23. Diversity in children’s books with Darren Chetty

Darren Chetty

In this episode of Diversifying Reading with Shareen Wilkinson, Shareen talks to Darren Chetty about his involvement with Penguin and The Runnymede Trust’s Lit in Colour initiative. They talk about why it’s important for all children to have access to a representative range of books, as well as ideas to support parents.

Darren Chetty is a Lecturer at UCL Institute of Education and has taught in London primary schools for twenty years. His research focuses on philosophy for children, multiculturalism and racism. Among his many books, columns and articles, he is the author of ‘You Can’t Say That! Stories Have to be About White People’ an essay in The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla. Darren tweets at @rapclassroom

Further reading and support:

Read more about the Lit in Colour research and find out what we're doing at OUP to support the initiative, including lots of practical tips and reading recommendations to share with parents.
Penguin’s (in)complete book lists
The Good Immigrant: 21 writers reflect on race in contemporary Britain edited by Nikesh Shukla (2017)
Reflecting Realities Survey of Ethnic Representation in Children’s Literature CLPE November 2021
Critical Philosophy of Race and Education edited by Judith Suissa and Darren Chetty (2021)
Secret Gardens: A Study of the Golden Age of Children's Literature by Humphrey Carpenter (2009)
‘Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors’ by Rudine Sims Bishop in Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom. Vol. 6, no. 3, Summer 1990. (PDF)
Darren's 'Beyond the Secret Garden' column in Books for Keeps
Musical Truth: A musical history of modern black Britain in 28 songs by Jeffrey Boakye (2021)