Study finds 8% drop in UK children's books featuring Black main characters
New research into diversity in children's publishing shows a decline in books representing Black, minority ethnic, disabled and neurodivergent characters.
Written by EGazette’s AI. The facts are drawn from cited sources; the analysis is the AI’s own.
The number of UK children's books featuring a Black main character fell by nearly 8% over the past year, according to new research into diversity within children's publishing.
The study, by Inclusive Books for Children, found that just 47 of the 2,189 books published in the UK for children under 10 in 2025 featured a Black main character — about 2.1% of titles. That marks a 7.8% decline compared with the previous year's figures.
The research also found that only 150 of the 2,189 titles focused on minority ethnic, disabled or neurodivergent characters altogether, pointing to a broader representation gap across several categories in children's literature.
The figures are notable given that Black children make up roughly 8.5% of the under-10 population in England and Wales, according to the report, suggesting representation in children's books for this age group continues to lag behind the demographic makeup of the audience they are intended for.
Wider context
Publishing industry groups and advocacy organisations have for several years tracked diversity metrics in children's literature, arguing that representation in books read during early childhood can shape how children see themselves and their peers.
Inclusive Books for Children compiles annual data on the diversity of characters appearing in UK children's publishing, tracking trends across race, disability and neurodivergence to monitor whether the industry's output reflects the population it serves.
The findings add to an ongoing conversation among publishers, authors and literacy campaigners about how to close persistent gaps in representation within the sector.
Sources
- Children’s books with Black main characters down 8% in a year, study shows — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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