Books with diverse lead characters

ReadReflectRepeat · 03/06/2025 10:01

I have the perfect book! - The unfollow series has a diverse character base!

LGBT, Blind and Deaf, Singaporean, Indian, Old, Young, Scottish, even a Robot called RUDI.

They all fight for different purposes - you can see the character descriptions here!

The book is called The Dark Side of Food and is a graphic novel aiming to educate young people on the use of social media and why we shouldn't trust everything we see but in a creative way!

I would be interested to see what you think?

The Buddyhood Stories | The UNFOLLOW Series

Dive into The Unfollow Series—bold, raw, and real stories that challenge the norm. Follow voices that break away from trends and tell it like it is.

https://www.thebuddyhood.com/the-unfollow-series

WinterFoxes · 15/05/2025 16:09

There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar is very good

WinterFoxes · 15/05/2025 16:08

My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal
Curious Incident by Mark Haddon ( I think)
Noughts & Crosses bt Malorie Blackman

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 15/05/2025 16:05

Lisette Auton is disabled herself and her books have characters with physical disabilities and/or who are ND. My dc have met her a couple of times at signings. What is lovely is that mostly they are characters who just happen to have a disability rather than their disability being the story if that makes sense.

LR47 · 15/05/2025 15:18

Wildsmith - Liz Flanagan
Leonora Bolt secret inventor
Toby series by Sally Doherty
Bill’s new frock Anne fine

LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 04/04/2025 09:45

Do you have a school library service? If so, I would definitely contact them. Failing that, go to the children's section of the public library and ask to speak to the librarian. I'm in Scotland and have used Scottish Book Trust for ideas.

sarahanne2727 · 04/04/2025 09:37

BookRecsPleaseAndThankYou · 04/04/2025 07:40

Good find! Thanks for sharing 👌

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My pleasure 😌

Original poster

BookRecsPleaseAndThankYou · 04/04/2025 07:40

sarahanne2727 · 04/04/2025 02:49

Try www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org also on @ibc_reads – they literally have a searchable database of every good diverse children's book up to age 9 published in the UK. You can filter by type of representation and whether it's a main character 🖤

Good find! Thanks for sharing 👌

OP posts:

sarahanne2727 · 04/04/2025 02:49

Try www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org also on @ibc_reads – they literally have a searchable database of every good diverse children's book up to age 9 published in the UK. You can filter by type of representation and whether it's a main character 🖤

Imicola · 16/03/2025 20:12

A few suggestions that DD and i have enjoyed are:
Too small Tola by Atinuke which is set in Nigeria (or others by the same author) - female main character though.
Ariki and the Giant shark/ ariki and the island of wonder by Nicola Davies, set in a remote Pacific island- also female main character.
The boy who stole an elephant and others in that series by Nizran Farook, set in Sri Lanka. 2 books have male main characters and 2 have female.
We also have a couple of books of African folk tales which are good.

LittleHangleton · 16/03/2025 19:41

Percy Jackson has ADHD

QueenOfWeeds · 16/03/2025 19:39

CLPE have some really good booklists, and run excellent training sessions which are really inspiring. Jabari Jumps and Jabari Tries are great - I’ve used them in EYFS but you could definitely adapt for Y2, or just have as a nice story. Also anything Trish Cooke - not necessarily what you’re after in terms of a lead character, but beautifully written.

sunshineandshowers40 · 16/03/2025 19:33

This insta page is worth a look.

https://www.instagram.com/books thattinspire younggminds?igsh=c21sczZieGwwNWZ4

Benvenuto · 16/03/2025 19:30

Kick by Mitch Johnson (football - set in Asia).

The Books for Topics website is worth looking at too.

LR47 · 14/03/2025 21:35

Toby and the silver blood witches (there’s a trilogy) Sally Doherty
A dinosaur ate my sister - Pooja Puri
wildsmith books Liz Flanagan
Alex Neptune books - David Owen

wizzbitt · 10/02/2025 07:44

I second Afrori Books too. They're based down in Brighton if you fancied a visit but definitely have a look at their website. I have bought books off them for my local school library and they will provide you with book lists if you tell them your criteria.

