The Guardian view on children’s books: a restricted view of a wide world | Editorial

Almost a third of school-age children are from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. But they will still struggle to find characters who resemble themselvesBooks can show us the world both as it is, and as it could be – “mirrors and windows”, as the author Malorie Blackman notes. For children, they are currently falling short on both counts. In the pages of a picture or chapter book, readers have their experience affirmed or glimpse exciting new possibilities: mastering a fear of the dark, or travelling through space. Yet a young black or Asian child picking up a book today is more likely to encounter a rabbit than a protagonist who looks like them, says the expert who has led a new review of representation, Reflecting Realities. This is astonishing in an age when 32% of school-age children are from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds; and is bad news not only for them but for all young readers. Publishers are offering a dated, narrow and skewed picture of the complex, diverse, interconnected world around them.Don’t blame Beatrix Potter. This is not a historic, cumulative problem; the new research covers only books published in 2017. The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education asked publishers to submit titles with BAME characters and received fewer than 400, set against the roughly 9,000 books published for children aged three to 11. Quality and sheer variety are as important as quantity. Only 1% of titles featured a BAME lead character; in a quarter of... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #bame characters #titles featured #bame protagonists #white boys

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Guardian view on children’s books: a restricted view of a wide world | Editorial'


Feds charge Russians linked to the 'world's largest' pirated e-book library

US law enforcement isn't just interested in shutting down video pirates. The feds have charged two Russian nationals, Anton Napolsky and Valeriia Ermakova, for allegedly running the pirate e-book repository Z-Library. The site was billed as the "world's largest library" and held over 11 million... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-17 21:44:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #russian nationals #copyright protections #november 3rd #copyright infringement #money laundering #wire fraud #digital book #authors guild #e-book


Book Riot’s Children’s Deals for November 16, 2022

Today’s edition of kids' book deals is sponsored by  Miami Book Fair Online`Miami Book Fair Online... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-11-16 14:58:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals #book fair


Shanghai’s Children’s Book Fair Changes Venue Amid COVID Constraints

Moving its dates for a third time this year, the Shanghai Children's Book Fair is changing venue in an effort to host the event in December. The post Shanghai’s Children’s Book Fair Changes Venue Amid COVID Constraints appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-09 18:16:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #shanghai children #post shanghai #book fair #children's book #children’s book


Christian Children's Book Publishers Eye Wider Market

Publishers are adding books they say are faithful to Biblical values, but not explicitly religious, leaving it to parents to draw connections. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #christian children #draw connections #children's book


Sharjah World Book Capital Supports a Fire-Damaged Italian Bookstore

The Bologna bookstore, Giannino Stoppani, was damaged by fire in May. Sharjah World Book Capital has contributed €50,000 to assist. The post Sharjah World Book Capital Supports a Fire-Damaged Italian Bookstore appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-11-08 12:43:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookstore #world book


Hitting the Books: How Pokemon took over the world

The impact of Japanese RPGs on pop and gaming culture cannot be overstated. From Final Fantasy and Phantasy Star to Chrono Trigger, NieR, and Fire Emblem — JRPGs have spanned console generations, bridged the Japanese and North American markets, spawned entire universes of IP and delivered... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-06 15:30:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #earn badges #social dynamics


Drusilla Park Jones, founder of a former antique children’s book shop in Baltimore, dies

Drusilla Jones, who owned an antique children’s book shop in Baltimore, died of end stage Alzheimer’s disease and diabetic complications Oct. 20 at Charter Senior Living. The Lutherville resident was 82. Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2022-11-04 09:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book shop #children’s book


Frankfurt 2022 from a Children's Book Perspective

We asked children's agents and scouts who attended the recent Frankfurt Book Fair to talk about trends they had noticed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #asked children #frankfurt book fair #children's book


Jamie Oliver and Geri Halliwell-Horner become the latest celebrities to announce children’s books

Publishers have faced criticism for producing books considered ‘an easy sell’ Chef Jamie Oliver and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner have become the latest celebrities to announce new children’s books, with experts saying there is no sign the celebrity-authored children’s book trend will... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-10-21 10:05:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jamie oliver #geri halliwell-horner #faced criticism #giant adventure #title character #penguin random house #children’s book


12 Must-Read October Children’s Book Releases

With empowering middle grade like Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and silly picture books, October children's book releases are pretty awesome! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-10-03 10:38:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book releases #october children #pretty awesome #children's book #children’s book


Book World began on Watergate’s heels: A look back at the early days

Michael Dirda recalls a time of typewriters and landlines, of putting together a newspaper section that captured the joy of literature and love of reading. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-09-22 15:00:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #early days


Reintroducing Book World

The Washington Post’s books section starts its new chapter, in print every Sunday and with a refurbished and revitalized presence online. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-09-21 15:00:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


4 witchy books from the world of science fiction and fantasy

Megan Giddings, Emily Lloyd Jones, Sangu Mandanna and Desideria Mesa add new twists to a popular subgenre. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-09-17 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #megan giddings #science fiction


Children’s Books Edition: Germany’s ‘Language Day-Care’ Debate

Many in Germany's book industry are protesting a planned removal from the federal budget of a reading-focused day-care program. The post Children’s Books Edition: Germany’s ‘Language Day-Care’ Debate appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-26 19:29:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post children #books edition #book industry


Big Children's Books for Fall 2022

According to a survey of booksellers PW conducted across the country, a broad selection of new releases for all ages and in all genres is certain to appeal to readers—particularly in the children’s category. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big children


Raymond Briggs, creator of children’s book ‘The Snowman,’ dies at 88

“The Snowman,” a picture book that tells the story of a boy whose snowman comes to life, sold millions of copies worldwide and became an Oscar-nominated film. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-08-10 19:54:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #raymond briggs #sold millions #copies worldwide #picture book #children’s book


Charlotte Pomerantz, Inventive Children’s Book Author, Dies at 92

Her imaginative use of words and lively rhymes entertained young readers, sometimes with a subtle message included, drawn from her own life. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-29 21:25:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book author #children’s book


Ronni Solbert, Children’s Book Illustrator, Dies at 96

She did the artwork for dozens of books, notably “The Pushcart War,” a parable about overcoming bullies, written by her partner, Jean Merrill. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-21 21:59:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book illustrator #children’s book


UNESCO Names Strasbourg Its World Book Capital 2024

France's Strasbourg is to begin its tenure as UNESCO's World Book Capital on April 23, 2024, as Accra concludes its year in the role. The post UNESCO Names Strasbourg Its World Book Capital 2024 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-07-20 20:26:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world book


Dredd zone: the anarchic world of comic-book artist Steve Dillon

His groundbreaking work on such seminal characters as Judge Dredd, Preacher and Punisher is being celebrated with a posthumous show of his remarkable legacyThere are few artists who exemplify the anarchic, irreverent and anti-authoritarian British take on the comic book the way Steve Dillon... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-30 13:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #executive producer #comic book