From Jay Griffiths, the author of the award-winning Wild comes a passionate polemic defence of childhood 'Her work isn't just good -- it's necessary' Philip PullmanIn Kith, Jay Griffiths seeks to discover why we deny our children the freedoms of space, time and the natural world.Visiting communities as far apart as West Papua and the Arctic, as well as the UK, and delving into history, philosophy, language and literature, she explores how children's affinity for nature is an essential and universal element of childhood.It is a journey deep into the heart of what it means to be a child, and it is central to all our experiences, young and old. 'An impassioned, visionary plea to restore to our children the spirit of adventure, freedom and closeness to nature that is their birthright.We must hear it and act on it before it is too late' Iain McGilchrist 'Jay Griffiths writes with such richness and mischief about the one thing that could truly save the world: its children' KT Tunstall