“If inclusion or representation is the goal, then empathy is the key to achieving it”
I am publisher at Kumusha Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Children’s Books (HCCB) in the UK. I’m also immersed in the world of inclusion, belonging and representation as an author, illustrator, and advocate for better, more meaningful representation in children’s books – and have been so for almost 40 years of publishing life. It’s a lifelong vocation which has allowed me to see the world in a very enriching way.
If inclusion or representation is the goal, then empathy is the key to achieving it. Being able to deal with others without prejudice and on an equal footing opens possibilities for achieving great things, together. Furthermore, the rewards are long lasting.
Empathy and profit making seem like opposites, but in truth they are very compatible. In publishing we are slowly seeing the benefits of empathy led decisions taken at the ideas stage, all the way through to manufacturing, marketing and publicity stages, when the idea has become a product. Every book has its own recipe for success, but the empathy factor, that extra layer of deep understanding, can make or break a book by finding the elements that resonate with readers and amplifying them.
Kumusha Books is HCCB’s official move into inclusive, empathy led publishing, and, in a sense, it is an exploration of growing our readership with products that retain HCCBs outstanding ability to sell as far and wide as possible, while creating books that still feel relatable to existing and new readers alike. It’s an exciting and stimulating environment of discovery alongside pragmatic change which clearly supports the company’s aim of making every child a proud reader. We follow this approach with 12 new books every year, across fiction and non-fiction, ranging from baby to chapter books.
As an Empathy Builder publisher, we use empathy and diversity throughout the publishing process, considering all our readers carefully. Our creators are often from different backgrounds too and there are several points where we check our progress in these areas, all with the aim of producing books with authentic representation. It is exciting to know that were part of an ‘empathy alliance’ and we are looking forward to participating the next Empathy Day. We will ask some authors to write about what empathy means to them and share it across our social media. We will offer free activity sheets and resources for our Empathy-related books for teachers to use on the day, and Kumusha author Joelle Avelino will be doing a draw-along, hosted by Empathy Lab, as a fun, free activity.
To come back to my initial statement, empathy is the driver for everything inclusive, and the best way to develop, or reawaken your sense of empathy is to act on your curiosity. This small effort will open a new world for you in your home and work life, as well as nurture your faith in humankind.
