On August 22, 2026, hundreds of families, young readers, authors, educators, and members of the community gathered at Dalston CLR James Library in Hackney, London, for the third annual Children’s Black Book Fair UK. What began as a celebration of books and storytelling has grown into something much bigger: a powerful reminder of why representation in children’s literature matters. This year’s event welcomed around 2,500 people, making it the most attended event ever recorded at a Hackney Library.
Representation Matters
The theme of this year’s fair was simple but powerful: “We Belong In Every Story. See Us. Hear Us. Read Us.” Throughout the event, children and families were able to discover Black books, meet authors, enjoy storytelling, take part in creative activities, and celebrate the voices shaping the next generation of literature.
The message behind the event goes beyond books. For a child, seeing someone who looks like them represented as a hero, a dreamer, a scientist, a writer, a leader, or simply as the center of an everyday story can have a lasting impact. It tells them that their experiences are worth sharing and that their imagination has a place in the world.
And representation is still an important conversation in children's publishing. Data highlighted around this year's event showed that only 1.9% of children's books published in the UK in 2024 featured a Black main character, a figure that had fallen compared with 2023.
A Library Full of Possibilities
One of the most inspiring parts of this year's fair was the introduction of the Hackney Writers Legacy Steps. The staircase at Dalston CLR James Library was transformed to celebrate 48 writers and storytellers connected to Hackney.
What makes the project particularly meaningful is that young people helped create it. Members of the CBBF Youth Focus Group researched writers and creatives, helped shortlist names, and shaped the idea behind the installation. The goal was not simply to honor established writers, but to show children that great storytellers can come from their own communities - and that they could become the next generation of writers themselves.
That idea captures the real power of representation: when children see what is possible, they can begin to imagine themselves becoming part of that possibility.
Stories Can Shape How Children See Themselves
Books can be a window into worlds we have never experienced, but they can also be a mirror that reflects our own lives.
For Black children, finding books that reflect their culture, families, history, appearance, and experiences can create a stronger sense of belonging. It can also give children from other backgrounds an opportunity to understand perspectives and experiences different from their own.
Representation doesn't mean every story needs to be about race. It means Black children should have the same opportunity as every other child to see themselves naturally represented across all kinds of stories - adventures, friendships, fantasy, family life, science, sports, history, and dreams for the future.
The Next Generation Needs More Stories
The success of the Children's Black Book Fair shows that there is a real appetite for these stories. The event has grown significantly since its first edition, from 1,232 attendees in 2024 to 1,853 in 2025 and 2,500 in 2026.
But the bigger takeaway isn't simply the number of people who attended.
It's the message those thousands of people carried home: Black stories belong everywhere.
Every child deserves access to stories that help them dream bigger, understand where they come from, and imagine where they can go. Supporting Black authors, illustrators, publishers, libraries, and community events is one way we can help make that future possible.
Because representation isn't just about seeing yourself in a book.
It's about knowing that your story matters.
And perhaps somewhere among the children who attended the fair this year is a future author, poet, artist, or storyteller - someone who will one day create the story another child needs to see.
We belong in every story. See us. Hear us. Read us.
At Empower Black Voice, we believe culture, identity, creativity, and self-expression deserve to be celebrated every day. Our collections are created as a way to carry those messages into everyday life - because representation doesn't have to stay on the pages of a book. It can be something we proudly wear, display, and share with the people around us.
Celebrate your story. Celebrate your culture. Keep your voice visible.