Building Diverse Libraries: A Guide for Schools
"All of our children have the right to see themselves reflected in the stories available to them. Diversity is more than just seeing yourself reflected in the world of literature, it's about others being able to see you too. Every child should have a voice. No child should be invisible." Malorie Blackman, Children's Laureate 2013–2015
Discover the best titles that celebrate Diversity in Fiction.
What Do We Mean by Diversity in Libraries?
Diversity in school libraries means offering a wide range of books that reflect varied experiences, backgrounds, and identities, including different cultures, races, languages, abilities, family structures, and perspectives. This ensures that all students see themselves represented while also gaining understanding and empathy for others.
As expressed by Professor Rudine Sims Bishop, books are powerful tools that serve as windows, offering views into others' lives; mirrors, reflecting our own experiences; and sliding glass doors, allowing readers to step into diverse worlds, fostering empathy, understanding, and a sense of their place in a diverse society.
While diversity refers to the wide range of characteristics that make people unique, inclusion ensures that all individuals feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued within their community.
Think of diversity as the individual pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, each with distinct shapes, colours, and patterns. Inclusion is the completed puzzle, where all pieces fit together to form a harmonious whole. The library has a vital role to play in creating an inclusive environment by providing access to diverse resources that reflect the wide array of identities and experiences, helping to foster understanding, respect, and a sense of belonging for all students.
Why is it Important to Offer Diverse and Inclusive Reading Experiences for Children?
"Literature is probably the most powerful medium through which children have a chance to inhabit the lives of those who are like them… Children also need to learn about the lives of those whose experiences and perspectives differ from their own." Department for Education (DfE), The Reading Framework, July 2023
Books have a unique power to foster connection and empathy. Children need stories that reflect their own lives, making them feel seen, valued, and understood. At the same time, exposure to stories featuring characters from different backgrounds allows children to develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the world around them.
"Books create belonging. They help us see each other and understand one another. They shine a light on the world." Penguin Random House, Lit in Colour
Reading diverse and inclusive books prepares children to grow into compassionate, open-minded, and informed individuals, capable of thriving in an increasingly interconnected and multicultural world.
Find books that Celebrate Diversity and Inclusion.
How Can Diversity in Book Collections be Measured?
To assess the diversity of your school library, sample sections of your collection and evaluate the books based on key criteria:
- Do the books feature diverse main characters in terms of race, culture, religion, gender, or disability?
- Are diverse characters portrayed positively and authentically?
- Do the illustrations reflect children from different backgrounds?
- Do the books encourage empathy and understanding of various perspectives?
While Ofsted does not prescribe a specific ratio of diverse books, it is clear that they advocate for a curriculum and library resources that reflect the diverse society in which students live, ensuring that all students see themselves represented and gain understanding of others. Aiming for a collection that authentically represents the diverse backgrounds and experiences of your student body is essential. The School Library Association (SLA) and Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) also advocate for school libraries to provide materials reflecting diverse groups within society and their contributions to national identity.
To assess your library's diversity baseline, you can calculate the ratio of books featuring your chosen diversity criteria, such as diverse main characters. For example, if 18 out of 200 books feature diverse main characters, your diversity ratio is 9%. This figure serves as a starting point for evaluating and enhancing the inclusivity of your collection. Although time-consuming, this process is invaluable. Tackling one section of the library at a time makes it manageable, and being intentional about future book purchases ensures continuous improvement.
Regular audits and communications with students can help identify gaps and ensure that your library's resources meet the diverse needs of your school community. Engaging with initiatives like BookTrust's "Creating inclusive bookshelves: Why diversity matters" can also provide valuable insights and guidance.
Need to boost diversity in your library? Browse our Diversity in Fiction collections for inspiration.
How Has Diversity in Children's Literature Changed?
In recent years, there has been a welcome improvement in the availability of books featuring inclusive and diverse characters and storylines, especially for primary school children. These books now showcase wonderful voices for children to discover.
CLPE conducts an annual survey called Reflecting Realities, which identifies and evaluates ethnic representation in picture books, fiction, and non-fiction for children aged 3–11. The seventh annual report, published in November 2024, highlights a decrease in minority representation in children’s books for the first time since the survey began:
- The percentage of books featuring minority ethnic characters dropped from 30% in 2022 to 17% in 2023.
- The percentage of books featuring a main character from a racially minoritised background declined from 14% in 2022 to 7% in 2023.
This downturn highlights the ongoing need for renewed commitment from the publishing industry to improve both the quantity and quality of inclusive literature. With 33.9% of primary school-aged children in England coming from a minority ethnic background, there is still significant progress to be made.
As Sarah Crown, Director of Literature at Arts Council England, notes:
“A child’s life chances are improved by their access to and enjoyment of quality literature, and their engagement is enhanced when they see themselves and their experiences meaningfully reflected.”
