Representation matters.
This is a phrase said often during any conversation about media, but it doesn’t become any less true the more we hear it – because there are few things that can be as impactful as seeing yourself reflected back to you in the things you consume every day.
And this is even more so the case when it comes to children; as their senses of selves are forming, being able to see themselves represented in their books, games and TV shows lets them know that their experiences and lives are real and valid.
Unfortunately, there’s long been a gap for many children – particularly those who aren’t white, or have non-traditional family structures.
However, a brand new children’s book publishing company is working to change this. Aimée Felone and David Stevens, former Scholastic colleagues, have co-founded new children’s publisher, Knights Of, which aims to produce diverse stories for 5 – 15 year olds by commissioning writers and illustrators from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Aimée explains: ‘Knights Of was born out of a frustration with the lack of representative voices and narratives in children’s fiction. With Knights Of we can publish uniquely– putting our differences first and celebrating them, making it central to our business.’
The company also pledges its commitment to a similarly inclusive approach to recruitment, and will actively connect with UK BAME and working class networks and communities.
‘The industry fails to publish and hire inclusively enough; we want to give new writers the start they deserve while building a more representative workforce.’
Since launching on Friday (27th October), Knights Of has received plenty of love from excited folk on social media – gaining nearly 1000 Twitter followers, and over 120 Instagram followers in just one day!
Launch day by the numbers #BooksMadeBetter – from ZERO:
47,000+ @Twitter Impressions
929+ minutes read on @Medium
900+ @_KnightsOf Followers
457 #BooksMadeBetter Email Subscribers
133 @Facebook Likes
120+ @Instagram FollowersENDLESS support from across publishing. Thank You 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wVa5GYu3fM
— Knights Of (@_KnightsOf) October 27, 2017
We’re so happy to see that finally there will be a conscious, dedicated effort to making books relatable for all children, no matter their background!
