See Myself in Books
The Read Manchester See Myself in Books campaign champions reading across the city by ensuring children and young people can access books with characters and stories that reflect their lives.
Reading for enjoyment helps children relax, feel confident, and explore the world - yet too many children tell us they struggle to find stories that reflect their lives.
See Myself in Books responds by widening the range of literature available in schools and libraries across Manchester so that every child has the chance to recognise themselves, their communities and their experiences in what they read.
Discover more about the campaign below, including the return of our See Myself in Books Festival (9-20 March 2026), which will introduce hundreds of Manchester children to best-selling authors and a vibrant selection of diverse books.
See Myself in Books Festival 2026
After last year's launch, the See Myself in Books Festival is back for 2026! Taking place from 9 to 20 March, the festival is set to introduce hundreds of children across the city to diverse authors and book characters.
Diverse book collections
We have created two See Myself in Books collections for primary school-aged children, which are focused on ethnic diversity and neurodiversity, as well as supporting resources for teachers.
Families can access the books in both collections at their local Manchester library. The collections are just a start: there are loads of other brilliant diverse and inclusive books to explore.
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25 books that reflect the ethnically diverse communities of ManchesterDownload the booklist
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25 books that feature children and families' stories of neurodiversityDownload the booklist
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Information about the two book collections and tips on how to use them in the classroomFind out more
Children report on See Myself in Books
Brilliant young reporters from Birchfield Primary School joined our See Myself in Books Festival launch in 2025. Watch them talk about the campaign and its importance, and interview some of the authors involved.
Why is See Myself in Books important?
Reading for enjoyment brings so many benefits. When children and young people enjoy reading in their free time, they find it easier to relax, feel happy, learn new things, understand the views of others, learn about other cultures and be confident. But too many children are missing out because they don’t feel represented in the books they read.
Research from the National Literacy Trust shows:
- Over half (53.1%) of children aged 8-11 said they find it difficult to find books with characters or people like them.
- 1 in 3 children and young people aged 8-18 said that being given books or having books that represent them would make them want to read more.
When just 1 in 3 (32.7%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 said that they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2025, it's more important than ever to open up a world of stories that all children and young people can relate to.
Contact
For more information about See Myself in Books, please email Cheryl.Pridgeon@manchester.gov.uk or Margaret.Duff@manchester.gov.uk.