next Generation
Acknowledgements
Room to Read and U-Go