Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
@ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
Always thinking about ways to bring literature representing ALL children’s lives to readers, educators, and researchers.
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Have you heard Sideways Sociology? Three audio essays on three landmark figures of UK anti-racism: Ambalavaner Sivanandan, Len Garrison and Gerlin Bean. Engage, learn, share! @blackhistorymonth.org.uk #blackhistory #antiracism @irrnews.bsky.social buff.ly/Wcn1lzK
October 31, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Have you heard Sideways Sociology? Three audio essays on three landmark figures of UK anti-racism: Ambalavaner Sivanandan, Len Garrison and Gerlin Bean. Engage, learn, share! @blackhistorymonth.org.uk #blackhistory #antiracism @irrnews.bsky.social buff.ly/Wcn1lzK
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
The 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
A superb lineup of speakers including:
Farrah @theclpe.bsky.social
@chrishaughton.bsky.social
@gitaralleigh.bsky.social
with …
#KidLitUK
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
The 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
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.
@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.
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
… @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.
@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’Connor
Our 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: https://www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page/reflecting-realities-book-pack-key-stage-1-2
Get a book pack for your classroom here: https://www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page/reflecting-realities-book-pack-key-stage-1-2
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Our 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: https://www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page/reflecting-realities-book-pack-key-stage-1-2
Get a book pack for your classroom here: https://www.letterboxlibrary.com/product-page/reflecting-realities-book-pack-key-stage-1-2
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Read more about the @theclpe.bsky.social #ReflectingRealities report and watch our conversation with authors Kim Kinloch & @rashmiwriting.bsky.social, touching on the importance of representation in information books, including the significance of accurate & thoughtful illustration: bit.ly/4nTvKVu 📚
Reflecting Realities: Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK Children’s Literature
Released this morning, the 8th annual CLPE Reflecting Realities survey shows a modest increase in minoritised characters in books published for children in the UK.
bit.ly
November 14, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Read more about the @theclpe.bsky.social #ReflectingRealities report and watch our conversation with authors Kim Kinloch & @rashmiwriting.bsky.social, touching on the importance of representation in information books, including the significance of accurate & thoughtful illustration: bit.ly/4nTvKVu 📚
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Nearly one in four children’s books published in 2024 featured racially minoritised characters, a rebound from the sharp decline of the previous year 👇 #BookSky
Representation in kids’ books partially bounces back in 2024 following stark drop
ebx.sh
November 14, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Nearly 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
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
November 13, 2025 at 5:02 PM
“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
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
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
#Folkestone: coming up on Monday, 17 November. Sunny will be in conversation about her book #Refuge: Stories of War (and Love) with the one and only @leoneross at Folkestone Book Festival
This will be amazing. Tickets here
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/whats-on/a-w...
This will be amazing. Tickets here
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/whats-on/a-w...
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
#Folkestone: coming up on Monday, 17 November. Sunny will be in conversation about her book #Refuge: Stories of War (and Love) with the one and only @leoneross at Folkestone Book Festival
This will be amazing. Tickets here
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/whats-on/a-w...
This will be amazing. Tickets here
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk/whats-on/a-w...
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Trade 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
‘This should be a wake-up call’: trade responds to inclusive organisations closing
ebx.sh
November 13, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Trade 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!
November 13, 2025 at 1:12 PM
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!
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Very excited to finally get my hands on #beyondthesecretarden - will be digging in this weekend
August 8, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Very excited to finally get my hands on #beyondthesecretarden - will be digging in this weekend
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
From 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...
'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...
Beyond the Secret Garden: On Values, Knowledge and the Imagination – Books For Keeps
booksforkeeps.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 11:42 AM
From 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...
'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’Connor
Learning 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
archive.ph/TX2jK
archive.ph
November 4, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Learning 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
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.
Black British Childhoods in Literature: Past and Present
Award-winning author J.T. Williams and leading academic Professor Sands-O'Connor are in conversation
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
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!
📚 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!
October 26, 2025 at 3:49 PM
📚 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!
📚 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!
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Congratulations to Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan, who was named Campaigner for Health Equity Award at Women of the Year Awards 2025!
www.womenoftheyear.co.uk/team/rageshr...
1/3
www.womenoftheyear.co.uk/team/rageshr...
