‘Something New’: British Children’s Publishing and the ‘Discovery’ of Latin American Kid Lit in Translation

Historically, very few English translations of Latin American books for young readers have been produced in the UK. Today, however, some actors are beginning to regard the region as a largely untapped potential source of high-quality books for children and young people which could help meet continued calls to diversify production. This paper presents two case studies of contemporary Spanish-language writing for young people travelling from Latin America to the UK. The first focuses on the decade-long process that led Lantana Press to publish The Invisible Story in 2024, a picture book by a Costa Rican author–illustrator duo which features themes of inclusivity and accessibility. The second case covers the recent success of an Arts Council England-funded scouting project by translator Claire Storey, which has led to the English translation and publication of four Latin American young adult (YA) novels in the UK since 2022. Situated within the sociology of translation and taking a critical approach to diversity discourse in British children's publishing, these cases reveal the entangled nature of art, business, and advocacy in contemporary British English translations of Latin American children's literature.