The number of children’s books featuring Black main characters fell by almost ۸% last year, according to research into diversity in UK publishing.
Just ۴۷ – or ۲.۱% – of the ۲,۱۸۹ books published for under-۱۰s in ۲۰۲۵ featured a Black main character, a ۷.۸% fall from the previous year, according to Inclusive Books for Children. Black children make up about ۸.۵% of that age bracket in England and Wales.
Representation of south Asian main characters fell by ۱۴.۳ percentage points to ۱.۴%, despite children of south Asian heritage making up about ۱۲.۴% of the population of under-۱۰s. Just three books featured main characters of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) heritage, down ۵۰% from the previous year. This represented ۰.۱% of surveyed books, compared with the group’s ۲.۲% share of the population.
The research by the literacy charity found that only ۱۵۰ books – ۶.۹% of those surveyed – featured main characters from minority ethnic, disabled or neurodivergent backgrounds. Of these, ۳۷.۳% were written or illustrated by creators who did not share the background of their characters.
The 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 surveyed baby and toddler books, picture books and fiction for children aged up to nine. It found that representation of disabled characters in picture books fell sharply: the number with disabled main characters dropped by ۶۰% in ۲۰۲۵, to just two titles. Neither was by a disabled creator.
The survey also highlighted what it described as a lack of “incidental representation”: stories in which a main character’s identity does not explicitly drive the plot of the story.
Dr Stella Louis, an early years consultant, trainer and author, pointed to this “continued reliance” on books where identity itself was the story. “Why can’t a child simply be south Asian, disabled, neurodivergent or bilingual and also be the hero of an ordinary story about friendship, adventure, loss or joy?” she said.
The report found that all three books published in ۲۰۲۵ with MENA main characters were refugee narratives. The study authors said children of MENA heritage needed stories covering a broader range of themes and experiences.
“As an Arab author, it is painful to see the number of children’s fiction books representing our region decline from six to only three in ۲۰۲۵,” said Nadine Kaadan. She said the fact that all three books published were focused on refugee experiences risked reinforcing a “single story” about the region, defining it through “war and displacement rather than our rich cultures and heritage”.
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There were some signs of progress. Neurodivergent representation increased in picture books, from three titles in ۲۰۲۴ to ۱۳ last year. In the baby and toddler category, the number of books with marginalised main characters rose by ۲۹.۴%.
Jack Hope, a children’s book consultant, said: “When children’s enjoyment of reading is at a significant low, it’s more important than ever that the stories children encounter reflect their lives, identities, experiences and emotions.
“These figures need to be more than mere statistics and a call to action for continued change and improvements.”
