A graphic novel for children age 7 to 10. Rosa Parks was the courageous thinker and leader known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Long before the Montgomery Bus Boycott made her famous, she was a social justice activist and organizer. In honor of her work, she received a Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is her story.
From the horrors of the slave trade to a book that changed the world, Catherine Johnson celebrates the incredible life of Olaudah Equiano in this gripping true story.
Born in what is now Nigeria in 1745, Olaudah Equiano’s peaceful childhood was brought to an abrupt end when he was captured and enslaved aged 11. He spent much of the next eight years of his life at sea, seeing action in the Seven Years’ War. When he was finally able to buy his freedom, he went on to become a prominent member of the abolition movement and in 1789 published one of the first books by a Black African writer. Journey Back to Freedom focuses on Equiano’s early life, demonstrating the resilience of the human spirit and one man’s determination to be free
When Paloma goes to visit her family in Trinidad, she doesn’t feel that she fits in. But Tante Janet has a story to tell her: An ancient story of warrior queens and talking drums, of treasures and tales that span thousands of years… a story that Paloma shares in, because her story starts in Africa, too.. Join Tante and her inquisitive niece as they share the story of how her family came to the Caribbean, through the dark days of colonization and slavery, to the emergence of a thriving, contemporary community of many faces, places and successes.
The story before the scandal. A book to celebrate the inspiring legacy of the Windrush pioneers.
In June 1948, hundreds of Caribbean men, women and children arrived in London on a ship called the HMT Empire Windrush. Although there were already Black people living in Britain at the time, this event marks the beginning of modern Black Britain.
Combining historical fact with voices from the Windrush Generation, this book sensitively tells the inspiring story of the Windrush Generation pioneers for younger readers.
1720. Blue Mountains, windward Jamaica. In the sweltering heat Captain Shettlewood leads a troop of British soldiers through the thick trees towards the river. They are hunting slaves who have escaped from the brutal plantations. Their mission: to find them, and kill them.
But up ahead, hidden among the rocks above the water, a group of men with cutlasses and muskets wait patiently for the instructions of their leader. Queen Nanny is a ‘wise woman’ with a reputation for ancient obeah magic, and a guerilla fighter with a genius for organisation. So the battle for Jamaica begins, the First Maroon War, in which the maroons – escaped slaves – will make a final, do-or-die stand against the slavers and soldiers of Empire.
We have selected a list of recommended diverse and inclusive books for children in Year 5 and Year 6 (Upper KS2), which feature characters that are traditionally under-represented in children’s books.
This list of the best diverse books for children aged 9 to 11 includes books with minority ethnic main characters and books with representations of cultural diversity, different types of families, physical disabilities, visual impairment and neurodiversity.
The selection includes the entertaining story of Danny Chung and his Nai Nai in Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths and an exciting fantasy story inspired by Hindu legends in Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom, as well as Sophie’s compelling story of hearing loss in Can You Feel the Noise and the coming-of-age graphic novel following an autistic girl who finds friendship where she least expects it in Speak Up!.
You can find Diverse & Inclusive children’s book lists for other primary year groups here:
Schools can purchase full packs of our diverse book lists via Peters.
Best Diverse Books for Years 3 and 4
We have selected a list of recommended diverse and inclusive books for children in Year 3 and Year 4 (ages 7-9), which feature characters that are traditionally under-represented in children’s books.
This list of the best diverse books for children in Lower Key Stage 2 includes books with minority ethnic main characters and books with representations of cultural diversity, different types of families, physical disabilities, visual impairment and neurodiversity.
The selection includes the entertaining story of young Yusuf’s schemes at a British-Bengali family wedding in Mayhem Mission and the tale of one child’s experience of the joy of Eid-ul-Fitr in Ramadan Moon, as well as deaf character Max’s compelling quest for friendship in Max and the Millions and the fast-paced story of limb loss and sport in Paralympian Ellie Robinson’s Thief on the Track.
You can find Diverse & Inclusive children’s book lists for other primary year groups here:
Schools can purchase full packs of our diverse book lists via Peters.
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:
Schools can purchase full packs of our diverse book lists via Peters.
Best Diverse Books for Preschool and Reception
We have selected a list of recommended diverse and inclusive books for children in nursery, preschool and reception (ages 2-5), which feature characters that are traditionally under-represented in children’s books.
This list of the best diverse books for children in the Early Years 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 Noor’s quest to find out more about the hijabi women in her family in Not Now, Noor! and the celebration of traditional Traveller virtues in The Can Caravan, as well as the tale of a deaf character finding ways to communicate in Can Bears Ski? and the heartwarming retelling of an adoption experience in When You Joined Our Family.
We’ve also included books about celebrating difference and including everyone, like All Are Welcome (a must-have for classrooms) and A World for Me and You. 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:
Schools can purchase full packs of our diverse book lists via Peters.
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