Children's Books With Black Main Characters Fall 8% in UK Study 2026

Children's books with Black main characters fell by nearly 8% last year, according to a new study on diversity in UK publishing. The research by Inclusive Books for Children found that just 47 of the 2,189 books published for under-10s in 2025 featured a Black main character — only 2.1% of the total. This marks a significant drop from the previous year and raises urgent questions about representation in children's literature.

Diversity in Children's Books: The Stark Numbers

The study surveyed baby and toddler books, picture books, and early readers published in the UK. While Black children make up about 8.5% of the under-10 population in England and Wales, only 2.1% of books featured a Black main character. The disparity is even more pronounced for other minority groups.

Representation of south Asian main characters plummeted by 14.3 percentage points to just 1.4%, despite south Asian children comprising about 12.4% of the under-10 population. Books featuring Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) main characters were extremely rare: only three books, or 0.1% of the total, compared with the group's 2.2% share of the population. This represents a 50% decrease from the previous year.

Key Takeaways from the Diversity Report

• Black main characters appeared in only 47 books (2.1%) out of 2,189 published for under-10s in 2025.
• The number of books with Black main characters fell by 7.8% from the previous year.
• South Asian representation dropped to 1.4%, a decrease of 14.3 percentage points.
• Only three books featured MENA main characters, a 50% decline.
• Just 150 books (6.9%) featured main characters from minority ethnic, disabled, or neurodivergent backgrounds.

Comparison of Representation by Group

The Impact on Young Readers

Author Sheena Patel commented on the findings: "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 lack of diverse main characters can have profound effects on children's self-esteem and worldview. When children rarely see themselves in books, it can limit their sense of possibility. Conversely, when books lack diversity, all children miss out on understanding the full spectrum of human experience.

Who Is Telling These Stories?

The report also examined the creators behind the books. Of the 150 books featuring main characters from minority ethnic, disabled, or neurodivergent backgrounds, 37.3% were written or illustrated by creators who did not share the background of their characters. This raises questions about authenticity and the need for more diverse voices in publishing.

What Needs to Change in Publishing

Industry experts suggest several steps: publishers must actively acquire and promote books by diverse creators, booksellers should highlight these titles, and parents and educators can demand more inclusive options. The decline in representation is a wake-up call for an industry that has pledged to improve diversity.

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