Two in five parents of minority ethnicity struggle to find books for their children that they feel represent them, according to a new survey.
Of the 1,003 parents of all backgrounds surveyed, 64% would be interested in reading their child a book that has a diverse mix of characters.
The survey, run by YouGov in early September, defined a “diverse mix” of characters as those coming from different racial, cultural and religious backgrounds, including characters who are disabled, neurodiverse and LGBTQ+, and who have single parents.
Some 83% of mixed white and Black Caribbean parents reported finding it difficult to find a book for their child that represented their family, while 61% of Pakistani parents found it difficult to find a book for their child that represented their child.
The survey was commissioned by Inclusive Books for Children (IBC), a new charity which has launched a website hosting a database of inclusive books. Site visitors can browse through more than 700 book recommendations and search the database to find books featuring protagonists with specific characteristics.
“Diverse representation in children’s fiction is so important,” said charity ambassador and TV chef Nadiya Hussain. “As a mum, I’m always trying to make sure that my children can see themselves represented in the media they consume and are able to feel included and seen.” The IBC site is the “perfect platform for finding exactly what I’m looking for”, she added.
The survey also found that 33% of British parents who have never married found it difficult to find a book for their child that represented their family.
Sarah and Marcus Satha came up with the idea for IBC in 2022 after experiencing difficulties sourcing inclusive books for their two mixed-heritage children. Marcus said that the project began with the idea that “stories are powerful tools that allow us to relate, understand and connect with one another. We all want the children in our lives to be able to access the power of stories, and how they open the imagination and inspire creativity.”
The research also uncovered a generational difference in attitudes towards reading books with diverse characters. While 77% of parents aged between 18 and 24 were interested in reading a book with diverse characters to their child, just 47% of parents aged 45 to 54 reported feeling the same.
The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education said that while there has been a “welcome” increase in the number of characters of colour in children’s books over the last five years, the increase “should be viewed with cautious optimism, firstly because it remains a very low figure and secondly because we cannot risk complacency at this point”.
IBC also announced a new set of awards, opening for submissions on Monday 18 September, which recognise the best new inclusive books published in the UK across three categories: books for babies and toddlers aged 1–3, picture books for ages 3–7 and children’s fiction for ages 5–9. A judging panel will award £10,000 to the winning book in each category.
Fabia Turner, head of content for IBC, said that the site has “everything from relatable everyday stories to fantastic magical adventures – books to enthuse all children, suiting a wide range of reader needs and tastes”. IBC adviser Jake Hope added that every book on the website is “carefully appraised to explore the types of representation that feature in it, considering the role characters play in the book, the types of world they inhabit, and the motivation and agency they possess. They help everyone to feel part of a world of stories and ideas that fire young hearts, minds and imaginations.”
