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 ]
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It’s never too early to learn that racism is wrong and we should be doing something about it. These books will help show our kids how, writes publisher and bookseller Aimée FeloneDo the work: Layla F Saad’s anti-racist reading list The weight of the world seems heavier than ever right now. The... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2020-06-04 07:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent press Broken Sleep Books is to appoint an editorial board, in a move that expands the company. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-03 22:08:53 UTC ]
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Fitness guru Joe Wicks is leaving Bluebird for HarperCollins, signing a multi-book deal for adult lifestyle and children's titles with the publisher. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-03 00:41:19 UTC ]
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"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling is releasing her new book, "The Ickabog," in free online installments. The first two chapters are out now. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-05-26 19:33:57 UTC ]
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Máire Zepf and Sarah Crossan are among the winners at KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-19 00:57:46 UTC ]
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National Book Tokens and Puffin have joined forces to launch a new writing competition for children across the UK and Ireland. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-17 13:20:46 UTC ]
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The virtual 2020 Bologna Children's Book Fair is running through Thursday, and includes the 2020 Children's Publishers of the Year announcement. The post Bologna Children’s Book Fair Online This Week Names 2020 Best Publishers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-05-05 14:13:20 UTC ]
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CEO Jessica Ewing said frontline employees deserve to benefit from the company's growth this year, as parents look for ways to entertain and intellectually nourish their children during the pandemic. Literati, which runs a subscription service for children's books, could be shipping "about a... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal
[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2020-05-01 05:01:00 UTC ]
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In the run-up to November’s presidential election, publishers are courting readers who won’t be eligible to cast ballots this year or, in some cases, for many years to come. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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“Big Idea,” “The Magical Yet,” “I Am Leonardo da Vinci” and other new books that delight and teach. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2020-04-30 15:50:46 UTC ]
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Looking back and charting changes in a business as multi-faceted and all-encompassing as children’s books is a tricky business. Given that the peak titles from the past last a very long time while most titles fade away fairly fast and the least successful disappear surprisingly completely it is... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-29 19:37:34 UTC ]
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Katherine Rundell has put together The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Encourage Children in Lockdown, and the collection is available to download free on the National Literacy Trust website. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-28 07:24:36 UTC ]
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Random House Children’s Books will launch Magic Tree House Home Adventures, an online program of activities, crafts, recipes, reading challenges, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-04-24 17:57:06 UTC ]
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In Malaysia as it launches its World Book Capital year under the restrictions of the pandemic, the city's mayor quotes the Quran and 'Winne the Pooh.' The post Kuala Lumpur Opens its World Book Capital Year appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-23 16:33:24 UTC ]
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International publishing organizations are calling on this unique World Book and Copyright Day for support urgently needed by the books business—in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The post World Book Day Messages: Appeals for the International Industry appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-23 15:50:28 UTC ]
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An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web! Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-04-23 10:30:24 UTC ]
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Sharjah's 2019 World Book Capital concludes in a live stream from the UAE, after announcing grants from its new Access Sharjah incubator. The post Sharjah World Book Capital Holds a Closing Ceremony Online appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-22 13:51:20 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury Children's Books has acquired fantasy author Lev Grossman's first children's book,The Silver Arrow. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-22 07:26:16 UTC ]
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YouTube book recommendation series the National Shelf Service has announced a series of World Book Night broadcasts, to feature a bedtime reading hour with poet and author Joseph Coelho. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-21 10:36:13 UTC ]
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On “Mondays With Michelle Obama,” which begins today at 12pm EST, and will run from through May 11, the former first lady will livestream a reading of a classic children’s book as part of the PBS Kids Read-Along series. She joins an ever-expanding pool of celebrities reading books for kids... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-20 14:10:58 UTC ]
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