A new study has drawn a bleak picture of cultural inclusivity reflected in the children’s literature available in Australia.

Dr Helen Adam from Edith Cowan University’s School of Education investigated the cultural diversity of books housed in the kindergarten rooms of four long day care centres in Western Australia.

Many children from ethnic minority groups are more likely to see a dinosaur or rabbit as a main character in a book rather than a member of their own culture. Credit:Peter Braig

Just 18 per cent of 2413 books in the total collection contained any representation of non-white people.

“Many children from ethnic minority groups are more likely to see a dinosaur or rabbit as a main character in a book rather than a member of their own culture,” Dr Adam said.