"Draws on a year's research in Year 5 classrooms where pupils were introduced to challenging literature as part of the teaching of literacy. It pinpoints effective practice in teaching, underlines the importance of certain experiences, such as writing in role, for children's improved achievement as writers, and identifies literary texts that led to high quality writing. It finds that skilful reading aloud has a key role to play in the development of an ear for the styles and rhythms of texts and in the teaching and learning of writing"--Back cover.