CBBC presenter talks about new childrens book

A children’s TV presenter has talked about writing her new book aimed at helping to represent mixed-race children in literature.

Gemma Hunt, who fronts the CBBC programme Swashbuckle, wrote the book for her own daughter, who has a mixed-race mother, a white father, a black grandmother, and a white grandfather, so that she could see a family like her own reflected in the books she reads.

“We couldn’t find any children’s books that represented a family like ours,” said Gemma.

“While there is more diversity in kids’ stories these days, there was nothing which truly reflected my own child’s experience of home life.

“It is so important for children to see themselves represented in the literature and media they consume – I want my daughter to look at this book and feel like she’s looking in a mirror.”

She added that stories in the book – See! Let’s Be Me! – are designed to help children process difficult emotions.

Ms Hunt said she also wanted to promote a diverse image of Jesus – one that makes mixed-race children and children of colour feel part of the conversation on faith and spirituality.

Through its mixed-race main characters, See! Let’s Be Me! aims to give Jesus a face that is not the “stereotypical, blonde-haired and blue-eyed Jesus so many of us grew up with”, she added.

“It’s so important for children to feel part of things – we all just want to feel like we belong.”

Her book is the second in a series, with a third now being planned. They are aimed at younger children but Ms Hunt said she hopes older children will read them too.

Published: 13/11/2023 by Radio NewsHub