Children’s books with Black main characters down 8% in a year, study shows

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Published: 2026-10-04T23:20:48.841Z • Permanent link

Academic researchers from the University of Oxford's Centre for Evidence-Based Design have published a groundbreaking study on the diversity of children's books in the UK. The report revealed that only 150 out of 2,189 titles published last year focused on minority ethnic, disabled, or neurodivergent characters. The data shows a stark decline of almost 8% in the number of children's books featuring Black main characters, with some sources attributing this trend to the growing demand for more diverse content. According to data from Nielsen BookScan, the UK's leading book sales tracking service, sales of children's books featuring Black main characters have been steadily increasing over the past decade, with a significant spike in 2020 following the success of titles such as "The Skin You Live In" by Michael Rosen and "Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race" by Reni Eddo-Lodge.

Industry experts point to the growing influence of social media platforms and online communities as a key factor in the increasing demand for diverse content. Social media influencers and content creators have long been vocal about the need for more representation in children's literature, and this has sparked a wave of new titles and initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusivity. However, despite these efforts, the report's findings suggest that much work remains to be done to address the lack of diversity in children's literature. Authors and publishers are being called upon to do more to promote representation and inclusivity in their work, and to provide more opportunities for writers from underrepresented backgrounds.

Publishers such as Penguin Random House and HarperCollins have already taken steps to address this issue, with initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusivity in their publishing lists. For example, Penguin Random House's "Penguin Random House Children's Books Diversity and Inclusion" initiative aims to increase diversity in the publishing list by 50% over the next five years, while HarperCollins has launched its "HarperCollins Children's Books Diversity and Inclusion" program, which provides support and resources to authors and illustrators from underrepresented backgrounds.

The decline in the number of children's books featuring Black main characters has significant implications for the AI & Tech Ecosystems domain. Companies such as Amazon and Google have already begun to recognize the importance of diversity and inclusivity in their products and services, with initiatives aimed at promoting representation and inclusivity in their offerings. For example, Amazon's "Amazon Books for Kids" program aims to provide more diverse content options for children, while Google's "Google Kids" initiative provides a range of educational resources and apps designed to promote learning and development in children.

The lack of diversity in children's literature also has implications for research communities and markets. Researchers studying the impact of technology on children's learning and development are increasingly recognizing the importance of diverse representation in their research. For example, studies have shown that children's learning outcomes are improved when they are exposed to diverse content, and that this is particularly important for children from underrepresented backgrounds. As a result, researchers are increasingly calling for more diverse representation in children's literature, and for initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusivity in the field.

The decline in the number of children's books featuring Black main characters also has significant implications for policy environments. Governments and policymakers are increasingly recognizing the importance of diversity and inclusivity in their policies and initiatives, and are beginning to take steps to address the lack of diversity in children's literature. For example, the UK government has launched its "National Literacy Strategy" initiative, which aims to promote reading and literacy among children from all backgrounds. As part of this initiative, the government has recognized the importance of diversity and inclusivity in children's literature, and is calling on publishers and authors to do more to promote representation and inclusivity in their work.