based on each of the books, these involved reading the books and taking part in discussions and related crafts or activities. Cassie reflects on the difference it made when adults also became involved in discussions, modelling reading. “It was so helpful when the adults in the room got involved. There were lots of questions about favourite illustrators, how much we all read, which authors we enjoy, and a lot of space was created to bond and talk about books and share enthusiasm.” The sessions were so popular there was an appetite for more as Cassie explains. “We ended the session with a big thank you and handing out of party bags. A couple of the group asked if we would be doing ‘Book Club’ again next year.” Choosing relevant stock is a really important part of working with looked after children. E.L. Norry author of the
26 PEN&INC.
novel Fablehouse elaborates, saying: “It’s vital that children’s fiction is inclusive and represents the diversity of the society we live in. Children who have experience of being looked after are not often seen in fiction, but it’s important that the many different experiences – fostering, residential children’s homes, kindship care, adoption – are seen so that children have the opportunity to recognise themselves and their experiences in the stories that they read.”
There’s an additional role which thoughtful and well-realised representation can provide in terms of helping to dispel misconceptions as E.L. Norry explains: “Looked after children often face negative stereotypes such as being seen as ‘trouble’, or blamed for their family circumstances, which, understandably, can have a negative effect
on their mental health and wellbeing. All too often the ‘orphan’ is used as a shorthand for a troubled individual, but this can be very damaging. Raising awareness of looked-after children and their varied experiences encourages empathy and facilitates understanding.” How did this awareness help inform E.L. Norry’s writing? “Fablehouse was a collaboration. The idea was brought to me by Jasmine Richards at Storymix because she knew I grew up in residential children’s homes and understood the emotional challenges the characters would face. Jasmine had read Britain’s Brown Babies by Lucy Bland which is a factual account of people born in 1950s Britain to white women and African American GIs after the second world war. Unfortunately, due to racism and segregation, over 2,000 babies were
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