Kids create storybooks to reflect their own diversity

WHEN the children at St Albert’s Primary School could not see themselves reflected in the books they read, the school decided to do something about it.

Around 90 per cent of the pupils are non-white Scottish, and 85 per cent speak different languages.

The Glasgow school is championing inclusion through the creation of short storybooks that aim to challenge diversity of characters in children’s books.

Teacher Shirley-Anne Brightman, who is involved in the book project, said: “We realised most of our reading books were not anything like the children in our school. We brought in three writers to lead workshops with the children and their families to collect stories and ideas and create characters with names from their culture and that reflect their diverse backgrounds.”

The storybooks were launched in 2020 and produced despite school closures, with children working with their author mentors over Zoom.

The three books are a collection of 18 short stories called “We Can be Heroes”, where all the stories feature Black, Asian, and minority ethnic characters.

The project won a national award from the Social Enterprise Academy, the Glasgow Social Enterprise Academy’s Dragons’ Den in 2021, and a grant from the Scottish Libraries and Information Council.

Head teacher Clare Harker said: “Our children were reading about Cinderella, but she didn’t look anything like them. It has been a privilege to read stories about female superheroes in hijabs and astronauts named Yousaf.

“We want our pupils to have the confidence to assert their rights and question why the characters they are seeing don’t look or sound like them, not simply accept it as if they are not worthy of having starring roles.”

Fauzia Ahmed, vice-chair of the parent council, said: “The storybook writing project has been fantastic. The school is a family and it’s amazing to feel part of everything.”