The percentage of books for under 11s that feature racially minoritised characters dropped in 2023. Centre for Literacy in Primary Education began measuring the number (and quality) of representations of racially minoritised characters in UK books published for under 11 year olds, in 2017. In 2017 a mere 4% of books featured ANY racially minoritised characters. This rose to a high of 30% in 2022… but in 2023, dropped to 17%. Read the full report.
The percentage of children’s books featuring a main character from a racially minoritised background halved from 14% of books published in 2022 to 7% of books published in 2023. Reaction from writers of colour is disappointment, but not surprise. The lack of representation has been so extreme for so long, that everyone worried improvement was ‘just a trend’. But children’s lives in the UK are increasingly global and diverse. Children’s literature has a responsibility to reflect that.
“Through every annual review of the last seven years we have had the privilege of being treated to stories, characters, writing and worlds that have elevated the literary landscape, enriched the culture and transformed reading experiences….We encourage the industry to take the lessons learned and remain steadfast in their commitment to reflecting realities and serving their readership” – Farrah Serroukh, Executive Director of Research and Development, CLPE
Let’s end with a positive: a photograph of the future. Here are the mentees (plus Leila in the floral top) who began the Megaphone mentoring scheme in 2023. Each one is a talented writer, a unique voice. Here’s the proof that there’s no shortage of writers telling great stories that honour the diversity of the world today. These are the writers that the UK publishing industry should be championing and nurturing if they truly want to reflect reality in the books they publish.