Big Ideas from Literature

Books can be so powerful. They can help us through tricky times, offer us wisdom we haven't learned yet, show us that there are people like us, or show us the opposite, that other people live very different lives. Books can be a friend when you need them the most, and you can use them to help and inspire others. 

Big Ideas from Literature helps children discover key ideas that many books try to teach through their stories. It also allows a growing child to develop empathy and resilience. This book teaches children (and adults!) about the history of literature, from the first story to the invention of books just for children. 

The best children's books become our dearest friends and companions. Children discover characters from diverse books – including Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan and The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams – and learn how these stories can help them better understand the world around them.

The School of Life publishes Big Ideas from Literature and a range of books, games, and learning tools for children. These introduce curious young minds to brilliant ideas from psychology, philosophy, literature, science, art, architecture, and beyond that can help them grow into happy, healthy, and emotionally mature adults. 

Hardcover book, 176 pages, published 2024