NEW! 10 books for a diverse bookshelf (5-7)

Quickly and easily diversify your home or school library with these highly illustrated, inclusive chapter books and non-fiction books for 5-year-olds and up, perfect for newly independent readers, or to read together.

⁠Our ‘10 books for a diverse bookshelf’, compiled by experts for each age category, make it simple to update children’s early reader collections, laying the foundations for reading success.

Refreshed twice a year, the booklists offer broad representation, centring characters with diverse ethnicities, disabilities and family structures.

4+years

Little Big Sister

Author: Eoin Colfer Illustrator: Celia Ivey

A heartfelt family story showing you don’t have to be tall to reach for the stars!

Own Voice
Disabled representation
Diverse cast
South Asian representation
Single parent

Little Big Sister - Cover

5+years

My Magic Hamster Cheeky Wishes

Author: Leah Mohammed

What if you bought a hamster and it turned out it was magic?

Own Voice
South Asian representation
Diverse cast
Female lead

My Magic Hamster Cheeky Wishes - Cover

5+years

Nikhil and Jay Save the Day

Author: Chitra SoundarIllustrator: Soofiya

From losing their toy dragon, to saving the library — enjoy Nikhil and Jay’s everyday adventures, in this charming collection of stories.

Own Voice
South Asian representation
Mixed-heritage representation
Diverse cast
Challenges gender stereotypes

5+years

Destiny Ink: Birthday Secret

Author and illustrator: Adeola Sokunbi

Destiny Ink has a great gift for her cousin Lola, but will feelings of jealousy stop her enjoying the party?

Black representation
Female lead
Own Voice
Diverse cast
Challenges gender stereotypes

Destiny Ink: Birthday Secret - Cover

5+years

Max & Chaffy: Welcome to Animal Island!

Author: Jamie SmartIllustrator: Jamie Smith

Join Max and Chaffy as they help the islanders find their missing items – plus a home for Chaffy – in this interactive search-and-find adventure.

Mixed-heritage representation

5+years

Magic Faces: Monster Mayhem

Author: Esi MerlehIllustrator: Abeeha Tariq

Imaginative, colourful adventure series where magic face paints act as transformation portals. This time the twins attend a monster ball.

Own Voice
Diverse cast
Single parent
Under-represented voice
Black representation

5+years

Princess Minna: The Best Princess

Author: Kirsty ApplebaumIllustrator: Sahar Haghgoo

Princess Minna is no longer the ‘best princess of all’. So who is? And can they ever be friends?

Black/brown representation
Challenges gender stereotypes
Female lead
Under-represented voice

5+years

Wands Away! Learning to Fly

Author and illustrator: Emma Farrarons

Grab your broom; we’re off to witchy forest school!

Own Voice
East and Southeast Asian representation
Diverse cast
Black/brown representation
Single parent

Wands Away! Learning to Fly - Cover

5+years

Astrid and the Space Cadets: Race from Planet Peril!

Author and illustrator: Alex Smith

Astrid and the Space Cadets must deliver a trophy to an intergalactic race, and avoid trouble if they can!

Black/brown representation
LGBTQIA+ representation
Same-sex parents
Challenges gender stereotypes
Female lead

Astrid and the Space Cadets: Race from Planet Peril!-Cover

5+years

I Am, You Are: Let’s Talk About Disability and Empowerment

Author: Ashley Harris WhaleyIllustrator: Ananya Rao-Middleton

I Am, You Are is a powerful, practical book to help children and adults have meaningful discussions about disability and ableism.

Black representation
South Asian representation
East and Southeast Asian representation
Middle Eastern representation
Muslim representation

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