Projects beyond Pearson
We have created an exclusive page to showcase the incredible work done by organisations outside of Pearson to promote diversity in literature.
The Story Makers Press
The Story Makers Press is a university-based children’s press focused on encouraging children’s voices and creativity. Their aim is to publish underrepresented narratives and issues, making sure that every child can see themselves in the books they read. They use drama and storytelling with children in order to get them to explore different narratives, which they then aim to transform into engaging fiction books. Their goal is to help children become engaged and compassionate readers, who read for pleasure and are equipped to interact imaginatively with the world around them.
National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust is a charity dedicated to improving the literacy skills of those who need it most, giving them the best possible chance of success in school, work and life. In response to COVID-19, the charity transformed its support to mitigate the significant impact of the crisis on the literacy and life chances of the nation’s most disadvantaged children and young people by getting vital books, literacy resources and digital support into families’ homes.
LoveReading4Kids
Our earliest perceptions of the world and its cultures are shaped by the books we read and it is essential that children see a true reflection of our society in the literature recommended and available to them. An absence of an inclusive range of role models or characters in our books risks detering children from minority backgrounds from the joy and enrichment that a love of reading can bring. LoveReading4Kids has always championed diversity and recently curated an exciting and diverse list of books to help build understanding, empathy and tolerance of our different backgrounds and that also entertain and celebrate our rich, shared cultural heritage. The books are suitable for all age ranges.
The roles and responsibilities of #DiversityinLit – the publishers’ perspective
In our recent Plotting Ahead roundtable series, we recognised a need for change. The figures, trends and patterns that have emerged with regards to diversity and inclusion in English (and indeed, education as a whole) have culminated in a collective desire from schools, but also a vast community of allies, to drive forward improvements.
In our blog Ben Horslen, Publisher for Penguin Random House Children’s, Lisa Stephenson, Director and Co-founder of The Story Makers Company, and Ana Sanches de Arede, Press Publisher at The Story Makers Company, share their perspectives on their role in supporting a diverse and inclusive English curriculum.
Tell us about your work
If you would like your organisation to be featured on this page, please contact us at literacy@pearson.com