Editorial 257
Who are we missing?
Another year draws to a close and BfK is still here*, still offering independent and informed reviews, interviews, articles and comment. Huge thanks – and a restful Christmas – to our team of writers and reviewers. Between them, the latter have read and reviewed over 400 books in 2023, so deserve to put their feet up.
As our November issue goes live, CLPE have just published their fifth Reflecting Realities report and Farrah Serroukh explores its findings and impact for BfK readers in this issue, and the challenges that remain. The latest set of data shows that 20% of children’s books (picturebooks, fiction and non-fiction for ages 3–11) published in 2021 feature a minority ethnic character, a significant increase from the 4% reported in the first report, published 2017. The increase of representative titles published also corresponds with an increase in the presence of ethnic minority main characters, with 9% of the children’s books published in 2021 featuring minority ethnic main characters, up from 1% in 2017. However, while this slow but positive growth is to be welcomed there remains a significant disparity between the demographic make-up of story worlds compared to the world as actually experienced by young readers.
A separate report undertaken by online personalised children’s book company Wonderbly asked 1,000 children aged six to 12 in the UK, and their parents, their thoughts on representation and 37% of children questioned said they don’t feel represented in the books they read. Characteristics children hadn’t seen in their books, according to the survey, were physical disabilities, different locations children can live such as in the city or the country, and skin conditions. When asked which were least represented by main character traits, parents identified being transgender, being physically disabled and having alopecia.
Elsewhere, there has been debate this year about representation of working-class authors, and Natasha Carthew, a BfK contributor, arguing that their voices in fiction are still on the margins and largely unheard. We will be examining working class representation in children’s books in our next issue, do get in touch with your comments by email.
For the sharp-eyed who noticed the * in our opening sentence, this is a reminder that Books for Keeps still needs your help: if you can, please make a donation, either via our Givey site or Paypal. Thank you to everyone who has contributed, your support means a great deal.
