Teaching Children’s Literature in the Primary School

First published in 1990, Teaching Children’s Literature in the Primary School addresses a critical educational debate of its time. As literature teaching became an integral component of the National Curriculum, many primary school teachers, particularly those in nursery and infant departments, questioned whether literature could genuinely be taught to young children. This uncertainty often stemmed from concerns about formal literary examination and analysis being inappropriate for early learners.

Fenwick challenges these reservations, arguing persuasively that children’s literature not only can but should be taught in primary schools. His book explores the transformative power of storytelling, practical classroom applications, and techniques for developing genuine engagement with texts. The book covers important topics including poetry appreciation and creation, alternative fiction formats, and strategies for discovering books. It will be a valuable read for students and researchers of education.

Geoff Fenwick trained as a teacher at the City of Leeds College and later gained an Advanced Diploma at Liverpool University and an M.Ed. degree at the University of Manchester. He taught in primary schools in Leeds, Uganda, and Lancashire and served as a deputy head for three years. He subsequently became a lecturer in education at the Ethel Wormald College, Liverpool and worked in a similar capacity at the School of Education and Community Studies at Liverpool Polytechnic. He worked with qualified teachers studying on a D.A.S.E. course in Children’s Literature, of which he was director, and with undergraduates working for awards in education and librarianship.