MiniMaxi · 09/02/2025 20:17

The Marv series: global.oup.com/education/content/children/series/marv/?region=uk&srsltid=AfmBOooM5NLyQXHjFcrZjH_WA6vPcvRa12I9s6cngS_7JeTupyaHPjjF

Sowewenttothestation · 09/02/2025 20:12

Tyger by SFSaid

Also, have a look at Claire Linney on Instagram. She is a librarian I think and has great knowledge.

GretchenWienersHair · 09/02/2025 20:11

Book Love are also amazing for diverse books.

www.thisisbooklove.com/

Anti-racist Books | BookLove Multicultural Travelling Book Carnival

www.thisisbooklove.com is a multicultural bookshop specialising in inclusive,bi-lingual, diverse, anti-racist books for children and adults.We travel to schools and festivals to help customers and teachers find cultural content.We are campaigning for m...

https://www.thisisbooklove.com/

GratitudeGoddess · 09/02/2025 20:04

BookRecsPleaseAndThankYou · 21/01/2025 15:04

Looking for recommendations for favourites books please with diverse characters, particularly boy lead characters.

I've found lots with diverse girl characters but much less with boys.

Any suggestions please?

My nephews school recently had a local Black bookshop come into the school. My sister bought lots of great books

https://afroribooks.co.uk/pages/schools

Schools

Explore Afrori Books, the UK's largest bookstore specialising in books by Black authors. Discover diverse stories, genres, and community-focused events.

https://afroribooks.co.uk/pages/schools

tarheelbaby · 09/02/2025 19:56

Marsh Road Mysteries series. A group of kids in Britain solves mysteries. This link gives you a flavour of how all of the children are dealing with life's circumstances (e.g. young carer, long term health issue):
https://www.thebookbundle.com/products/marsh-road-mysteries-5-book-series-set-diamonds-and-daggers-crowns-and-codebreakers-spooks-and-scooters-cats-and-curses-dogs-and-doctors?srsltid=AfmBOooTzL91BmsgVHjzcvrY4ejTmrR-0HSUzLbLabI6D9m4ShGEjRQ_

Marsh Road Mysteries 5 book series Set (Diamonds and Daggers, Crowns and Codebreakers, Spooks and Scooters, Cats and Curses , Dogs and Doctors )

Description Diamonds and Daggers Hollywood sensation, Betty Massino, has come to star in the theatre down the road and Piotr and his friends Andrew and Minnie couldn't be more excited! But when the famous actress's hugely expensive diamond necklace goe...

https://www.thebookbundle.com/products/marsh-road-mysteries-5-book-series-set-diamonds-and-daggers-crowns-and-codebreakers-spooks-and-scooters-cats-and-curses-dogs-and-doctors?srsltid=AfmBOooTzL91BmsgVHjzcvrY4ejTmrR-0HSUzLbLabI6D9m4ShGEjRQ_

Sunnyshoeshine · 09/02/2025 19:50

The Boy to Beat the Gods by Ashley Thorpe 💯

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boy-Beat-Gods-Ashley-Thorpe/dp/1805075632

DreamingofBrie · 09/02/2025 19:42

This is a great website: https://newsfromnowhere.org.uk/

I bought a lot of books for ds when he was in the 8 - 12 age range, they have a "NfN recommends" section, which I found very good.

- News From Nowhere Radical & Community Bookshop, Liverpool

News From Nowhere Radical & Community Bookshop, Liverpool, UK - books, magazines, world music & more. A not-for-profit workers co-operative

https://newsfromnowhere.org.uk

Leeds2 · 09/02/2025 19:38

I don't know why, but I thought you wanted suggestions for older primary aged children. My bad.
For Year 2, try books by Virginia Kroll. For example, Hats Off To Hair!, Butterfly Boy and Jaha and Jamil Went Down The Hill - An African Mother Goose. There is also Suki's Kimono - I've forgotten the author, and Suki is a girl, but it's not easy to find any picture books with Japanese characters!

Original poster

BookRecsPleaseAndThankYou · 08/02/2025 21:40

GretchenWienersHair · 08/02/2025 20:17

What age range?

Primary ideally, I'm Y2, but will create a bank of books for other year groups with other suggestions!

OP posts: