Excluded Voices report
Own Voice representation in the creation of UK children’s books published from 2014 to 2023
We are proud to present the inaugural Excluded Voices report, commemorating the anniversary of the launch of Inclusive Books for Children.
The report examines the extent to which British authors and illustrators from marginalised communities have had input into the creation of Own Voice stories for children aged 1 to 9, including books for babies and toddlers, picture books and young children’s fiction.
The report surveys 635 traditionally published children’s books featuring marginalised main characters, all produced in the UK from 2014 to 2023.
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Key findings from the report
- Of the 635 books surveyed, 568 contained marginalised main characters. However, a majority — 58.5% — of these books were not written or illustrated by British Own Voice creators.
Black and ambiguously Black or brown main characters comprised 78.3% of the minoritised ethnic characters in the books analysed. Notably, most of these books (53%) were written and illustrated by white creatives.
Books with main characters from other specific ethnic groups (ie, South Asian, East and South East Asian), as well as disabled and neurodivergent main characters, were scarce across all book types.
Books for babies and toddlers showed the greatest lack of Own Voice representation. Only 56 books with main characters from marginalised groups were published over the 10 years, and 83.9% of those were created by individuals not from those groups
Only 3% of books for babies and toddlers with diverse casts were by creators from marginalised groups
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If you need any help accessing this report or have any questions, please contact us at: contact@inclusivebooksforchildren.org