Key facts
- 2.1% of children's books published for under-10s in 2025 featured a Black main character.
- Black children make up about 8.5% of the under-10 population in England and Wales.
- Representation of South Asian main characters fell to 1.4% in 2025.
- Children of South Asian heritage make up about 12.4% of the under-10 population.
- Only three books featured main characters of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) heritage in 2025.
- The number of children's books with disabled main characters in picture books dropped by 60% in 2025.
The number of children's books featuring Black main characters in the UK fell by 7.8% in 2025, according to research by the literacy charity Inclusive Books for Children. Just 47 books, or 2.1% of those published for children under 10, featured a Black main character, despite Black children making up approximately 8.5% of that age group in England and Wales.
Representation for other minority groups also declined. Books featuring South Asian main characters fell by 14.3 percentage points to 1.4%, while children of South Asian heritage constitute about 12.4% of the under-10 population. Books with Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) main characters dropped by 50% to just three titles, representing 0.1% of surveyed books, compared to their 2.2% share of the population.
Overall, only 6.9% of the surveyed books featured main characters from minority ethnic, disabled, or neurodivergent backgrounds. Of these, 37.3% were created by authors or illustrators who did not share the characters' backgrounds. Author Sheena Patel emphasized the importance of books reflecting children's lives, stating, "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 also noted a sharp decline in the representation of disabled characters in picture books, falling by 60% to just two titles in 2025, neither by a disabled creator. Dr Stella Louis highlighted a lack of "incidental representation," where characters from diverse backgrounds are heroes of ordinary stories rather than their identity being the sole focus.
All three MENA-themed books published in 2025 were refugee narratives, a point of concern for Arab author Nadine Kaadan, who stated it risks reinforcing a "single story" about the region. However, there were some positive signs: neurodivergent representation increased in picture books to 13 titles, and books with marginalized main characters in the baby and toddler category rose by 29.4%. Children's book consultant Jack Hope stressed the need for stories to reflect children's lives and identities, especially given current low reading enjoyment.