Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
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ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
@ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
580 followers 190 following 56 posts
Always thinking about ways to bring literature representing ALL children’s lives to readers, educators, and researchers.
Posts Replies Media Videos
ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
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.
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social Letterbox Library @letterboxlibrary.bsky.social · 2d
"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
Lit in Colour five-year report finds slow progress on curriculum representation
Lit in Colour has released its five-year progress report, demonstrating slow progress when it comes to teaching new texts in schools.
www.thebookseller.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
gpadmoreinstitute.bsky.social
45th 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...
New Cross Fire – 45th Anniversary Memorial Service
Find out about our New Cross Fire memorial service.
lewisham.gov.uk
January 8, 2026 at 10:39 AM
ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... If you’re in the Cambridge area, here’s something worth doing!
Cambridge library exhibition 'lets children see themselves'
An exhibition shows how black people are represented in British children's literature.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 4, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
Get 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
Screenshot from start of our Insta reel. Text reads “LGBTQ+ Early Years & Primary Highlights From 2025” Beneath is a colourful image by illustrator Claire Powell from the book The Princes & the Pea. Shows a man of colour in a top hat and glasses and a white man with a crown in an open top old style rolls Royce with a Just Married front number plate. Both wear a big bow tie. Pet dog in back of car. Rainbow flag flies from car bonnet. A brass band to the right.
December 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
uscanada-sands.bsky.social
The 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...
Continental Drift?
Where does Canada fit in the Trump administration's National Security Strategy? And where does Canada want to be?
christophersands1.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
New: 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...
Show up for our libraries, American Library Association.
December 5, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
amlibraryassoc.bsky.social
From 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
U.S. reinstates all canceled library grants after court order
A court ruled that Trump’s effort to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the only federal agency dedicated to funding libraries, was unlawful.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
cazapr1.bsky.social
Overall judges winner: 'How the News Works', Children's choice was 'Amazing Asia' 🥳
November 27, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
cazapr1.bsky.social
'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
Black History for Every Day of the Year
November 27, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
chaletfan.bsky.social
I went to a LOVELY talk about this so this is delightful to see!
cazapr1.bsky.social Caroline Fielding @cazapr1.bsky.social · Nov 27
'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
Black History for Every Day of the Year
November 27, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
cilip.bsky.social
While 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”. https://ow.ly/OOC150XyxWb
Culture sector responds to snub in 'damp squib' Autumn Budget - Arts Professional
Rachel Reeves' sophomore budget has been branded a ”damp squib” as figures from across the creative industries share their disappointment with the Chancellor
ow.ly
November 27, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
thesociologicalreview.org
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
Sideways Sociology: UK Anti-Racism Podcast series graphic featuring line drawings of four Black and Brown faces and two arrows pointing upward
October 31, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
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
Farrah stands side on, left arm raised. Right hand holds mic. Chris Haughton stands, mic in left hand. Right hand raised, pointing to a slide. This shows an inside double page spread of his book The History of Information.: top title reads Social Change. We see a line of people in silhouette marching, holding placards. Panel. Left is Gita Ralleigh, laughing. Middle is Candy Gourlay who is speaking; expressive hands. Right is Bali Rai drinking a glass of water.
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
… @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.
Karen Sands O Connor stands, hands on hips. Right is Darren Chetty holding a mic and speaking. Panel shows Sandra Agard facing audience, speaking in to mic. Catherine Johnson and JT Williams are both laughing. All are seated behind a table with black cloth. Michael Rosen is sat behind a table. He speaks in to mic, reading from an open book. Right hand is raised.
November 25, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
theclpe.bsky.social
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
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
sla.org.uk
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
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
thebookseller.com
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
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
letterboxlibrary.bsky.social
“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
A visual asset which reads “surely trends are for genres not for representation”. Followed by the blog’s title: “Before & After Reflecting Realities- some thoughts”
November 13, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
profsunnysingh.bsky.social
#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...
www.creativefolkestone.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
thebookseller.com
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
ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
mudlark-s.bsky.social
Very excited to finally get my hands on #beyondthesecretarden - will be digging in this weekend
A paperback copy of beyond the secret garden by Darren chetty and Karen sands-o'connor
August 8, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
darrenchetty.bsky.social
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...
Beyond the Secret Garden: On Values, Knowledge and the Imagination – Books For Keeps
booksforkeeps.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Reposted by Professor Karen Sands-O’Connor
snig.bsky.social
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
November 4, 2025 at 5:38 PM
ksandsoconnor.bsky.social
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