A free toolkit to help you diversify reading in your school
Lit in Colour
A free toolkit to help you diversify reading in your school
We’re delighted to be supporting Lit in Colour, an initiative launched by Penguin Random House alongside equality think tank, The Runnymede Trust, to support schools in diversifying the teaching of English and to increase students’ access to books by writers of colour and from minority ethnic backgrounds.
This free Diversifying Reading Toolkit offers practical support and tools to primary teachers and parents to increase confidence in teaching and discussing a more representative range of books.The toolkit includes a getting started guide, reading lists, teaching ideas, and an expert-led series of podcasts and articles. We'll be adding new resources regualrly, so keep checking this page for the latest updates, including how to get involved with our forthcoming independent reading project.
Get started
Download a free getting started guide
This getting started guide includes discussion points to help you consider your school's current provision and what to look out for in diverse texts, addressing challenges and suggesting solutions that will support your school to start increasing the diversity of your curriculum in English and beyond- perfect for a staff meeting. Check your Downloads folder once you’ve clicked the link to access the guide.
Diversify your curriculum
Listen to the Podcast
Deputy Headteacher Daniel Fenwick talks to Shareen Wilkinson about his involvement with Lit in Colour and the steps that his school has taken to teach a wider range of texts.
One school’s story
Read Daniel Fenwick’s first-hand account of how his school have approached integrating diverse texts and planning an inclusive English curriculum.
Read key takeaways
Shareen Wilkinson reflects on the Lit in Colour research and some steps you can take now to start diversifying your curriculum.
Lit in Colour Resources
A long-term programme of practical support for teachers and school librarians, including book donations, training and free digital resources.
Find inclusive texts
Download Librarimum’s recommended reads
School librarian and mum Rumena Aktar shares her recommended books for diversifying your curriculum, complete with teaching ideas.
Listen to the Podcast
Researcher and educator Darren Chetty talks to Shareen Wilkinson about why it's important for all children to have access to a representative range of books.
Lit in Colour's incomplete book lists
Created in response to the Lit in Colour research, Penguin’s incomplete book lists aim to make writers of colour more visible.
Lit in Colour's auditing tool
Download a tool to audit how diverse the authors and texts are that are used to support reading and writing from EYFS – KS2 in your school.
Talk to children about race
Listen to the Podcast
Laura Henry-Allain MBE talks to Shareen Wilkinson about diversifying children’s publishing, why we need to talk to children about race in school and at home, and how to be anti-racist.
Engage parents and carers
Practical tips for parents
Ebony Lyon shares affordable ideas and reading recommendations for parents.
Books that celebrate diversity
Cerrie Burnell shares her favourite children's books that celebrate diversity.
Resources for parents
Lit in Colour’s ideas to share with parents to help them think about the books they have at home.
Further reading
Read the Lit in Colour research
Read Penguin and The Runnymede Trust's findings and recommendations for diversifying the teaching of English in schools.
Diversity & inclusion at Oxford
Find out about the steps we’re taking to ensure all young people, and teachers and parents, see themselves reflected in the books and resources they use.
Read CLPE Reflecting Realities
The Reflecting Realities report, identifies and evaluates representation within picture books, fiction and non-fiction and provides a benchmark to track and understand progress.
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