The Looking Glass

Available for over a year

In this gripping investigation of children’s fiction, award-winning author Katherine Rundell makes a passionate argument for a literature that is often underrated, yet whose magic can live on inside us for the rest of our lives. The best children’s books need to be good enough both for the hungriest child and the wisest, sharpest adult. In her final original essay, Katherine Rundell argues that children’s books are not a luxury, but fundamental to our culture and to the society we build. Reading for pleasure can change your life and books can offer a vision of the world as it is, and as it might be. So we have to fight to ensure that all children have the opportunity to seek out books. Katherine Rundell is an acclaimed writer for children, winning Author of the Year and Book of the Year for Impossible Creatures at the British Book Awards 2024 and winner of the Costa Children’s Book Award. Written and presented by Katherine Rundell Producer: Jo Glanville Editor: Kirsten Lass Production Co-ordinator: Heather Dempsey Studio Engineer: Dan King A Loftus Media Production for BBC Radio 4 Photo credit: Nina Subin