Fantastic worlds, amazing stories!
Rob Green Editor
rob.green@
cilip.org.uk
A LITTLE over three months ago the Pen&inc. team were preparing to put the finishing touches to our Spring Issue.
Then a global pandemic hit and changed everything. Shops, schools and workplaces across the UK closed and we took the decision to postpone publication – and so our Spring issue has morphed into a Summer issue. We felt it was important that Pen&inc. landed through letterboxes at a time when bookshops were open, and now that the country is gradually emerging from the lockdown it is a relief to see that happening. From everyone at Pen&inc. “Welcome Back, we missed you!”
Books have a unique ability to transport people to new worlds, to see different lives and allow us to escape from reality. They fire our imaginations and over the last three months they will have helped millions of people to get through an unprecedented time of home working and home schooling.
For children, the power of a book can be transformative – building knowledge, understanding and empathy. Research has shown that reading for pleasure helps to raise attainment levels at school; has a positive impact on social mobility; can help improve children’s mental wellbeing; and reduce feelings of social exclusion.
Hundreds of thousands of children have been unable to attend school or meet friends, and the simple pleasure a book brings will have helped many of them overcome feel- ings of isolation. For some finding a book or character that resonates with them will have been easy – for others it may have been more of struggle. Children’s books simply aren’t representative of our society, where a third of school children are from a BAME background while just four per cent of lead characters in children’s books are BAME.
We created Pen&inc. to make it easier for under-represented readers from all backgrounds to find books that reflect their families, their experiences, their realities. We want to highlight books, authors and illustrators that validate children’s lives and let others see and feel a different perspective.
In our latest issue we have hundreds of listings, alongside interviews and features that shine a light on how books and reading can have a positive impact on the lives of young people.
To advertise in Pen&inc. email
penandincadvertising@cilip.org.uk. Cover Front Cover Illustration from Astro Girl © Ken Wilson-Max. Published by Otter-Barry Books.
Spring-Summer 2020
PEN&INC. 3
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