«Invaluable ... There is no doubt that this book will guide teachers, teacher trainers, pre-service teachers, and researchers in using literary narrative for young language learners over the long term.»

ELT Journal

«Bland herself tells a compelling story to English language teachers: her book reminds us that what we can do – and what we can get learners to do – with storyworlds can be so much more stimulating than is generally allowed for by the tunnel vision of mainstream ELT. This is at the same time a book that explores the power of stories as a force for positive change and a book full of practical ideas for teaching and encouraging learning.»

Children’s Literature in English Language Education Journal

«Moving smoothly amongst concepts, a comprehensive range of genres and issues, and practical applications, this clearly written and well-researched book will prove invaluable to teachers in language classrooms. Compelling Stories eloquently demonstrates why and how the learning of English through deep reading nourishes a love of both literature and language.»

John Stephens, Emeritus Professor, Macquarie University, Australia

«Written with passion and informed by expertise in English language education, this book brings together insights about the affordances of specific genres and formats with practical tips about engaging compelling literary narratives in the classroom. Eminently readable and theoretically informed, it shows how stories make the difference that matters.»

Marek Oziewicz, Henry Professor of Children's and Young Adult Literature, University of Minnesota-Tw

«This book is full of theoretical insights, practical ideas for teaching, and suggestions for exciting and varied resources. It is a must-read for all teachers of English as an Additional Language.»

Mike Fleming, Emeritus Professor, Durham University, UK

«Janice Bland’s Compelling Stories for English Language Learners: Creativity, Interculturality and Critical Literacy tells us several stories. From different cultures and from different perspectives. In a world of English as a Lingua Franca and the pursuit of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, books like this are essential.»

International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL)

«Combined with the literary narratives, the deep reading framework proposed in this volume constitutes a unique and original contribution to the field ... A timely contribution to revealing the educational benefits of children’s literary narratives in language education.»

ELTED Journal