Daly, NicolaVanderschantz, NicholasMitchell, StellaBlair, Crissi2025-05-022025-05-022025Daly, N., Vanderschantz, N., Mitchell, S., & Blair, C. (2025). Diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand picturebooks published between 2021 and 2022. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 48, 57-75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44020-025-00076-y1038-1562https://hdl.handle.net/10289/17354It is widely accepted that diversity in the literature read by and with children is of great importance, both for ensuring all children see themselves in the stories they share and in ensuring children are aware of lives and experiences outside their own. There is a growing body of international literature critically exploring the diversity present in English-language children’s literature, but to date very little analysing diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand. This study examines 90 picturebooks published between 2021 and 2022 in terms of representations of ethnicity, skin colour, gender, disability, family structures, and language use. Findings indicate similar representations of gender, disability, and family structure to those found internationally but higher representation in relation to the ethnicity and skin colour of primary and secondary characters. New findings in relation to language use are presented. Future research concerning the details of representation in picturebooks and other formats of children’s literature in Aotearoa New Zealand is called for.enDesigndisabilitydiversityethnicityfamilygenderlanguagespicturebooksJournal Article10.1007/s44020-025-00076-y1839-47283901 Curriculum and Pedagogy3903 Education Systems39 Education3901 Curriculum and pedagogy3903 Education systems