Includes bibliographical references.

Let me tell you a story. When Chloe Hooper's partner is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer, they have to find a way to tell their two young sons. Can the news be broken as a bedtime tale? What practical lessons does children's literature with its innocent orphans and evil adults, magic, monsters and anthropomorphic animals, teach about grief and resilience in real life? As Hooper discovers, 'the right words are an incantation, a spell of hope for the future.' From the Brothers Grimm to Frances Hodgson Burnett and Tolkien and Dahl, all of whom suffered childhood bereavements, Hooper follows the breadcrumbs of the world's favourite authors, searching for the deep wisdom in their books and lives. Part memoir, part manual, in an age of worldwide uncertainty, here is a profound and moving exploration of the dark and light of storytelling.