With despair on the rise and hope in short supply, children’s literature offers people of all ages a treasure trove of wisdom.

Dr Amanda B Vernon is a children’s literature expert who believes that children's stories are not just for children. In this interview with Life & Faith, Amanda talks about how stories written with children in mind often shed light on deep human needs, including our longing for justice, agency, truth, wonder and redemption through suffering. From Alice in Wonderland to Harry Potter to Winnie the Pooh, Amanda explores the joy, the wonder and the enduring wisdom of children’s literature.

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Amanda B Vernon’s website: www.amandabvernon.com

George Macdonald’s, ‘The Fantastic Imagination’

Joe Pompeo’s Vanity Fair article on utopia, dystopia and the modern imagination