What Are the Best Books to Promote Diversity in School Libraries?
Our team of book specialists at Badger Learning dedicates their time to reading and reviewing all newly published children’s literature to ensure we only offer the best of the best to include in our collections. Browse our Diversity in Fiction collections to discover what they’ve found!
These curated Diversity & Inclusion collections, tailored for reception to year 6, feature books with main characters from diverse ethnic backgrounds, refugee experiences, non-traditional families, and children living with disabilities. The books are engaging, adventurous, and empowering stories that children will love, while also promoting empathy, understanding, and inclusivity.
We understand your book budget needs to make a real impact, which is why we've ensured that these collections feature only the highest-quality books to support a meaningful, lasting shift towards diverse and inclusive reading experiences in schools.
It’s essential to ensure that primary school library books and reading experiences are as diverse and inclusive as possible. These carefully selected books celebrate ethnic diversity, diverse families, and refugees, as well as featuring characters living with disabilities. Our collections are age-appropriate and provide children the opportunity to see different perspectives, validate their own experiences, and embrace the similarities and differences in the lives of others. We’ve included works by a variety of diverse authors and illustrators.
It’s also important that the books children use to learn to read are diverse and inclusive. We work with the leading suppliers of reading schemes and recently published scheme books are far more diverse and inclusive than in the past. For instance, see Collins (publishers of Big Cat and Little Wandle), Pearson (publishers of Bug Club) and Oxford University Press for more information on how they are working to give visibility and representation to all readers.
Browse all Diversity in Fiction library collections or learn more about some of the books in these collections below:
Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion for EYFS
Ensure Reception pupils have the best books to promote understanding and empathy with this collection of brilliant, engaging, hopeful, funny, and adventurous stories they’ll love. A must-have collection for celebrating diversity and inclusion.
Featured title: Why Not? by George Webster
 Why Not? by George Webster offers an empowering representation of a protagonist with Down’s syndrome. This hugely uplifting and inspiring picture book by CBeebies sensation George Webster promotes acceptance, positivity, and the celebration of differences. If you reach for the stars, you can do anything! People are like story books, there's joy to find within. So, turn a page, come inside. and let the fun begin. Perfect for every child and every family, Why Not? is an energetic, heartfelt and positive story, with bright illustrations that are guaranteed to make you smile. Why Not? is sure to inspire everyone to give things a try — after all, why not?! |
Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion for KS1
This carefully curated collection of diverse and inclusive books helps schools ensure their library shelves feature books that speak to and resonate with all children in the school community. This pack is ideal for boosting representation in main school libraries or updating year 1 and year 2 classroom book collections.
Featured title: Football is for Everyone by Rico Hinson-King
 An empowering and authentic football story by Junior Premier League footballer Rico Hinson-King, illustrated by the beloved Nick Sharratt about bravery, teamwork and making sure EVERYONE is included. Charlie LOVES football. In fact, it is his life. All of his dreams come true when he gets a spot on a pro football team. However, at Charlie's school things aren't going so well as one of his friends starts leaving him out during football. Charlie notices that other children are being left out too - just because they are different. But Charlie knows that football is for EVERYONE so he starts a team where ALL are welcome, no matter who you are or what you look like. |
Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion for LKS2
This book collection is designed to foster pure reading joy first and foremost, but also to encourage understanding and respect among young readers for others. This pack features an array of captivating stories with characters that reflect the reader themselves or help them look more closely at their diverse world.
All of the books have been chosen for readers in years 3 and 4, aged 7–9.
Featured title: Marv and the Humongous Hamster by Alex Falase-Koya
 This book contains relatable multicultural characters and universal themes that promote empathy and understanding. When ordinary boy Marvin wears his super-suit, he becomes MARV. A superhero with infinite powers . . . |
Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion for UKS2
Update your library with some of the best books that we’ve found, featuring main characters who truly reflect the diversity of the society we live in — without stereotypes — and captivating stories that children in UKS2 will love.
Featured title: Yomi and the Fury of Ninki Nanka by Davina Tijani
 A fun, fresh and fast-paced series based on African mythology, Yomi is an adventure full of heart and humour. Yomi and her younger brother Kayode are supposed to be on the trip of a lifetime visiting The Gambia with their Uncle Olu. Instead, their uncle’s work has made this the most boring holiday ever! But when Yomi witnesses the Dragon King, Ninki Nanka, being kidnapped from the sky, things get a lot more exciting. Determined to save him, Yomi and Kayode uncover secrets and meet many magnificent beasts — but will it be enough to save Ninki Nanka? |
Celebrating Diversity & Inclusion for Primary
Celebrate diversity and inclusion in your school by choosing this collection, carefully made up of the very strongest books from our KS1 and KS2 ranges. Instantly inject some brilliant books into your school or classroom libraries and help your pupils connect with an amazing array of different voices and storylines.
