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
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 ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#finding success
#nonfiction children
#children’s book
Kids don’t feel burdened by carrying physical books; they feel girded with the tools of their own entertainment. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2019-11-01 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#kids don
One of Yang Hongying's most successful series now is 12 years old and has sold more than 70 million copies. Her total unit sales exceed 160 million units. The post Yang Hongying: One of China’s Bestselling Children’s Book Authors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-11-01 05:30:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#bestselling children
#book authors
#children’s book
The Booksellers Association has named Abi Elphinstone’s “captivating” story The Snow Dragon as its book of the month for November. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-01 01:30:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#booksellers association
#children's book
More than 33% of students at UK schools are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, but only 4% of the protagonists in children's books in the UK are BAME. The publishing industry has made big claims about its push for inclusivity both on and off the page, but some believe progress is... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-10-29 10:10:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#uk schools
#publishing industry
#children's book
Ian Parker has spent two years painting 35 illustrations for a children's book using just his mouth. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2019-10-26 23:05:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#children's book
While all fiction writers can pull characters from their imaginations and commit them to the page, most readers can’t do what Charley Sutherland can: pull characters from the page and commit them to the real world. Sutherland’s fantastical ability is at the center of H.G. Parry’s debut novel The... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-25 08:46:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#read books
#fiction writers
#real world
#debut novel
Oxford University Press has snapped up the stand-alone debut children’s novel from BBC Sports reporter Joe Wilson. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-24 19:41:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#debut children
#oxford university press
Beano has launched a new book subscription service for children offering newly published books across a wide range of authors and genres. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-23 16:43:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#book club
#wide range
#children’s book
The first novel I published with a major house was about a murder I covered as a reporter when I was in my early twenties. The victim, who was my age, and lived in my neighborhood, disappeared in the winter and her body was found in the summer in a shallow grave in the woods […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-22 08:48:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#major house
#early twenties
#first novel
A pair of friends crowdfunding to build the “best non-fiction book club in the world” have surged past their £100,000 target. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-09 18:14:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#non-fiction book
“The Life and Loves of E. Nesbit” delivers the fascinating personal story of the beloved author. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2019-10-09 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#beloved author
Leicester County Council has published the UK’s first storybook written by children in care. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-07 20:29:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this |
Tbilisi has been named UNESCO's 2021 World Book Capital, and the Georgian city will have the honor handed over to it by Kuala Lumpur. The post Tbilisi Named UNESCO’s World Book Capital for 2021 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-10-07 19:49:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#kuala lumpur
#world book
Bolinda has acquired exclusive audio rights to Sophie Dahl’s debut children’s book, Madame Badobedah. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-03 01:37:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#debut children
#children's book
Books from Puffin authors Roald Dahl and Paul McCartney are to be made available for purchase on Yoto, an audio platform for children that plays content using smart cards. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-01 14:08:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#puffin
Legal Action Group will publish a children's book based on the life of Supreme Court president Lady Hale next month. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-25 19:10:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#publish children
#book based
#lady hale
#children's book
#children’s book
Simon & Schuster Children’s UK has signed a series of picture books written and illustrated by animator Steve Small. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-24 23:19:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#books written
Earth can be an exhausting place, so let's look beyond our planet and explore these science fiction books about space and other worlds. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-09-24 10:35:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#science fiction
Pete Selby, head of books for W H Smith, has called on the book industry to make the high street more diverse and inclusive for young readers, saying that diversity is going to become a "significant" part of WHS' strategy. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-22 19:12:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with:
#pete selby
#high street
#young readers
#book industry