Children's literature is an excellent way to educate children, on everything from social behaviour and beliefs to attitudes toward education itself. A prevalent aspect of children's literature is the importance of books and reading. In children's literature, books represent adult authority.

This book examines the role that books, reading and writing play in children's fantasy fiction, from books that act as artifacts of power (The Abhorsen Trilogy, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Harry Potter) to interactive books (The Neverending Story, Malice, Inkheart) to books with character-writers (Percy Jackson, Captain Underpants). The author finds that although books and reading often play a prominent role in fantasy for children, the majority of young protagonists gain self-sufficiency not by reading but by moving beyond books and reading.