It's important that all children should feel seen and represented in the books that they read, whether that's through the characters, or the story itself.
Having lots of different books written by a wide range of authors helps your children to get excited about the books they've chosen, and enables them to pick up books that they can relate to. Access to diverse books also means that children can learn about people in different situations to themselves, promoting empathy and kindness, and helps to create a wider reading diet.
Though are many wonderful titles available to help with representation, today I am sharing just six recommendations of titles to add to your shelves.
The Woodcutter and the Snow Prince
Ian Eagleton's latest picture book release is not only stunning on the outside, it's also packed with beautiful illustrations and a lovely heart-warming story on the inside. A fresh take on the usual trope, The Woodcutter and the Snow Prince follows Kai as he makes a journey on Christmas Eve to find the Snow Prince, who might just not be as fearsome as the villagers once believed.
I'm a huge fan of retellings, and I love finding new stories which challenge and bend the typical plot. This is a perfect story for all ages, and helps to show that fairytales can happen for anyone!
I Can Catch a Monster by Bethan Woollvin
Bethan Woollvin is one of my favourite picture book authors and illustrators; her fierce and feminst fairytale retellings are hilarious, and always make me laugh out loud, no matter how often I read them. The particular title I'm recommending today, I Can Catch a Monster, challenges gender sterotypes and is the perfect title to have in school to show that girls can fight monsters too.
Planet Omar Ultimate Rocket Blast by Zanib Mian
This five book series by Zanib Mian has proven popular among schools and children, and it's not hard to see why! Perfect for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, these laugh out loud and engaging books are packed with cartoon-like illustrations and feature a Muslim family. These books would make great additions to your shelves.
Creeping Beauty by Joseph Coelho
Joseph Coelho, our new Children's Laureate until 2024, has recently added to his popular Fairytales Gone Bad series with Creeping Beauty. These dark fairytale retellings are told through verse, making them engaging and exciting for all KS2 children. The illustrations by Freya Hartas compliment the story perfectly, and help more children to see themselves reflected in these classic tales.
Can You Feel the Noise? by Stewart Foster
If you don't have any Stewart Foster books on your shelves, I would definitely recommend that you pick some up! Stewart has published some brilliant books that feature different themes relating to disability and mental health. His latest release, Can You Feel the Noise, is all about peseverance and carrying on through a life changing event, after musician Sophie wakes up one morning realising that she is deaf. The story is also based on the author's real experience, which makes it an even more important read.
Fantastically Great Women by Kate Pankhurst
This wonderfully illustrated book features tales of women from around the world who have made history. With familiar faces, and some you won't recognise, this is a a great collection for your children to have access to. Not only for girls to be able to see that anything is possible, but for children of all genders to learn about and appreciate women who have helped to make the world what it is today. This particular edition is a bind up of the four Fantastically Great Women books published so far, so would be a great gift or special edition to keep in your classroom or library.
I hope that this post has helped to inspire you and has given you some ideas for books to add to your classroom or library! Here at Madeleine Lindley Ltd we are passionate about getting books into children's hands, and that includes diverse books in all areas, so if you need any advice or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact us. If you are a teacher or work at a school and would be interested in these type of books, find out more about our school library supply service.
- Bookseller Amy Jane