Featured title: The Boy With Wings: Clash of the Superkids by Lenny Henry
 Join Tunde on his next superpowered mission in this hilarious, action-packed story that celebrates cultural heritage and explores themes of friendship, courage, and embracing differences. |
Black History Matters Library Pack for KS1 & KS2
Enhance your school library and history curriculum with resources that celebrate the contributions of Black people and acknowledge the historical injustices they have faced. Explore the rich tapestry of Black history, from the horrors of slavery to the triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement. Delve into the chronology of British Black history, including the Windrush generation and their significant impact on the UK.
Discover more History Books for Primary Schools
Featured title: Brilliant Black British History by Atinuke
 Children’s Non-Fiction Books of the Year Winner at the British Book Awards. |
Neurodiversity Pack for Primary
Enjoy reading about a wide variety of neurodiverse characters in this collection of engaging picture books, short chapter books, and longer reads for students across your school. Carefully selected for primary schools, these books promote understanding and empathy, help neurodiverse pupils see themselves reflected in your library, and are wonderfully fun to read.
Featured title: Dinosaur Pie by Jen Wallace
 This story celebrates different family structures, backgrounds, and the acceptance of individuality through its playful characters and imaginative storytelling. A hilarious and heartwarming chapter book for readers aged 6+ about a boy with ADHD who is transformed into a dinosaur, with dynamic black-and-white illustrations throughout. It wasn't really Rory's mum's fault. She just bought Dinosaur Pie for a change and gave it to Rory for his dinner. The next morning he was a dinosaur. Not dressed up as a dinosaur - actually a dinosaur. It's not all that funny really. Rory can't talk and he can't bear the thought of eating an apple. All he wants to eat is sausages. It doesn't wear off. The supermarket that sold the pie doesn't want to know and the doctor isn't all that helpful. What are they going to do to get Rory to turn back into a human boy? |
Representing People With Disabilities in Fiction
It continues to be very difficult for schools to source books that represent people living with disabilities, a concern we regularly discuss with publishers. These are the best books we’ve found to dispel prejudice and foster a deeper understanding of this diverse community, and we hope that they make their way into as many school libraries as possible.
Featured title: The Fantastic Freewheeler vs. the Mall of Doom by Molly Felder
 This book portrays a range of characters from different backgrounds, abilities, and identities, fostering acceptance and understanding. Drew Daniels, aka the Fantastic Freewheeler, is enjoying a peaceful afternoon in the park when real estate tycoon Natalie Main suddenly bursts onto the scene! She declares that the beloved outdoor space will be bulldozed to make way for a ginormous mall that never closes. Can Freewheeler use his info-absorbing superpowers to look deep into the past to discover the answer to stopping the demolition plot, before it's too late? Find out in this exciting Fantastic Freewheeler graphic novel, featuring a spunky hero who uses a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, as well as action full of humour and heart. |
Challenging Stereotypes for Primary
The starring roles in these books are for girls, women, boys and men — both real and fictional — who challenge gender stereotypes. Read all about inventors and scientists, footballers and dancers, and princesses and tough guys who defy expectations. Tech-savvy and sporty girls sit side by side with creative boys who express emotions in this exciting collection.
Featured title: Sally Ride by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
 Be inspired by the life of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, with this engaging picture book designed especially for young readers. |
British Values for KS1
Explore topics such as citizenship, responsibility, rules, and respect. These books help children understand the core values of British society and encourage them to think critically about how to embody and celebrate these shared principles.
Discover more PSHE & Citizenship Resources for Primary Schools
Featured title: Rules and Responsibilities by Louise Spilsbury
 The Children in Our World picture book series helps children make sense of the larger issues and crises that dominate the news in a sensitive and appropriate manner. With relatable comparisons, carefully researched text and striking illustrations, children can begin to understand issues in the news, how they affect people and how readers can help those who are affected. In this book children can explore why we have rules from those in school to laws in society and what happens when rules are broken. |
British Values for KS2
Discover educational resources that highlight the importance of equality, diversity, and respect. Gain insights into cultural differences and ways to celebrate them at home and in school environments. Explore the principles of parliamentary democracy in the UK and around the world. Strengthen your critical thinking skills by examining concepts of right and wrong in different contexts.
Discover more PSHE & Citizenship Resources for Primary Schools
Featured title: Human Rights (I’m a Global Citizen) by Alice Harman
 How can you be a good global citizen? By understanding the world we live in and how we can effect change. This book explores what human rights are, what happens when they are respected and when they are limited, for example losing your right to freedom if you commit a crime. The book looks at movements such as Black Lives Matter and at how we can all help to protect human rights through activation. |