Winners of the Inclusive Books for Children Awards 2026 announced

The six winners of the Inclusive Books for Children Awards have been announced. Celebrating the best UK-published inclusive children's books for ages one to nine, this year's winners will share a £30,000 prize fund and showcase their work at Hay Festival in May.

Spanning formats from a Braille board book to a debut graphic novel, the winning titles were selected by a panel of children's literature experts, educators, authors and illustrators.

Marking the second all-female win since the literacy charity launched the prize in 2023, the IBC Awards Category Winners are:

Baby and toddler books:

Let's Play by Alex Strick, Annie Kubler and Sarah Dellow (Child's Play)

Picture books:

The Beautiful Layers of Me by Sophia Payne and Ruchi Mhasane (Walker Books)

Children's fiction:

Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow)

Judge, illustrator and author Mei Matsuoka said, "These books are pushing boundaries and opening pathways into worlds that need to be represented more. I was delighted to see how inclusivity was incorporated into sweet, funny and engaging stories without overpowering them."

The inaugural Children's Choice Awards, voted for by primary school children across the UK, were won by:
Won't Go! by Sumana Seeboruth and Fotini Tikkou (Barefoot Books)
Cloud Boy by Greg Stobbs (OUP)
Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow)

Claire Bennett, deputy headteacher of North Ferriby Church of England Primary School, commented on the impact of the pilot scheme: "Our school took part in the IBC Children's Choice Awards to give pupils a meaningful voice in celebrating inclusive books that reflect a wide range of cultures, identities and experiences. By voting, the children engaged more deeply with reading, developed empathy and learned to appreciate diverse perspectives.

"The experience empowered our children (including our reading ambassadors) to see that their voices matter. In taking part, I feel that it also strengthened our whole-school commitment to inclusion and representation in literature.'

To find out more about the IBC Awards 2026, visit the Inclusive Books for Children website.