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Children's books featuring Black protagonists fall 8% in UK, study finds

Decline in diversity across underrepresented groups, charity report shows

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
The number of children's books published in the UK featuring Black main characters fell by nearly 8% last year, according to new research from the literacy charity Inclusive Books for Children. The report, which surveyed 2,189 books for under-10s published in 2025, found that just 47 titles (2.1%) had a Black main character, a decrease from the previous year. Black children make up about 8.5% of this age group in England and Wales.

The study also revealed sharp falls in representation for other minority groups. Books with south Asian main characters dropped to 1.4% of all titles surveyed, despite children of south Asian heritage accounting for roughly 12.4% of the under-10 population. Only three books featured main characters of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) heritage, a 50% decline from 2024, representing 0.1% of books compared with the group's 2.2% share of the population.

Overall, just 150 books (6.9%) featured main characters from minority ethnic, disabled or neurodivergent backgrounds. Of these, 37.3% were written or illustrated by creators who did not share the background of their characters.

Representation of disabled characters in picture books was particularly poor. The number of picture books with a disabled main character fell by 60% in 2025 to just two titles, neither of which was by a disabled creator.

Author Sheena Patel said: "At an age when children are figuring out the world around them and where they fit in, it's vital they have access to funny, inspiring, adventurous books that reflect both the lives they live and the ones they don't. We must do better."

The report highlighted a lack of what it called "incidental representation", where a character's identity does not drive the plot. Early years consultant Dr Stella Louis pointed to a continued reliance on books where identity itself is the story, asking why a child cannot simply be south Asian, disabled, or from another background without it being the central narrative.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Children from underrepresented backgrounds see fewer reflections of themselves in books, which can affect self-esteem and reading engagement.
  • The decline reverses progress made in recent years and suggests publishing industry diversity initiatives may be losing momentum.
  • If trends continue, the gap between the demographic reality of UK classrooms and the books available will widen further.

Background

Inclusive Books for Children is a UK charity that monitors diversity in children's publishing. Its annual survey examines baby and toddler books, picture books, and fiction for children up to age nine. The 2025 study shows a retreat in representation after some gains earlier in the decade. Publishing houses have faced growing pressure to improve diversity, but the new data suggests progress has stalled or reversed in several categories.

Key Perspectives

[Publishers]: Some publishers have publicly committed to diversity targets, but the report indicates these have not translated into sustained output. Trade bodies often cite market demand and creative freedom as factors. [Authors and Illustrators]: Creators from underrepresented backgrounds argue that the industry's gatekeeping and risk aversion limit the stories that get commissioned. They call for more intentional commissioning and better support for diverse talent. [Critics/Skeptics]: Skeptics caution against quotas and argue that forcing diversity can lead to tokenism. They emphasise quality over demographic matching, though no major publisher has publicly defended the current decline.

What to Watch

  • Next year's data from Inclusive Books for Children to see if 2025 was an anomaly or the start of a longer trend.
  • Responses from major UK publishers and trade associations, including any new diversity pledges.
  • Campaigns by advocacy groups and authors pushing for more inclusive commissioning practices in the run-up to the next survey.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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