See Myself in Books
The Read Manchester See Myself in Books campaign aims to increase the number of diverse books in schools and libraries, and inspire reading in the local community by making sure children and young people can access books with characters that they can relate to. When children and young people enjoy reading, they read more often, helping to build vital reading skills and bringing wider benefits for wellbeing, confidence and learning.
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 books and tips on how to use them in the classroomFind out more
See Myself in Books Festival
Our first ever See Myself in Books Festival is taking place from 17 to 30 March 2025. There will be lots of exciting events for schools and families involving diverse authors, including a fun family day at the National Football Museum. Find out more.
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 (34.6%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 said that they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2024, 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 or Margaret Duff.