This essential book discusses what reading for pleasure is and what it is not, introducing some fundamental ideas about how we learn to read and how this process can impact on a child's identity as a reader in classrooms that promote equality, inclusion and diversity.

Jane Carter was a primary school teacher for many years before starting work as a senior lecturer and researcher at the University of the West of England, UK. She has a passion for literacy, language and learning with research interests from phonics and early reading to engaging families with reading.

1. Introduction to Reading for Pleasure 2. What Counts as Reading? 3. Not Reading for Pleasure, but 'Purposefully Positive': Understanding the Difference between Reading for Pleasure and Using Great Texts for Teaching 4. Connecting People and Planet through Reading for Pleasure 5. Representation in Children's Literature 6. Engaging and Re-Engaging Readers: Innovative Approaches that can help Reignite the Spark 7. Family Engagement: Who are your Influencers? 8. The Importance of Teachers' Knowledge of Children's Literature to Develop Children's Reading for Pleasure 9. The Pleasure of Reading Against: Embedding Lifelong Critical Literacy from Picturebooks to Social Media 10. Conclusion: A Call to Action for Social Justice and Equity in Reading for Pleasure Appendices