We got so excited about The Diverse Voices 50 greatest culturally diverse books that we decided to dedicate this week to exploring diversity of all kinds in children’s books.
This week is about celebrating the diverse books we have, but also asking a few questions!
First things first. What makes a diverse book? This means books by and about all kinds of people, as the UK and the world are full of all kinds of people. So that means boys, girls, all different colours, all different races and religions, all different sexualities and all different disabilities and anything else you can think of – so our books don’t leave anyone out.
Now here are some shocking stats: of the 3,200 children’s books published in 2013, only 93 were about black people, 34 about Native Americans, 69 about Asians and 57 about Latinos (people from South America). Not too good!
Our amazing children’s laureate Malorie Blackman told site member Megan TheBookAddictedGirl (watch the video here): “Growing up I wanted to read books that featured people of colour but having adventures and having stories; that’s a major part of the reason that I thought ‘there seem to be none, I’m going to write them myself.’”
More than 60 books later, Malorie has obviously done a great job of doing that, but does she feel the situation has improved since she was a girl in the 1970s? “I believe books were more diverse 10 or 15 years ago than they are now,” reveals Malorie. “And I feel if we want to make sure that our publishing industry flourishes and grows and more books are read by more people they have to be more diverse, you have to cater for the entire population, there should be more books about gay people and transgender people, people with disabilities, black people, asian people, of whatever race, and there aren’t enough.”
So that’s why this week is important and here’s what we’ve got planned. Live links will be added as they go up on the site!
Monday 13 October
Diverse Voices: the definitive and wonderous list of the 50 best culturally diverse books.
The Book Doctor: recommended reads for black history month.
Tuesday 14 October
Recommended diverse reads: authors tells us about culturally and otherwise diverse books they love – and we want to hear which ones you recommend! Email childrens.books@theguardian.com or share on @GdnChildrensBks and we’ll add yours. We want this blog to be as rich and huge as poss!
Benjamin Zephaniah interview – the poet, author and all round genius talks to teenagers from DG Readers, Deptford Green school’s book group, about growing up and his new book Terror Kid, which is our teen book of the month.
Also read a first chapter of Terror Kid and enter a comp to get hold of a copy for free!
Site member Patrick reports on the launch party for the 50 best culturally diverse books list.
Robin Talley: Can books change the world? (and why To Kill a Mockingbird still rocks).
Wednesday 15 October
SF Said on how books showed him it was all right to be different.
Sita Brahmachari on the importance of names in children’s books, and how she so desperately wanted to read about another Sita as a child.
Ni’ama B Robert on Muslim representation in children’s books.
Thursday 16 October
Top 10 disabled characters in children’s books. There aren’t enough but Kim Hood just about found 10. Yes, feel free to GET CROSS!
Megan Quibell AKA TheBookAddictedGirl was very nearly forced to go YALC as Xavier, the only recognisable disabled figure in fiction or comics – and that sucks! Here she talks about her frustration at the lack of disabled characters in children’s books.
Test your skills in our epic diverse lit quiz.
Friday 17 October
Sci-fi author Corinne Duyvis, who also happens to be autistic (read this), on the decline of “issue” books.
Authors and Illustrators Ros Asquith, Alex Strick and Sean Stockdale tell us about the Inclusive Minds Everybody In campaign and why you should join it.
Shaun Tan’s gorgeous Diverse Universe The Arrival gallery, with captions by Shaun
Saturday 18 October
To celebrate Black History month, we have a fascinating picture gallery on footballer and war hero Walter Tull, with captions by Michaela Morgan.
Discussion: site member Scouting for Books on why teen fiction isn’t as diverse as it could be.
Sunday 19 October
