Topic: Diverse & Inclusive Books for KS1

Reflecting Realities Books 2025-2026

Reflecting Realities Booklist

In November 2025, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) released its eighth annual Reflecting Realities Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK Children’s Literature. The previous report had highlighted a significant drop in the presence of racially minoritised characters in books published for children in the UK and although this year’s report shows a slight increase in comparison, the level has not returned to that prior to last year.

Titles highlighted in this year’s report include a number that the BooksForTopics community will recognise from our Diverse Children’s Book Lists, as well as our Year Group Recommended Reads, Books of the Month and Curriculum Booklists, such as picturebooks Changing Tides, Can You Find My Eid Presents and Lulu Meets the Bees, and chapter books Bobby Bains Plays a Blinder, Nush and the Stolen Emerald and Paper Dragons: The Fight for the Hidden Realm.

You can read a summary of the 2025 Reflecting Realities Report on our blog, or click here to read the full report.

This booklist features the 38 exemplified texts included in this year’s Reflecting Realities report.

Reflecting Realities Books 2024-2025

Reflecting Realities Booklist

In November 2024, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) released its annual Reflecting Realities Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK Children’s Literature. The findings show that in 2023, for the first time in the report’s 7 year history, there was a significant drop in the presence of racially minoritised characters in books published for children in the UK. The published report can be viewed here or you can read a summary of the Reflecting Realities 2024 Report on our blog.

The overarching message of this year’s report is one of encouragement to the industry to “take the lessons learned and remain steadfast in their commitment to reflecting realities and serving their readership.”

Titles highlighted in this year’s report include a number that the BooksForTopics community will recognise from our Diverse Children’s Book Lists, as well as our Year Group Recommended Reads and Curriculum Booklists, such as picturebooks Big, Listening to the Quiet and Is That Your Mama?, chapter books City of Stolen Magic, Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Portraits and Poison and Tyger, as well as non-fiction text Bright Stars of Black British History.

This booklist features the 15 exemplified texts included in this year’s Reflecting Realities report. These stand to add to the much wider selection of texts in last year’s list, which you can explore at Reflecting Realities 2023.

Reflecting Realities Books 2023-2024

Reflecting Realities Booklist

In November 2023, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) released the 6th annual Reflecting Realities Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK Children’s Literature. The findings show that 30% of children’s books published in 2022 feature a racially minoritised character, which marks a significant increase from the 4% first reported in 2017. The published report can be viewed here or you can read a summary of the Reflecting Realities 2023 Report on our blog.

This year’s report pays particular attention to the range and breadth of genres that have seen minoritised characters become a meaningful part of the literary mainstream. From Fantasy and Historical to Comedy, the report highlights and celebrates stories that include racially minoritised characters in multi-dimensional and nuanced ways. The report names quite a number of texts that exemplify the “quality of presence they hope to encounter in all representative books.”

Titles highlighted in this year’s report include a number that the BooksForTopics community will recognise from our Diverse Children’s Book Lists, as well as our Year Group Recommended Reads and Curriculum Booklists, such as The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger, India Incredible India, Serena Patel’s Picture Perfect, Planet Omar and Joseph Coelho’s Our Tower.

This booklist features many of the highlighted books included in this year’s Reflecting Realities report.

NB: This list is from the report published in November 2023. You can also see the books from 2024 Reflecting Realities Report here.

Frida Kahlo (Little People, Big Dreams)

Gee Fan Eng & Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Non-fiction

In this international bestseller from the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Frida Kahlo, the world-renowned painter.

When Frida was a teenager, a terrible road accident changed her life forever. Unable to walk, she began painting from her bed. Her self-portraits, which show her pain and grief, but also her passion for life and instinct for survival, have made her one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back , including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the artist’s life.

Diverse & Inclusive Books for KS1

Best Diverse Children’s Books for Ages 5-7

Our experts have selected a list of recommended diverse and inclusive books for children in Year 1 and Year 2 (KS1), which feature characters that are traditionally under-represented in children’s books.

This list of the best diverse books for children in Key Stage 1 includes books with minority ethnic main characters, books that celebrate difference and books with representations of cultural diversity, different types of families, physical disabilities, visual impairment and neurodiversity.

