Episode: Ep772: Open Book: Children's literature special

Open Book is devoted to the joys of children's literature. Four Weddings and a Funeral screenwriter Richard Curtis explains why he's written his first children's book The Empty Stocking while Jeff Kinney explains the key to the success of runaway bestseller Diary of a Wimpy Kid. In the studio Mariella is joined by Lauren Child and Charlie Higson - who between them have brought us Ruby Redfort, the young James Bond, Charlie and Lola and zombies - and by children's book critic Amanda Craig. They discuss how literature remains vivid in this new digital world, the difficulties of buying books for different age groups, how The Hobbit remains a favourite and why children love to be scared by literature.