Will I love The Haunted Wood?

A wonderful, thoroughly researched and wide-ranging overview of children's literature, from early beginnings in the 17th century right up to J K Rowling and Philip Pullman today. I loved meeting many old childhood 'friends' while discovering books and authors I'd somehow missed.
My only niggle is that Leith consciously omitted most (not all, so inconsistent) American authors, whose contribution to childhood literature is monumental. Think Little Women, What Katy Did and The Phantom Tollbooth, to name but a few. But overall this is a hugely enjoyable read.

Leith’s history of childhood reading was an absolute joy to read, perfectly (re-)capturing the alchemy of childhood reading, in a way that was both personal and universal. The prose was a joy from start to finish; simultaneously scholarly and accessible, revealing and yet familiar. A delightful book that made me want to immediately revisit those beloved books of my own younger years.