The process and challenges of diversity in children’s books

In recent years, children’s books have become much more diverse. The number of books with different authors, illustrators and characters has increased – this gives children the opportunity to recognize themselves in the stories they read.

In 2018, a report from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) found that 50% of children’s books featured white characters, while only 23% featured characters of color, including African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans. For comparison, in 2023, nearly 50% of children’s and young adult books were about “people of color,” a significant increase from previous years.

Comparison and analysis

Although these numbers reflect positive changes, it is important to take a closer look at this picture. A study published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics examined award-winning children’s books, such as those awarded the Newbery and Caldecott Medals, and concluded that “white male characters are still overrepresented.”

Caroline Tung Richmond, executive director of the non-profit organization We Need Diverse Books, stressed the importance of children recognizing themselves in the stories: “This (representation) helps children feel valued, maintains their interest in reading and allows them to learn about different cultures and identities, which promotes empathy.”

Although the data indicates a trend toward diversity in the publishing industry, the influence of self-publishing is also a factor that must be included in the discussion.

The role of self-publishing in the diversification of children’s literature

Self-publishing has opened doors for many authors for whom traditional publishing channels would have been challenging – regardless of their choice of topic or personal identity.

It’s true that platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark have made it possible for authors from underrepresented communities to share their stories without needing approval from traditional gatekeepers. According to a report by Bowker, over 1.6 million self-published books were released in 2020 alone, indicating a thriving independent publishing scene that’s more inclusive and willing to take risks on stories that traditional publishers may overlook.

In 2021, a study by the Authors Guild found that self-published authors, particularly those writing in niche genres or portraying diverse characters, are successful in reaching their target audiences. These authors often report that self-publishing allows them to maintain creative control, including the ability to authentically portray diverse characters and stories.

It is clear that progress towards diversity in children’s literature goes beyond traditional publishing and that self-publishing has a crucial role to play.

Moving forward
As the landscape of children’s literature becomes increasingly diverse, it’s important to acknowledge that there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve true inclusivity. The rise of self-publishing has certainly helped to provide young readers with more diverse stories and provide a platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard.

Readers have a huge impact in this movement. What they spend their time and money on can have a huge impact on the industry. By supporting both traditional and self-published works, readers can help lead the industry to a future where every child can see themselves in the books they read.

“I have sold over 5 million copies – and I self publish” – David Goggins, author of You can’t hurt me

Angela is an avid reader and proud library card holder. She is new to the world of e-readers. She has a background in education, emergency response and fitness, loves being outdoors, traveling and exploring. Angela has an Honours degree in Anthropology and also studied writing after graduating. She has contributed to The London Free Press, The Gazette, The Londoner, Best Version Media, Lifeliner and Citymedia.ca.