Whether it’s a large, carpeted area or a single bookshelf, a reading corner can be the heart of your classroom.
However, it’s important to consider how to make it an inclusive space for everyone and that’s something to bear in mind when resourcing for the new term.
Books depicting disabilities, neurodiversity, different ethnicities, cultures, modern families and other identities allow children to see themselves and their peers represented on the page.
Reading corners: the importance of diversity
For children from minoritised groups, reading about characters who look like them fosters a positive self-image and a sense of belonging. But for all children, reading about people whose backgrounds differ from their own is an enriching experience that broadens perspectives and develops empathy.
At a time when only 43 per cent of children aged 8 to 18, surveyed by the National Literacy Trust in 2023, “enjoy reading in their free time”, and at least 1 in 3 are motivated by “having books that represent them”, reading corners that feel relevant, accommodating children’s diverse tastes and needs, could make all the difference.
To support primary teachers in this, we’ve picked six fiction titles to help diversify your reading corner this term.
Inclusive books for EYFS
Lenny and Wilbur by Ken Wilson-Max (Alanna Max, new edition, 2019)
Lenny and his pet dog Wilbur are inseparable. They play, eat and even sing together. And when it’s time for Wilbur’s bath - with help from Mummy - Lenny is in charge!
Reading about Lenny’s relatable experiences within a mixed-heritage home encourages children to speak about their own pets or home routines, listen to similar experiences of peers and learn how to care for animals.
Warm and engaging, this robust hardback is perfect to share with emergent readers, with bold, colourful artwork and short sentences including interesting words to extend vocabulary.
Read more:
What Happened to You? by James Catchpole and Karen George (Faber & Faber, 2021)
Joe, a disabled child, just wants to play pirates at the park but, annoyingly, children won’t stop asking about his missing leg.
Great for developing empathy, this groundbreaking picturebook helps children understand what it’s like to be made to feel different. Humorous, well-judged and beautifully illustrated, and with a disabled protagonist and diverse cast, it emphasises commonalities rather than differences.
Inclusive books for key stage 1
Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola (Puffin, 2020)
When Rocket travels to the Caribbean, she discovers a coastline littered with rubbish that is harming marine life. True to form, our modern hero galvanises the locals and tourists, forming an impressive “clean-up crew”.
This lively, contemporary picturebook offers a light-hearted way in to thinking about environmental issues while promoting teamwork. With characterful, detailed illustrated scenes and fascinating facts, it is also a great stimulus for non-fiction writing with links to geography and science.
The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S. K. Ali, and Hatem Aly (Andersen, 2023)
Muslim schoolchild, Faizah, wants to live in a kind world. The sequel to The Proudest Blue, this heart-warming, thought-provoking, brightly illustrated picturebook with a diverse cast shows children how acts of kindness can make the world a better place.
Negating unsavoury stereotypes with positive portrayals of Muslim families, it’s an essential addition to key stage 1 classrooms.
Inclusive books for key stage 2
Sam Wu Is NOT Afraid of Ghosts by Kevin and Katie Tsang, illustrations by Nathan Reed (Farshore, 2018)
Scaredy-Cat Sam transforms into an intrepid ghost hunter in this zany, laugh-out-loud mystery.
With a winning mix of endearing characters, sharp observational humour and comic-style illustrations, it’s a fun, memorable read that authentically reflects life in an East Asian-British household - a must-have chapter book that’s particularly great for encouraging reading for pleasure.
Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung (Dial Books, 2021)
Winner of the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration, this poignant story, stunningly illustrated by Jeet Zdung, portrays the life of rescued sun bear Sorya and her rescuer, Chang. Set in a Vietnamese rainforest, it’s inspired by author Trang Nguyen’s real-life work as a conservationist.
The highly original, mixed-form approach to storytelling includes some wordless pages and Stem facts, all within an accessible graphic-novel format, offering broad appeal that makes it a terrific addition to KS2 reading corners.
Fabia Turner is head of content at the charity Inclusive Books for Children. For more information on these or any other inclusive titles, visit: inclusivebooksforchildren.org
