The (incomplete) Lit in Colour book list 2024 Edition: KS3-5

Lit in Colour (Incomplete) Book Lists – Diverse Reading for Primary & Secondary Schools

The Lit in Colour (Incomplete) Book Lists have been developed in response to research with the Runnymede Trust, which highlighted the challenge teachers face in finding books by writers of colour. These curated book lists are designed to help primary and secondary educators diversify their reading selections and introduce students to a wider range of voices and perspectives.

Updated annually, the Lit in Colour book lists are intentionally called “incomplete”, reflecting our commitment to regularly add new and classic titles as they are published. Each edition features over 100 recommended books for both primary and secondary schools, sourced from Penguin and a range of leading publishers.

Key features of the Lit in Colour book lists include

• Four comprehensive lists each for primary and secondary schools, updated with new releases in 2024

• Handy indexes that group books by topic, genre, or subject, making it easy for teachers to assign themed reading or for pupils to explore areas of interest

• Author Focus pages spotlighting influential writers such as Jhumpa Lahiri, Rebecca F. Kuang, and Benjamin Zephaniah

These lists are a practical tool for lesson planning, independent reading recommendations, and building inclusive classroom and library collections. Explore the Lit in Colour (Incomplete) Book Lists to discover exciting literature that reflects the diversity of today’s classrooms and inspires a lifelong love of reading.

Other relevant resources

• Building Confidence in Teaching Texts by Authors of Colour - Secondary
• Lit in Colour - State of Change
• Secondary Teacher Webinar
• The Incomplete Lit in Colour Book List KS3-5 2021
• The Incomplete Lit in Colour Book List KS3-5 2022
• The Incomplete Lit in Colour Book List KS3-5 2023