#DiversityInLit

We want children to feel represented in the literature that they read. That's why we're promoting the exposure of young readers to a wide range of characters, voices and themes that they can engage with, enjoy and be inspired by in order to read further and to develop their own voices.

Join the #DiversityInLit conversation on Twitter

The booklist for the Big Jubilee Read has been announced!

We're delighted that The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera and The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah have been selected by an expert panel for the Big Jubilee Read. Readers across the UK will be able to discover both books in libraries and bookshops.

The campaign celebrates writing from across the Commonwealth by sharing 70 great reads from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign.

Lit in Colour

Together with Penguin Random House UK and The Runnymede Trust, we want to highlight the importance of a diverse English Literature curriculum.

That's why we've introduced the Lit in Colour Pioneers programme, offering schools and colleges support in diversifying their curriculum, with free access to copies of set texts, a 300-book mini library from Penguin and a host of teaching support. Applications are now closed, but you can keep up to date on our dedicated webpage.

Learn more

Plotting Ahead... Diversity, inclusion and belonging

Chaired by former teacher, inspirational speaker and author, Jaz Ampaw-Farr, our inaugral Roundtable event in 2020 hosted educators, charities, publishers and leading influencers as we investigated how we can shake up the narrative and influence future change within children's literature in the UK.

The Show Must Go On

It’s important that all children feel represented in the books they read, that’s why our new Bug Club title, The Show Must Go On, follows a travelling Showman family.

Authored by Richard O’Neill and Michelle Russell, both from Travelling communities, the book reflects the resilient and thriving communities that have helped shape towns and cities, entertainment and sport, into what they are today.

Hear from Richard and Michelle on why writing this book and portraying the lifestyle of Travelling communities, was so important to them in our blog.

Read the blog

Projects beyond Pearson

We know we don't have all the answers, which is why we think it's important to highlight the great work that our friends and partners do around diversity.

Explore the great work happening right now

Events

In November 2019 we held our first #DiversityInLit student and teacher conference, where we were joined by some of the authors from the new Pearson Edexcel GCSE English Literature text additions. Unfortunately, this year we had to cancel our Conference and instead held an online webinar with special guest, Benjamin Zephaniah.

Find out more

Our blog

We've published several blog posts related to the topic of #DiversityinLit, from celebrating Black History Month, to looking at our responsibilities as a publisher and inspiring readers through our Belonging poetry anthology.

Read our posts now - and keep an eye out for more too!

Read our blog posts