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'


12 Must-Read April Children’s Book Releases

April children's book releases feature new books by award winning authors like Kyle Lukoff and Dan Santat as well as fantastic debuts. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-04-08 10:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book releases #april children #dan santat #children's book #children’s book


Colin Kaepernick talks about his new venture: Children’s book author

The activist-quarterback discusses the defining moment that sparked his new children’s book, ‘I Color Myself Different.' Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-04-06 09:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book author #defining moment #children’s book


Hannah Gold’s The Last Bear wins Waterstones children’s book prize

‘Triumphant debut’ with environmental theme, illustrated by Levi Pinfold, is awarded £5,000 prize by the chain’s booksellersA timely adventure story that tackles environmental themes has been named winner of this year’s Waterstones children’s book prize.The Last Bear by Hannah Gold, illustrated... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-03-31 19:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book prize #hannah gold #environmental theme #named winner #waterstones children #children’s book


Ted Cruz May Have Just Boosted Sales For The Anti-Racist Children's Book He Attacked

"Antiracist Baby" is a No. 1 bestseller on Amazon a day after the GOP senator railed against it during Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2022-03-23 19:18:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ted cruz #boosted sales #antiracist baby #children's book


Ann Voskamp to Debut a ‘Song-Like’ Children’s Book

Bestselling author Ann Voskamp is celebrating belonging, love, and the difference one person can make in her first children’s book, 'Your Brave Song,' which will be released by Tyndale Kids next February. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ann voskamp #bestselling author


More Children’s Books Awards: Carnegie and Greenaway Shortlists

The United Kingdom's based book award duo, Carnegie and Greenaway, have 16 shortlisted titles between them. The post More Children’s Books Awards: Carnegie and Greenaway Shortlists appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-03-21 07:50:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #united kingdom #book award


Children’s Books by Black Authors: A Reading List 

A reading list hints at the richness and breadth of African American children’s writing before Brown v. Board of Education. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-03-19 09:00:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #black authors


Books world auction for Ukraine offers more than 350 lots

With bidding still open, fundraiser whose lots include the chance to appear in books by Lenny Henry and Peter James and lunch with Jeremy Bowen has raised £37,000An auction of signed books, experiences and mentoring sessions from the British literary community to raise money for Ukraine has... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-03-14 16:18:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books coming #lenny henry #peter james #mentoring sessions #raise money #nancy mitford #douglas stuart #launch event #young mungo #shuggie bain #literary community


Children’s Books Edition: Agent Karolina Jaszecka’s Outlook for Bologna

The Barcelona-based literary agent Karolina Jaszecka heads for Bologna with a specialty in Polish literature for young readers. (Sponsored) The post Children’s Books Edition: Agent Karolina Jaszecka’s Outlook for Bologna appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-03-11 13:30:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bologna appeared #post children #books edition #young readers #literary agent


Ukrainian children’s book to be published in UK as charity fundraiser

Author Larysa Denysenko wrote introduction to Maya and Her Friends while sheltering from missiles in Kyiv“As I write to you, rockets are flying outside my windows, and at a distance of 20km from my house, Russian aggressors are destroying the suburbs of Kyiv,” author Larysa Denysenko says in an... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-03-11 11:15:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bonnier #children’s book


Books That Help Us Talk With Children About War (shelftalker)

Conversation starters to help kids understand and process our world’s most dreadful events. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-03-04 13:52:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair Postponed From March to July

The ninth iteration of the China Shanghai International Children's Book is moving its 2022 dates to July, under COVID-19 restrictions. The post Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair Postponed From March to July appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-03-03 18:16:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #covid-19 restrictions #children's book #children’s book


Children’s Book Author Shirley Hughes has Died at 94

Shirley Hughes was the English author and illustrator of beloved picture books like Out and About, Dogger, and the Alfie series. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-03-02 13:57:50 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #shirley hughes #alfie series #english author #book author


Hamilton author had his children's book translated into a sign language, and says everyone should do it

Bruce Simpson self published Paislee and the Talking Tree, and put an American Sign Language version online. Members of the deaf community say such translations are still not that common with newer books and applaud the move. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2022-02-28 21:15:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book translated #sign language #children's book


Leonard Kessler, children’s author whose books endured, dies at 101

A writer and illustrator, he created more than 200 books for young readers, including the ode to individuality “Mr. Pine’s Purple House." Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-02-26 04:19:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #leonard kessler #young readers #purple house


Leonard Kessler, Colorful Children’s Book Author, Dies at 101

He crafted tales of everyday life for early readers. His “Mr. Pine’s Purple House,” first published in 1965, later inspired a new publishing company — and Jeff Bezos. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-02-24 23:32:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #leonard kessler #book author #everyday life #early readers #purple house #jeff bezos #children’s book


Bologna Children’s Book Fair: The 2022 Ragazzi Award Winners

With 14 jurors having worked their way through 2,215 submissions from 61 countries, the 2022 Bologna Ragazzi Award winners are announced. The post Bologna Children’s Book Fair: The 2022 Ragazzi Award Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-02-22 18:45:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bologna children #book fair #bologna ragazzi #children’s book


How Writing a Children’s Book is an Antidote to Doomsday Thinking

An unspoken tradition hints that going to the source is good for the story you want to write. The trouble often is that we have no idea what that source may be. Sometimes we think it is sheer research and we spend time in libraries. Often, we think it’s where the action of the proposed […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-02-22 09:52:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #doomsday thinking #spend time #children’s book


Bologna Children’s Book Fair Names Its 56th Illustrators’ Exhibition Winners

This year, Bologna Children's Book Fair's Illustrators' Exhibition features winning work from 78 artists in 29 international markets. The post Bologna Children’s Book Fair Names Its 56th Illustrators’ Exhibition Winners appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-02-07 04:17:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bologna children #book fair #bologna children’s book fair #children's book #children’s book


The World of YA Book Covers

Let's take a peek at a handful of YA book covers with different, compelling, and interesting designs outside of the US. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-02-06 11:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ya book