Ten of the Best


starring children from BAME backgrounds Farrah Serroukh CLPE Regional Learning Programme Leader


10


At Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) we are in the unique position of offering a bridge from the classroom to the publishing house. We work throughout the year to curate what for many time-deprived teachers is an overwhelming volume of books and showcase the best that the industry has to offer through our online platforms, professional development programme and extensive reference library. Sourcing books with characters and contexts that resonate with children is paramount to shaping them as readers and broadening their worldview. In 2018 we published the first ever comprehensive study into ethnic representation in UK children’s literature as part of our Reflecting Realities initiative. The findings revealed a stark under- representation of ethnic minority characters in books published in 2017. For the full findings and recommendations download the report here: https://clpe.org.uk/library-and-resources/ research/reflecting-realities-survey-ethnic-representation-within-uk-children


Whilst the survey showed us that there is a shortage of quality literature featuring meaningful ethnic minority presence, the books that do it and do it well are true gems that should be treasured by children and adult readers alike. Here are ten of the titles that for me, embody this for primary age children – of course any list will only scratch the surface of the full range of titles.


So Much


Trish Cooke, illus by Helen Oxenbury, Walker Books, 978-1406306651, £7.99 pbk


Every page of this beautiful, beautiful classic exudes warmth, love and heart. It is a playful and joyous celebration of the powerful and unbreakable bonds of familial relationships and community.


It’s


impossible for your smile not to widen at the sight of each family member that greets baby at the turn of every page.


Home in the Rain


Bob Graham, Walker Books, 978-1406379785, £6.99 pbk


The power of this book is rooted in the way in which Graham captures the very ordinary everyday subject matter with extraordinary tenderness,


thoughtfulness and


authenticity. Waiting for the torrential rain to pass in the car with her pregnant mother leaves time for young Francie to ponder the exciting changes that the arrival


of her new sibling will bring. Zeki can Swim


Anna McQuinn, illus Ruth Hearson, AlannaMax, 978- 1907825132, £7.99 pbk


Like his sister Lulu, Zeki’s everyday exploits


are tremendously


important because they provide a platform for both Zeki and Lulu to get busy with living the life of babies and toddlers. Zeki drives the narrative and takes the


reader along for a trip to the local swimming pool. The illustrations capture special, heart-warming moments between parents and their children as well as the playful energy of Zeki’s friends in the pool. It’s perfectly normal to find yourself fully taken by the delightful cuteness of it all, cooing and gushing at the turn of every page.


Ruby’s Worry


Tom Percival, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 978- 1408892152, £6.99 pbk


Like many children, happily living


Ruby is life until one day


she is visited by a worry that grows over time. She learns that sharing our worries can help ease them and that ultimately we all carry worries of varying sizes at any given point in time. Percival has a lovely, distinctive illustrative style. A reassuring and thoughtful book that offers an optimistic but realistic resolution.


12 Books for Keeps No.234 January 2019


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