Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Always thinking about ways to bring literature representing ALL children’s lives to readers, educators, and researchers.
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorBlack Poets/BtSG column in @booksforkeeps.bsky.social Inspired by a new poetry collection @darrenchetty.bsky.social & @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social look back at previous anthology iterations&publication challenges faced-incl. the diminishing of dialect: #KidLitUK booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/beyo...
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorCongratulations to Ken Wilson-Max on last night's very enjoyable (and tuneful!) launch of The Big Green @otterbarrybooks.bsky.social Find out more about the books and Ken's approach in our interview booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/an-i...
- This is why we must keep pressure on education and publishing; people are not a trend and everyone should be represented in books, especially for young people.
- "With no intervention it will be 2046 before just 10% of GCSE students answer one question in their English Literature exam about a text by an author of colour” Lit In Colour releases 5-year progress report. Amongst campaign successes are cautions- www.thebookseller.com/news/lit-in-... #KidLitUK
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor45th Anniversary of the fire which claimed the lives of 14 young people. A suspected arson attack motivated by racism, our co-founders supported the families and organised the ensuing fight for justice. On 18 Jan. Lewisham Council will hold a memorial service. lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/eve...
- www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... If you’re in the Cambridge area, here’s something worth doing!
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorGet on over to our Insta account to see a little reel on just some of our lgbtq+ children’s books highlights over the last year- based on our contribution to @booksforkeeps.bsky.social Books of the Year. #KidLitUK
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorThe new US National Security Strategy doesn't have much to say about Canada. But maybe that is only when you consider Canada in the Western Hemisphere. Imagine Canada when reading the section on Europe, and Trump foreign policy is clearer. christophersands1.substack.com/p/continenta...
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorNew: ALA and @aaslala.bsky.social welcome the reintroduction of the Right to Read Act by @reed.senate.gov and Rep. Adelita Grijalva! This legislation would help ensure that all students have access to a school library, staffed by a certified school librarian. More: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorFrom the Washington Post: All library grants reinstated at Institute of Museum and Library Services. Read more about the great news: www.washingtonpost.com/style/2025/1... But the fight isn't over. We need to tell Congress to #FundLibraries: app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-pag... #ForOurLibraries
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorOverall judges winner: 'How the News Works', Children's choice was 'Amazing Asia' 🥳
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor'Black History for Every Day of the Year' by David, Yinka, and Kemi Olusoga is the winner for the 13-16 judges AND childrens awards! #InformationBookAwards @sla.org.uk
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorI went to a LOVELY talk about this so this is delightful to see!
- 'Black History for Every Day of the Year' by David, Yinka, and Kemi Olusoga is the winner for the 13-16 judges AND childrens awards! #InformationBookAwards @sla.org.uk
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorWhile CILIP welcomes the Budget announcement of £5m for secondary school libraries. CEO Louis Coiffait-Gunn calls for “a long-term strategy to secure statutory status for school libraries, with ongoing funding for professional library staff in every school”. ow.ly/OOC150XyxWb
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- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorThe most recent @ibbyuk.bsky.social conference centred on what histories children are traditionally told and how these can be resisted, expanded, interrupted. A superb lineup of speakers including: Farrah @theclpe.bsky.social @chrishaughton.bsky.social @gitaralleigh.bsky.social with … #KidLitUK
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor… @candygourlay.bsky.social & @balirai.bsky.social @darrenchetty.bsky.social & @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social Sandra Agard with @catwrote.bsky.social & JT Williams. @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social who sang us out with join-in choruses 🙂 Look out for the blog up and coming on the IBBY site.
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorOur friends at Letterbox Library have put together a book pack for primary school teachers, inspired by our Reflecting Realities research. Get a book pack for your classroom here: letterboxlibrary.com/product-page/reflec…
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- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorNearly one in four children’s books published in 2024 featured racially minoritised characters, a rebound from the sharp decline of the previous year 👇 #BookSky
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor“Surely, the argument isn’t that inclusive books are a publishing trend?” We blogged! Ahead of tomorrow’s publication of the 8th @theclpe.bsky.social #ReflectingRealities Report, check out our most recent blog (6min read) : www.letterboxlibrary.com/post/before-... #KidLitUK
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- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorTrade figures have called on the publishing industry to ‘safeguard the future of inclusive storytelling’ following the recent closure of several organisations championing representation in children’s books 👇 #BookSky
- Great to spend yesterday evening in conversation with @a-barai.bsky.social and author of the Lizzie and Belle series, JT Williams, at Sheffield Central Library!
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- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorFrom 2021, on the discussion of Kate Clanchy's book: 'How does a book in which a writer frequently employs controversial and denigratory language come to be championed as a work of political acumen? What does this suggest about how writing is evaluated?' booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/beyo...
