The number of children’s books featuring Black main characters published in the United Kingdom declined by nearly 8% in 2025, according to new research examining diversity in children’s literature. Of the 2,189 titles aimed at readers under 10 released last year, only 47 featured Black protagonists, marking a 7.8% decrease from 2024. Black children comprise approximately 8.5% of that age group in England and Wales.
The study, conducted by the literacy charity Inclusive Books for Children, also found significant drops in representation for other ethnic groups. Books with South Asian main characters fell by 14.3% to just 1.4% of titles, despite South Asian children making up about 12.4% of the under-10 population. Representation of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) protagonists saw an even sharper decline, with only three titles published in 2025—a 50% reduction from the previous year—and representing just 0.1% of books. This is disproportionately low compared to the group’s 2.2% share of the young population.
Overall, only 150 of the surveyed books—6.9%—featured main characters from minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled individuals, or neurodivergent communities. Of these, more than one-third (37.3%) were created by authors or illustrators without shared backgrounds with their characters.
The report highlighted a significant decrease in disabled representation in picture books, which dropped by 60% to only two titles in 2025. Neither of these books was produced by disabled creators. The research also pointed to a general lack of "incidental representation," meaning stories where characters’ identities do not directly drive the plot. Dr. Stella Louis, an early years consultant and author, emphasized concerns about the persistence of identity-focused narratives. She questioned why children with diverse backgrounds could not simply be heroes in everyday stories about friendship, adventure, or emotion without their identity being the central theme.
On a more positive note, representation of neurodivergent characters in picture books increased from three titles in 2024 to 13 in 2025. Additionally, the baby and toddler category saw a 29.4% rise in books featuring marginalized main characters.
Author Serena Patel underscored the importance of diverse representation in early childhood literature, stressing that children need access to inspiring and relatable stories that reflect both familiar and different experiences. She called for greater efforts to improve inclusivity in children’s publishing to support children’s understanding of themselves and the world around them.