Celebrating diversity through books for children and young people
The Books Council of Wales has launched a brand-new selection of original books for children and young people in Wales at a special event at The Egin in Carmarthen. Learners from local schools were invited to see the new titles and meet the authors.
The Rhyngom project, funded by Welsh Government, was established to publish more books for young readers that represent the culture, people and history of the whole of Wales, and that celebrate and promote diversity. The event celebrates an exciting milestone as new, original books that were commissioned in Welsh and English in the first phase of the scheme are published.
The new books include works by first-time writers as well as established authors. One of the main aims of commissioning original Welsh and English books as part of the scheme was to ensure publishing opportunities for authors and illustrators from a range of under-represented backgrounds and communities. Some new authors have been supported to work with a mentor or to co-author with a more experienced writer.
The new books include:
Y Ransh ym Mhen Draw’r Byd / The Ranch at the End of the World by Emma Bettridge. Adaptation by Sioned Erin Hughes (Graffeg).
A History of My Weird / Hanes fy Hynodrwydd by Chloe Heuch. Adaptation by Mared Llwyd (Firefly).
Megs / Megs by Meleri Wyn James (Y Lolfa).
Zac and Jac / Zac a Jac by Cathy Jenkins. Adaptation by Ceri Wyn Jones (Graffeg).
20 Colourful People of Wales / 20 o Bobl Liwgar Cymru by Natalie Jones (Y Lolfa).
Colours of Home / Cartref o Liw by Miriam Latimer. Adaptation by Anwen Pierce (Graffeg).
The Winter Festival / Gŵyl y Gaeaf by Rebecca Wilson (Rily).
Helgard Krause, Chief Executive of the Books Council of Wales said: “Congratulations to the authors and publishers who have worked so hard to produce this wonderful selection of books, some of which are by first-time authors, and all of which I can’t wait to read!
“Rhyngom is a three-year project which will lead to the publication of 48 reading books for pleasure for children and young people, promoting and celebrating diversity and reflecting more of our stories, people and communities in Wales. Thank you to our many partners who have shared their advice and expertise and made this project possible.
“It was a real pleasure to launch these new books today, and we’re extremely grateful to the Welsh Government Education Department for their funding and support.”
The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle MS said: “I wish to add my congratulations to the authors and to thank everyone who’s contributed to the project. It is so important for our schools to have new reading books, in both Welsh and English, that support the teaching of diversity across the curriculum, supporting our learners with their literacy and empathy skills, and contributing towards their mental and emotional well-being.”
At today’s launch event, led by Miriam Isaac, Year 2 pupils from Ysgol y Dderwen and Model Church in Wales School met authors Rebecca Wilson, Natalie Jones, Miriam Latimer and Gail Sequeira. They took part in workshops and activities to explore the themes, ideas and stories in the primary school age titles. In the afternoon, authors Chloe Heuch, Megan Angharad Hunter, Meleri Wyn James and Cathy Jenkins travelled to Ysgol Bro Taf to meet Year 7 learners and to launch the secondary school age titles.
This is the first phase of a three-year £810,000 project funded by Welsh Government. It will be followed by phase two in March 2025, when Welsh adaptations of 28 English titles that promote and celebrate diversity – some of which have won awards such as the Diverse Book Award – will be published and available for purchase from bookshops and the Gwales.com online shop.
The third phase is to create educational resources to accompany the 48 titles. These resources – in print and digital format – will provide additional and valuable guidance for teachers in Wales and will be available by September 2025.
The final phase is a book-gifting scheme for primary and secondary schools in Wales. Every state primary school will receive a free copy of the books for readers aged 3–7 and 8–11 years, and every state secondary school will receive a copy of the books for readers aged 8–11 and 12–16 years. Schools will also be given printed editions of the educational resources.
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