The book the UK publishing industry needs to read
If there's one thing that I could give to everybody working in children's literature today it would be this book. From booksellers, librarians, agents, publishers to influencers, everyone should read this. because representation and inclusivity in the industry isn't where it needs to be and the overwhelming majority of people working in children's literature in the UK do not come from racially minoritised backgrounds.
This is a collection of brilliant essays from Darren Chetty and Karen Sands O’Connor many of which were first published in Books for Keeps, a free online periodical dedicated to children's literature. My experience of reading much of this was profound relief, sometimes it can feel like you're the only constantly pointing out the issues we have with representation and diversity. These articles look at issues in classic children literature, lack of diverse histories, and issues with the dehumanisation of children to try to make points about inclusion. And beyond highlighting things I definitely knew it also raised questions I hadn't considered, like the countryside still being the preserve of white middle class children in books, the persistence of colonial and empire narratives, and the representation of Jewish and Palestinian children in literature. It also highlights where it looks like books are ticking boxes for diversity but on examination are reinforcing unhelpful and damaging cultural stereotypes. It also left me with a huge list of great books to go and seek out.
If you work in this industry or just have an interest in this field please get a copy of this collection of articles. They are excellent and very needed.