Reflecting Realities survey reports increased diversity in children's books
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When you read a book can you relate to the characters in the story? Do you see yourself represented in the books you read?
A report by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) charity says there has been a rise in the proportion of Black, Asian or minority ethnic characters in children's books.
The charity's Reflecting Realities report says that in 2022 nearly a third of children's books in the UK featured racially minoritised characters.
This follows a steady rise in representation since the first survey in 2017, when only 1 in 25 characters were in books were racially minoritised.
What does racially minoritised mean?
The term describes any racial and ethnic group that are in a minority in the population. In the UK, this usually means all ethnic groups except White British.
'Minoritised' means having been treated differently - usually discriminated against or oppressed - by those in the majority in a position of power.
What else did the CLPE report find?
The Reflecting Realities report looks at books aimed at children aged between three and 11-years-old.
It said the percentage of children's books published in the UK featuring a main character from a racially minoritised background has also increased over seven years.
In 2017, at the start of the survey, just one in every hundred children's books featured a minoritised main characters. In 2022, at 14%, it's one in seven books.
The charity say they welcome the news and are encouraging more publishers to build on these recent improvements.
Farrah Serroukh, who works at the CLPE says they were pleased to "encounter more variation in the breadth of realities reflected".
What do you think of the news? Do you feel represented in the books you read? Would you like to see more diverse characters in stories? Let us know in the comments.
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