Children’s books featuring Black protagonists fell 8% over a year, study finds

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 OCTOBER 2026 —

UK Children’s Publishing Sees Sharp Decline in Books Featuring Black, Minority Ethnic and Disabled Characters as Diversity Representation Hits Record Low

The number of children’s books published in the UK with Black main characters fell by 7.8% in 2025, dropping to just 47 titles—a figure that now represents only 2.1% of the 2,189 books released for children under 10, according to a new study by the literacy charity Inclusive Books for Children.

The decline comes despite Black children making up 8.5% of the under-10 population in England and Wales, underscoring a widening gap between publishing trends and demographic reality.

The report, which surveyed baby books, picture books, and fiction for children up to nine years old, reveals a broader crisis in representation. Only 150 books (6.9%) featured main characters from minority ethnic, disabled, or neurodivergent backgrounds, with 37.3% of these titles written or illustrated by creators who did not share the same identity as their characters.

The findings suggest that while some progress has been made in certain areas—such as neurodivergent representation, which rose from three to 13 titles in picture books—other groups have seen dramatic setbacks.

Representation of South Asian main characters plummeted by 14.3 percentage points, falling to just 1.4% of surveyed books, despite South Asian children accounting for 12.4% of the under-10 population. Meanwhile, books featuring Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) heritage characters dropped by 50%, with only three titles published in 2025—all of which centered on refugee narratives.

The study’s authors warned that this narrow framing risks reinforcing a "single story" of the region, erasing broader cultural and everyday experiences.

The decline in disabled representation was particularly stark, with the number of picture books featuring disabled main characters falling by 60%, down to just two titles—neither of which was written by a disabled creator. The report also highlighted a lack of "incidental representation"—stories where a child’s identity does not define the plot.

Instead, many books still treat marginalized identities as the sole focus, rather than integrating them into broader narratives of adventure, friendship, or everyday life.

Critics of the industry’s trends expressed alarm at the findings. Serena Patel, a children’s author, stated: "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." Dr. Stella Louis, an early years consultant, echoed this concern, asking: "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?"

The study also noted some limited progress in certain categories. In the baby and toddler book segment, the number of titles featuring marginalized main characters rose by 29.4%, suggesting that early childhood literature may be improving in diversity.

However, the overall trend remains troubling, with Jake Hope, a children’s book consultant, warning: "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—they must drive real change."

The report’s release coincides with growing global debates over cultural representation in media, particularly in regions like Malaysia, where discussions on localized storytelling and inclusivity in children’s literature have gained traction.

While the UK study focuses on a different demographic, its findings may prompt reflection on how Malaysian publishers and educators approach diversity in youth literature, where underrepresented groups—such as indigenous communities, children with disabilities, and those from minority ethnic backgrounds—often remain sidelined in published works.

For now, the UK’s publishing industry faces mounting pressure to address the systemic underrepresentation of marginalized children in books. With Black, South Asian, and disabled children continuing to be overlooked in mainstream children’s literature, the question remains: Will publishers act before another generation of young readers grows up feeling unseen in the stories they read?