The (incomplete) Lit in Colour book list 2023 Edition: Early Years

This is the first Lit in Colour (incomplete) book list for Early Years. We call our book lists incomplete, because we know they will never manage to be exhaustive or definitive when it comes to recommending great books by writers of colour. Instead, we are hoping to offer a snapshot of exciting new texts that have just been published and spotlight older classic texts to support educators, teachers and young people diversify their reading. The Lit in Colour report published in 2021 investigated the barriers teachers and schools face when it comes to incorporating more books by writers of colour into their classrooms from Key Stage 2 (Years 3-4) in Primary up to Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13) in Secondary.

The first (incomplete) Lit in Colour book lists were also released in 2021 to support Primary and Secondary school teachers build confidence in their knowledge of books by writers of colour. Since their publication, we received requests from educators and parents for a list that focused on titles suitable for Early Years and Foundation Stage (EYFS), so we decided to collaborate with Early Years Educator EY Consultant and Children’s author Jamel C Campbell on the first (incomplete) Lit in Colour book list for EYFS. This list brings together titles by writers of colour that are suitable for very young children as they develop and grow.

We hope the range of exciting books detailed in this list will encourage and inspire children to use their imaginations, as well as immerse themselves in stories and creativity that reflect the different cultures of our society. As every child is unique, this list is a great starting point for educators and teachers to familiarise themselves with what is available and build confidence in their subject knowledge of literature by writers of colour.