This book explores the ways in which children make meaning of the various texts they meet both in and out of school, and shows teachers how they can build imaginative learning experiences for their pupils from a whole range of published materials.

Section One - The old meets the new 1. 'Familiar Shakespeare' Janet Bottoms 2. 'Play-Business': issues raised by Robert Louis Stevenson's classic collection, A Child's Garden of Verses Morag Styles 3. The Grimms' wicked stepmothers Nicholas Tucker 4. By children, about children, for children Victor Watson Section Two - Crossing Boundaries: where cultures meet 5. One morning's reading of 'An Afternoon in Bright Sunlight' Gabrielle Cliff Hodges 6. Tales from the Mouse House: playing with reading on CD-ROM Lisa Sainsbury 7. Girls' playground language and lore: what sort of texts are these? Elizabeth Grugeon 8. Drama, literacies and difference Helen Nicholson Section Three - In the Picture: the meeting place for authors, illustrators and readers 9. Show and Tell: perspectives on Noah's Ark Jane Doonan 10. Word and image in a selection of picture books written by Martin Waddell Jacqueline Kirk 11. Learning the letters Anne Rowe Section Four - Meetings in Imaginative Spaces 12. 'Harming young minds': moral dilemmas and cultural concerns Jenny Daniels 13. Fantasy narratives and growing up David Whitley 14. Myth, legend, culture and morality Eve Bearne Afterword - Transitional Transformations Margaret Meek Spencer