A researcher of children's literature shared a story of a time when he went to a primary school library and was unable to find any science fiction titles for readers under the age of 12. He was neither able to find books that would’ve shown characters of different origins. The year was 2016 and his five-year investigation into the absence of science fiction books for kids this age was sparked by this revelation.

The person concluded two things after the discovery. One, although adults frequently believe it, children can understand science fiction. Second, in children's future stories, authors and illustrators do not show characters from different origins. It was as if the author has already assumed that children of different backgrounds wouldn’t read the books.

The researcher revealed that as per his findings, only 25% of science fiction novels have varied characters with only 37% of them having a girl as the main character. The researcher insisted that there is a need to diversify the science fiction novels for children as it conveys who belongs in the future. The #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement that was started in 2014 by authors Malinda Lo and Ellen Oh revolved around the demand for more children's books featuring characters with a variety of racial, gender, cultural, religious, physical, and mental problems. 

The imagination gap in children's literature depends on the fact that fans reject non-white fantasy and science fiction characters. Children who don't often see diverse characters in their science fiction and fantasy literature grow up to be adults who don't think diversity belongs in their favorite stories. NASA scientists and mechanical engineers have stated that their early exposure to science fiction would not only make the world more accepting but would also stoke their interest in the subject.

When science fiction writers depict a diverse range of people as future scientists, they give more kids role models to help them see themselves in those professions. Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, claimed that she was inspired to pursue a career in space when she was a young girl after reading a science fiction book.

The researcher revealed that as compared to general children's literature, children's science fiction is more diverse. Nonetheless, changes are coming slowly and gradually. There are now more girls and varied characters in children's science fiction as compared to the old times. For instance, the 1999 children's book titled The Worst Band in the Universe written by Graeme Base alludes to the development of Black music in America. "De Witt" Science fiction celebrated the possibility of diversity in the future by featuring a variety of humanity rather than a variety of aliens. 

The researcher revealed that he got to know about the earliest books to demonstrate diversity while working with the samples. A collection of "Buck Rogers" comic strips from 1929 had a few various skin-toned characters and some strong female characters. The researcher revealed that out of the 357 books that he read, just five were in-depth about non-white or non-European cultures. Although he didn’t read about any queer characters in any of the books, he discovered that this form of representation has begun to appear on modern children's television. The science fiction anime titled Steven Universe encouraged innovative thinking about gender and queerness by utilizing the plot’s boundless potential. 

If authors fill the gap in children's science fiction with works that feature characters from a variety of backgrounds, science fiction writers may take the lead in attempts to diversify children's literature. The researcher also mentioned that he has worked with an illustrator named Lauren A. Brown to create a picture book about a black and crippled girl learning to take care of a cute stowaway alien. Furthermore, the researcher stressed the need for educators and parents to look for science fiction featuring diverse characters along with the responsibility of the science fiction authors to diversify the field.