The list includes the story of Faizah as she witnesses her older sister Asiya’s first day of hijab in The Proudest Blue and the celebration of traditional Traveller virtues in Polonius the Pit Pony, as well as the tale of Faruq’s discovery of Caribbean ingredients in Faruq and the Wiri Wiri and Amazing Joe’s story exploring how to respond to disability in You’re So Amazing.

The books selected are chosen to represent a diversity of cultures and experiences that reflect the realities of life for children in modern-day UK classrooms.

You can find Diverse & Inclusive children’s book lists for other primary year groups here:

Diverse Books for EYFS (Ages 2-5)
Diverse Books for Years 3 and 4 (Ages 7-9)
Diverse Books for Years 5 and 6 (Ages 9-11)

Schools can purchase full packs of our diverse book lists via Peters.

Stevie Wonder (Little People, Big Dreams)

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara & Melissa Lee Johnson

Non-fiction, Picturebook

At just 8 years old, it was clear that Steveland Judkins was going to be a star. Renamed Stevie Wonder for his astonishing talent on the piano and other instruments, he wrote and performed some of the biggest hits of the 1970s. Stevie became known for his inventiveness, his soulful voice and the social commentary in his lyrics. He is a UN Messenger of Peace and remains one of the music world’s most iconic figures. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back , including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the great musician’s life.

The Perfect Shelter

Åsa Gilland & Clare Helen Welsh

Picturebook

The story begins perfectly. A loving family out for a day in the woods. Two close siblings decide to build a shelter from sticks they collect. Then the older sister is a bit tired. The wind blows and the den collapses. They rebuild their perfect shelter. As the weather becomes more inclement, the sister grows sicker and the shelter is not important any longer. As the days wear on, the older sister is in hospital, the younger child just wants their sister to be well again. On a visit to the hospital, as the sister grows stronger, will they find the perfect way to discover their smiles again?

This was a moving story dealing with the serious illness of a sibling. While the little girl felt a whole array of feelings that could be associated with this experience, the shelter became a symbol that needed repairing for everything to be OK while the weather tried to tear it down. The combination of the weather, the shelter and the little girl’s feelings merge brilliantly in this book, all reflecting the turbulent time that the characters were experiencing.

The bright, colourful pictures perfectly illustrated the happy times of den building and the love and hope felt between the characters, while the images of the darker weather showed the fear and sadness of the family situation. I thought it was great that the characters were not named; they could reflect any child going through this experience.

A beautiful story inviting interest and empathy towards those living through the serious illness of a loved one.

Max the Champion

Ros Asquith & Sean Stockdale & Alex Strick

Picturebook

Max is mad about sport. As he gets up, has breakfast and heads off to school, he is dreaming of competing in world class sporting events. In his real day, he and his class win the school football match and, in his imagination, he and his friends are winning the World Cup. This is a lively and fun approach to sport, and a very inclusive picture book showing disabled children and children without disabilities enjoying different sports together in a natural way. The sports include football, rugby, athletics, cricket, diving, discus throwing and cycling.

Billy and the Beast

Nadia Shireen

Picturebook

From the author of Bumblebear, comes a new heroine for our times. Introducing: Billy!

Whilst on a lovely walk in the woods, Billy and her trusty sidekick Fatcat hear a terrible rumble… a terrible rumble coming from a Terrible Beast …

He’s making a Terrible Soup out of all of Billy and Fatcat’s friends!

Luckily, our brave heroine Billy has a trick or two up her sleeve (or in her hair)…

Join Billy on her mission to defeat the Terrible Beast (and save those adorable little bunny rabbits too).

Polonius the Pit Pony

Feronia Parker-Thomas & Richard O’Neill

Picturebook

When Polonius the pit pony escapes from the coal mine he’s worked in all his life, he joins a family of Travellers. Although he enjoys the freedom and the fresh air that their lifestyle offers, he wishes he could give something back to the family in return.

When the chance arrives for him to do something to help, he rises to the challenge, and uses his intelligence and skills to save the day.

Based on true events and retold by a master of the oral tradition, this story bears witness to the Traveller values of independence, initiative, courage and hard work.