1/3
Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan - Women of the Year
Her work in sexual health and HIV medicine in East London has given Rageshri unique insight into people in marginalised communities who face a lot of stigma because of the conditions they have. “Seein...
www.womenoftheyear.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Congratulations to Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan, who was named Campaigner for Health Equity Award at Women of the Year Awards 2025!
www.womenoftheyear.co.uk/team/rageshr...
1/3
www.womenoftheyear.co.uk/team/rageshr...
1/3
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
6th November. Former #LittleRebelsAward Champion, @amdassu.bsky.social , is sharing her latest book at a totally FREE event for schools.
#KidLitUK
#KidLitUK
Calling all teachers & librarians! The brilliant @amdassu.bsky.social is running a FREE virtual school event with Seven Stories on Thursday 6th November at 11am @zephyrbooks.bsky.social
Reserve your space here 👇
sevenstories.org.uk/event/author...
Reserve your space here 👇
sevenstories.org.uk/event/author...
October 22, 2025 at 3:29 PM
6th November. Former #LittleRebelsAward Champion, @amdassu.bsky.social , is sharing her latest book at a totally FREE event for schools.
#KidLitUK
#KidLitUK
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
This is amazing! This class have already got a copy of Wild Journey, thanks to their teacher. Week made! Thank you @pynchonic.bsky.social!
Thank you so much & a pleasure to meet you. Your talk was wonderful. This week in class, we’ve been inspired by Wild Journey as the children have loved writing a section of their own story before adding illustrations to it as shown through the book. It has enabled them to make stronger connections.
October 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
This 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’Connor
Great 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
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
October 22, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
"The BBC has clanged their doors shut on those histories, those stories, those lives and ways of working that are revealed through the joint industry of the historian and the archivist." @helenwheatley.bsky.social on the devastating decision to limit access to BBC archives. tinyurl.com/y4tnyw9a
Defending the WAC: All the things I haven’t (yet) written by Helen Wheatley
People following the last few weeks of the Critical Studies in Television blog will have seen my brilliant colleagues discussing the essential work that they have been able to do thanks to the…
cstonline.net
October 19, 2025 at 6:06 AM
"The BBC has clanged their doors shut on those histories, those stories, those lives and ways of working that are revealed through the joint industry of the historian and the archivist." @helenwheatley.bsky.social on the devastating decision to limit access to BBC archives. tinyurl.com/y4tnyw9a
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Reflecting 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. https://clpe.org.uk/training/webinars/reflecting-realities-your-classroom-recorded-lessons-literacy-cpd-series-1
October 16, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Reflecting 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. https://clpe.org.uk/training/webinars/reflecting-realities-your-classroom-recorded-lessons-literacy-cpd-series-1
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...
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...
Beyond the Secret Garden: Comics and Graphic Novels
Highlights from the most recent (September 2025) Beyond the Secret Garden (BtSG) column, published by Books for Keeps*.
uk.bookshop.org
October 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM
⭐️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...
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...
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
#London, coming up 28th October at Bard Books to mark the 1st year of the #JhalakReview & first of 10th year celebrations of the #JhalakPrize. With brilliant writers who are creating fearless, incredible, future shaping work. Come!!! It will be amazing: www.wearebardbooks.co.uk/event-detail...
The Jhalak Review - launch Autumn 2025 | Bard Books
Author and Jhalak Review editor Guy Gunaratne leads an evening of celebration and interrogation into how the past illuminates the paths ahead.
www.wearebardbooks.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 8:47 AM
#London, coming up 28th October at Bard Books to mark the 1st year of the #JhalakReview & first of 10th year celebrations of the #JhalakPrize. With brilliant writers who are creating fearless, incredible, future shaping work. Come!!! It will be amazing: www.wearebardbooks.co.uk/event-detail...
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Philip 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
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
October 8, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Philip 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
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
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
Who do you ban from your personal reading selections? Ready to challenge that?
pearlsandrubys.slj.com/2025/10/04/c...
pearlsandrubys.slj.com/2025/10/04/c...
Challenge: Reading Beyond Our Personal Bans
Let’s fight book bans on a personal level, one book at a time. Because bans aren't only about books; they’re working to erase people and their stories.
pearlsandrubys.slj.com
October 5, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Who do you ban from your personal reading selections? Ready to challenge that?
pearlsandrubys.slj.com/2025/10/04/c...
pearlsandrubys.slj.com/2025/10/04/c...