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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Walker has acquired a middle grade adventure story set in Cornwall from the Sunday Times chief travel writer Chris Haslam, writing as C J Haslam. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-28 02:47:59 UTC ]
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The list includes a mix of books written originally in Spanish and in translation. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-11-26 10:00:03 UTC ]
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November is Picture Book Month, so these illustrated little gems are deservedly in the spotlight. In a recent blog post for Books Are Magic, novelist and bookstore owner Emma Straub curated a list of picture books. Among Straub’s picks for the best picture books of 2019 is a wonderful biography... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2019-11-25 12:00:00 UTC ]
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A reporter, editor and author, he co-wrote a biography of Stan Lee, oversaw a comics festival and started an award-winning website. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-11-21 22:50:30 UTC ]
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Peter Spier’s take on The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night is full of mischief and beauty. Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2019-11-21 12:30:01 UTC ]
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These inclusive children's books by women of color highlight awesome yet underrepresented communities like Sikh, indigenous, and Dominican. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-11-21 11:35:59 UTC ]
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Andy Ward has been named a new vice president and publisher at Random House. Formerly editor in chief, Ward moves into the spot long held by the beloved Susan Kamil, who died in September. Ward has edited the likes of David Mitchell, George Saunders, and Imbolo Mbue, and will see his role as... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-11-19 15:22:43 UTC ]
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The China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair is expected to nearly treble in size by 2022 and expand to a five-day event, organisers say. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-18 11:13:09 UTC ]
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John Lewis' Christmas advert has come under fire as author and former bookseller Jen Campbell highlighted the similarities between the advert and her children’s book Franklin’s Flying Bookshop (Thames & Hudson). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-18 10:24:18 UTC ]
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Science and STEM fiction ruled at the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair with the country's presses also interested in illustrated non-fiction, UK publishers say. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-17 17:44:37 UTC ]
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A new subscription service offering monthly deliveries of black children's literature has been launched in response to the lack of children’s books in the UK featuring BAME characters. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-17 16:01:04 UTC ]
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The bestselling children's book in China this year is still Charlotte's Web, as consumers continue to buy old favourites and the number of new titles is expected to fall. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-14 20:36:16 UTC ]
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Look forward to a trip around the world, and back in time, while learning the history of far flung places with these 2020 global historical fiction reads. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-11-14 11:32:10 UTC ]
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W H Smith has unveiled its Books of the Year, with the retailer recognising two children's books for the first time. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-13 15:22:56 UTC ]
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Sophy Henn has moved to Simon & Schuster Children’s UK from HarperCollins in a six-book deal spanning both picture books and fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-12 04:18:54 UTC ]
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A librarian explains the decision to draw the line over Macmillan's decision to embargo new release e-books in public libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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A plethora of books at the American Academy of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature annual conference examine the relationship between politics and religion in the age of Trump. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Film director Richard Curtis has signed a deal with Locksmith Animation to create an animated feature based on his festive children's books, in a project described as "Love Actually for kids". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-06 05:51:00 UTC ]
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Scholastic’s publisher for fiction and picture books, Sam Smith, is leaving the firm to join Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB). Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-06 05:13:44 UTC ]
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Publishers in many countries are finding success with nonfiction children’s books that offer illustrated explanations of complex concepts. The post Agent Stephanie Barrouillet: Nonfiction Leads Global Children’s Book Scene appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-11-04 06:30:22 UTC ]
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