Childhood: A memoir of growing up, parenting, teaching, and discovering what children need most

— —

Brendan James Murray

Childhood

Name: Childhood
Price: 34.99 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9781761268304

A memoir of growing up, parenting, teaching, and discovering what children need most

Brendan James Murray

$34.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Picador
28 April 2026

Memoirs; Education; Philosophy & theory of education; Advice on education; Biography - Australian

Why do some children grow up into happy lives, and others never make it?

Brendan James Murray's childhood was one of stark contrasts: vivid imaginative adventures but also disadvantage, fear and the shadow of a school he spent months refusing to attend.

When a silhouette on a freeway overpass forces him to confront the ghosts of his own childhood, he has a defining realisation about the extraordinary power of imagination to transform lives, and the degree to which it has been neglected.

Childhood is a vital and deeply personal investigation into how we can help children find their place in the world, drawn from Brendan's profound and unique perspective as a child, teacher and parent.

This haunting, uplifting memoir is a must-read for everyone seeking to understand how the crucial and overlooked absence of a rich inner life in childhood echoes through all our adult years.

From the acclaimed author of The School: the ups and downs of one year in the classroom.

PRAISE FOR CHILDHOOD

'A profound and timely exploration of the power of imagination to re-enchant and restore meaning to children's lives.' ANDY GRIFFITHS, Australian Children's Laureate

'Bittersweet and so incredibly important. This book is a gift to any teacher or parent who wants to offer the children in their care the richest possible childhood they can.' GABBIE STROUD, author of Teacher and Dear Parents

'Childhood should be savoured slowly. It is a story that unfurls imaginations from foetal positions with compassion, understanding and a kind of brave determination that all educators must strive for.' CARLA SALMON, teacher and author of We Saw What You Started

By: Brendan James Murray
Imprint: Picador
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 233mm, Width: 154mm,
ISBN: 9781761268304
ISBN 10: 1761268309
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 28 April 2026
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Brendan James Murray is an award-winning author and teacher. He has twice received National Literary Awards from the Fellowship of Australian Writers for his short stories, and his first book, The Drowned Man, won the Ned Kelly Award for Best True Crime in 2017. His second book, the critically acclaimed Venom, was featured on the ABC's Conversations program as part of the 'Best of 2018' series. Most recently, The School was selected by the Grattan Institute for the Prime Minister's Summer Reading List in 2021 and was shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Award for Nonfiction. Facebook: Brendan James Murray - author (bjamesmurrayauthor) Instagram: bjmurrayauthor X (formerly known as Twitter): bjmurrayauthor