Inclusive Books for Children- Meet the Judges

The judges of the inaugural Inclusive Books for Children Award were announced this morning!  Read on for further details!

JUDGES REVEALED FOR INAUGURAL INCLUSIVE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN AWARDS, WITH A TOTAL PRIZE FUND OF £30,000 FOR BEST BOOKS DEMONSTRATING INCLUSIVITY

New charity, Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) announces an illustrious judging panel for its inaugural awards.

Jeffrey Boakye, author, speaker and educator; A.M. Dassu, author, campaigner and director of Inclusive Minds; Aoife Dooley, writer, illustrator, comedian and graphic designer; Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, content creator and leading advocate for LGBTQ+ and disability rights; Farrah Serroukh, interim executive director, Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE); and Sonali Shah, author and TV and radio broadcaster will form the esteemed lineup of children’s literature experts and inclusivity advocates judging the awards.

Celebrating the charity’s mission for positive change in the children’s book space, a total prize fund of £30,000 will be awarded to authors and illustrators of the best books demonstrating inclusivity in three categories: books for babies and toddlers aged one to three, picture books for ages three to seven and children’s fiction for ages five to nine.

The Inclusive Books for Children Awards are open to UK publishers, free to enter and will close on Friday 27 October 2023. The shortlists will be revealed in January 2024, with winners announced at a ceremony in March 2024. More details on eligibility and how to submit an entry can be found here.

This latest awards announcement follows the charity’s website launch last month, supported by official ambassador Nadiya Hussain MBE. The website presents hundreds of expert reviews and recommendations of inclusive children’s books, in an easy-to-navigate format that allows users to find titles featuring protagonists with specific characteristics, browse booklists curated by theme or types of representation, and much more.

Nadiya Hussain MBE, chef, author, television presenter, parent and ambassador for Inclusive Books for Children, said: “As a mum, I’m always trying to make sure that my children can see themselves represented in the media they consume and Inclusive Books for Children is the perfect platform for finding exactly what I’m looking for.”

A recent study by YouGov, commissioned by IBC, revealed that 64% of parents from all backgrounds would actively choose to read their child a book with a diverse mix of characters.

For more information about Inclusive Books for Children and the Awards, visit: www.inclusivebooksforchildren.org