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorLearning that Kate Clanchy is on a podcast to complain of her "cancellation" is gross. Clanchy lied about the quotes being fake; they were genuine. She started pile ons on anyone calling out her bigotry. This, from Book Riot, sets out the sequence of events. archive.ph/TX2jK
- www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/black-brit... If you’re in Sheffield next week, why not come along? JT Williams is always a treat to hear.
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor📚 What stories do we tell children about the past? 📚 From whose point of view are these stories told? 📚 Whose lives are considered important — and whose are forgotten? 📚 What are historical “facts,” and who gets to interpret them? We’ll explore these questions at our conference on November 8th!
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- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor6th November. Former #LittleRebelsAward Champion, @amdassu.bsky.social , is sharing her latest book at a totally FREE event for schools. #KidLitUK
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorThis is amazing! This class have already got a copy of Wild Journey, thanks to their teacher. Week made! Thank you @pynchonic.bsky.social!
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorGreat Line up! Tickets available: www.tickettailor.com/events/ibbyu... @ibbyuk.bsky.social @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social @theclpe.bsky.social @chrishaughton.bsky.social @gitaralleigh.bsky.social @balirai.bsky.social @candygourlay.bsky.social @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
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- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorReflecting Realities in Your Classroom: Use CLPE’s award-winning research to build a representative curriculum. Learn to choose inclusive books & create a positive, diverse curriculum. clpe.org.uk/training/webinars/r…
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor⭐️Comics &graphic novels starring racially minoritised characters. With each #BeyondTheSecretGarden column by @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social & @darrenchetty.bsky.social in @booksforkeeps.bsky.social -we share the highlights at @bookshop-org-uk.bsky.social #KidLitUK uk.bookshop.org/lists/beyond...
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- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorPhilip Nel warns against the ways institutional book banning efforts lead to self-censorship Read "Being Banned Is Not an Award" in the new issue of Bookbird Free on @projectmuse.bsky.social thru 31 October tinyurl.com/3hy62uye #AcademicSky #BannedBooksWeek
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- shows.acast.com/storyshaped Excited to see that the Storyshaped episode with @darrenchetty.bsky.social is available for everyone to hear now!
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorIn an open letter, Walker Books 'is concerned to see the latest developments in Weymouth, particularly given the extreme reality of book banning in the US. We must ask ourselves is this the beginning of something, and what comes next?' www.bookbrunch.co.uk/page/article...
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor1/4 🥳CONGRATULATIONS to the first ever double prize winner of The Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social #KidLitUK #UKKidLit …a little thread on why this book matters so much ⬇️
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorNovember is Empathy Action Month and what better way to celebrate in school than by joining @amdassu.bsky.social for a FREE virtual event on Thurs 6th Nov who will whisk you on a mesmerising journey across the world with her new book, #WildJourney Register here sevenstories.org.uk/event/author...
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor🥳🎉CONGRATULATIONS🎉🥳 We are delighted to announce that the Winner of the 2025 Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction is @sarahhaggerholt.bsky.social for The Fights That Make Us, published by Usborne. Congratulations, Sarah! Our first ever double champion!! #KidLitUK
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorGenerous overview of characters of colour in comics&graphic novels, from stereotypes to representation. (Via gems like Ed Sec’s K Baker’s book ban) Latest @darrenchetty.bsky.social & @ksandsoconnor.bsky.social column in @booksforkeeps.bsky.social #UKKidsLit booksforkeeps.co.uk/article/beyo...
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- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorHappy hours making up bundles of #LittleRebelsAward 2025 Shortlist Bookmarks for UK primary schools distribution via a forthcoming YLG mailout🙏😌 #UKSchools #UKKidLit #KidLitUK @ylglondon.bsky.social @cilip-ylgse.bsky.social @jakehope.bsky.social
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- I hope this will include the highlights of ESEA writing and publishing for children—so much good stuff out and coming out!
- ICYMI: The Bookseller will publish a special focus on East and South East Asian (ESEA) writing and publishing. The ESEA spotlight will run in the 5th December issue 👇 #BookSky
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’ConnorOver the last few months, the George Padmore Institute (GPI) has been developing a resource to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Black Parents Movement (BPM), detailing the organisation’s history, governance, key national and international campaigns. Check it out here: buff.ly/vQszy33 📽️
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor“C Johnson has managed to extract, from a complicated history, all of the gems & then polished them up so as she can deliver them both honestly&thoughtfully to her young audience” Dance of Resistance @catwrote.bsky.social is out 11th Sep! Review/pre-order: www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page...
- Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor“The stories that make up this year’s shortlist reminds us that the fight for justice is nothing new.” We were very honoured this year to be joined again by Dr. @darrenchetty.bsky.social at the shortlisting stage. Reflecting on the shortlist, Darren said…⬇️⬇️⬇️ #KidLitUK #UKKidLit
