For those who delight in the power of literature to ‘hold, heal or haunt us’, Writing Children's Fiction is a must. Yvonne Coppard and Linda Newbery, two highly successful authors, offer a distillation of their experience and knowledge writers, readers and artists.

Newbery, who lives in North Oxfordshire, has recently seen her work included in the National Curriculum. In the first section the pair outline the history and challenges of children’s literature in all its many and various categories.

A section devoted to ‘Freedom and responsibility in children’s literature’ raises social, political and ethical issues like the responsibility incumbent on both authors and publishers. The authors also reflect on questions like ‘Why write for children?’ ‘Writing for children is easier, isn’t it?’ and ‘What is a children’s book?’ With authors like Philip Pullman with His Dark Materials and JK Rowling and Harry Potter our view of what was thought to be children’s literature has shifted.

In the words of Jeanette Winterson: “Imagination is ageless.” As evidence of this we should include Gulliver’s Travels, Alice in Wonderland, The Water-Babies and many more.

In the second part of the book, 21 authors, whose books range from revenge to humour, from historical to the dystopian, share insights, ideas and suggestions on writing.

Mal Peet no longer worries about the distinction between teenage and adult readers, Helen Pielichaty says pace is everything, while Michael Morpurgo urges us to ‘live in dreamtime. . . before you ever set pen to paper’ to become a writer of truth and integrity.

In the final section ‘Write on: Writing Workshop’, the two authors give us the nuts and bolts of writing, including character, dialogue, plotting, voice and viewpoint. They conclude with a look at the world of publishing and how it is changing.

There is no ideal way to write, no foolproof recipe, but Coppard and Newbery give us a lively, informed, encouraging and timely ‘companion’ that combines the practical and the inspirational.