Being Human 2025: Books for Inclusion and Diversity

Educators are welcome to this interactive workshop, where we’ll be discussing high-quality children’s books featuring race, disability, war and protest from the 1800s to present day.

If you work with primary school-aged children, for example if you’re a teacher, youth club leader, or a children’s librarian, and you’re interested in social justice, this workshop is for you! Discussion will focus on professional development and practices.

The University of Sheffield is developing a Study Centre in Inclusive Children’s Literature, based on books held by and donated to Karen Sands-O’Connor, who is a world-leading expert in diverse British children’s literature. She is joined in this event by Aneesh Barai, a lecturer at Sheffield in Education and Children’s Culture.

During this evening workshop, we will: 1. Present a mini-lecture about the history of children’s books and representation. 2. Share archival material to look at and discuss together, that can support history and citizenship learning and National Curriculum goals. 3. Workshop with you about how to create useful learning resources for your work contexts.

Accessibility information: Accessible parking, Assistance dogs welcome, Printed materials, Pushchair/pram friendly, Seating, Step-free access, Wheelchair accessible.

This event is part of the Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 6 - 15 November 2025. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.

Host or Publisher Aneesh Barai