Keisha Ehigie and Dr. Nicola Lester argue that children's books should better reflect the diverse world, as representation boosts reading enjoyment, emotional development, and academic success. They highlight a concerning drop in ethnic minority main characters in children's books despite the high percentage of ethnic minority schoolchildren in England.
Children’s books should reflect the diverse world they live in
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Keisha Ehigie and Dr. Nicola Lester argue that children's books should better reflect the diverse world, as representation boosts reading enjoyment, emotional development, and academic success. They highlight a concerning drop in ethnic minority main characters in children's books despite the high percentage of ethnic minority schoolchildren in England.
Trending- 1 June 5: Letters regarding Gen Z parents not reading to children published.
- 2 2022: Ethnic minority main characters in children's books at 14% (CLPE report).
- 3 2023: Ethnic minority main characters dropped to 7% (CLPE report).
- 4 Later this year: Study with University of Manchester due to be published.
- 5 June 10: Article published.
- If diversity isn't addressed, children's reading enjoyment and development may suffer
- If addressed, increased confidence, empathy, and academic success for children
What: Keisha Ehigie and Dr. Nicola Lester argue that children's books should reflect the diverse world they live in, as current diversity is falling, impacting children's reading enjoyment and development.
When: Published 2025-06-10. CLPE report data from 2022 and 2023. Study due to be published later this year.
Where: United Kingdom (England, University of Manchester).
Why: To increase children's enjoyment of reading, support emotional development and academic success, build empathy and understanding, and address the falling representation of ethnic minority characters in children's books.
How: By advocating for stories that feel relevant, spark curiosity, and reflect real lives and diverse communities.