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.

Pablo and the Noisy Party

Pablo

Picturebook

Pablo thinks differently!

Pablo’s mum takes him to his cousin Lorna’s birthday party, but Pablo gets scared of the noisy party.

Pablo hides in the car, and soon his friends come to join him. Pablo’s friends help him realise that it’s OK if he doesn’t want to go to the party.

This lovely and heartwarming story will help readers understand that not everybody thinks the same way, and that some people feel differently about parties.

All Pablo books are written by writers on the autistic spectrum and are grounded in the real-life experiences of autistic children.

Bear Shaped

Dawn Coulter-Cruttenden

Picturebook

Inspired by the true story of Jack and his beloved Bear, this is a gentle and tender picture book exploring the relatable experience of treasuring a toy and touching on themes of loss, growing up and helping others.

Jack and his well-loved teddy bear are inseparable. Bear helps Jack to calm down when the world around him seems a bit too much, and provides both comfort and companionship through each day’s up and downs. When Jack loses Bear after a trip to the park, he is inconsolable. Such is the impact of the loss, that Jack’s family go to great lengths to find the missing toy, putting up posters and making appeals to friends and strangers online.

Jack feels a bear-shaped hole inside of him and there are reminders about Bear everywhere – the clouds, the puddles, the bus stop sign, the front door. Strangers respond to the appeal in kindness by sending Jack all sorts of replacement bears – old bears, new bears, big bears and small bears arrive in the post, but none of them are Bear. Over time, Jack begins to come to terms with his loss and decides to re-gift the bears to others in need.

This is a beautiful picture book made all the more poignant by being based on a true story of an autistic boy’s search for his missing bear. Many children hearing the story will have come across enough missing toy stories to quickly predict that Jack will lose the bear – but the resolution takes a less expected path when Jack never gets his own Bear back. The delicate and detailed illustrations portray Jack’s emotions closely and the details in the background are delightful (we spot more brilliantly concealed ‘bear-shaped’ items each time we read it).

Despite Jack’s disappointment at losing Bear, the story is an uplifting one and Jack’s decision to share the new bears with other children is both touching and inspiring.

Leo and the Octopus

Chris Nixon & Isabelle Marinov

Picturebook

Leo and the Octopus is a wonderfully empathetic picture book about Leo, a boy who feels different from his classmates and struggles with overwhelming classroom noise.

Leo’s world shifts when he meets Maya, a colour-changing Giant Pacific Octopus, and their unlikely friendship blossoms beneath the waves. This gentle narrative beautifully captures the profound connection between a boy seeking understanding and a creature who accepts him just as he is.

Chris Nixon’s illustrations are intelligent and evocative, setting sections bustling with pattern and colour against the white space that often surrounds Leo – complementing the story’s sensitive exploration of feelings of disconnection and learning bout different perspectives.

With themes of nature, connection and neurodiversity, this book is invaluable for children who may feel like Leo, assuring them they are not alone, while also a tool to develop greater empathy and understanding in all young readers about different ways of experiencing the world.

Milo Imagines the World

Christian Robinson & Matt de la Pena

Picturebook

Milo Imagines the World is a warm and richly satisfying story from the award-winning and New York Times bestselling picture book duo , about a little boy with a big imagination who learns that you can’t know anyone just by looking at them. Set in a bustling city, and full of a family love that binds even in difficult circumstances.

Milo is on a train journey through the city with his older sister, looking at the faces of the other passengers and drawing pictures of their lives. The whiskered man with a crossword puzzle he imagines playing solitaire in a cluttered flat full of pets. The little boy in bright white trainers he imagines living in a castle with a moat and a butler. But when the little boy gets off at the same stop and joins the same queue as him, Milo realises that you can’t judge by appearances and that we are all more alike than we are different: both boys are visiting their mothers in prison.

Matt de la Pena and Christian Robinson once again deliver a hugely powerful and enjoyable picture book, full of rich details both to look at and to talk about. Anyone who has ever travelled on public transport will relate to Milo’s journey.

Best Books by Age

Popular Children's Authors

Topic: Diverse & Inclusive Books for KS1

Reflecting Realities Booklist

Reflecting Realities Booklist

Reflecting Realities Booklist

Best Diverse Children’s Books for Ages 5-7

Author James Davis on Humour, Accessibility and Lifelong Reading

Go All In for the National Year of Reading 2026: The Ultimate Primary School Booklist

News: BooksForTopics Founder Alison Leach Named in 2026 #iAlso100 List

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review