Announcing the 2025 IBC book awards shortlist and Hay Festival partnership

The 12 shortlisted titles are listed below:

Baby and Toddler

• Bhorta Bhorta Baby! by Jumana Rahman and Maryam Huq
• Democratic Republic of the Congo by Mel Nyoko and Joelle Avelino
• Zeki Eats Out by Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson

Picture Books

• Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green and Francis Martin
• Strong Like Me by Kelechi Okafor and Michaela Dias-Hayes
• Terrible Horses by Raymond Antrobus and Ken Wilson-Max
• Two People Can by Blessing Musariri and Maisie Paradise Shearring
• Until You Find the Sun by Maryam Hassan and Anna Wilson

Children’s Fiction

• Destiny Ink: Sleepover Surprise by Adeola Sokunbi
• Keisha Jones Is a Force of Nature by Natalie Denny and Chanté Timothy
• Marv and the Humongous Hamster by Alex Falase-Koya and Paula Bowles
• Secret Beast Club: The Mer-People of Crystal Pier by Robin Birch and Jobe Anderson

Judge Liz Pemberton said: ’Having an opportunity to be on the judging panel for this year’s IBC Awards was truly thrilling! The books we shortlisted were vibrant, emotional and told some absolutely essential stories. Choosing the final shortlist was nearly impossible in some cases, and the length of deliberation on the judging day was a further reminder about the high quality of the submissions.’

Judge and author Joseph Coelho said: ‘I am so excited to be a judge for this year’s Inclusive Books for Children Awards. The submissions have been excellent and I can’t wait to share our winners.’

Inclusive Books for Children is also partnering with Hay Festival to bring the award-winning books and their authors and illustrators to a wider audience. Starting this year, IBC award-winners will participate in an exclusive Hay x IBC interactive family storytelling event with a book signing at the Hay Festival bookshop. The bookshop will also feature a dedicated Inclusive Books for Children section, showcasing the IBC top-reviewed books of the year, including the longlisted titles from the 2024 and 2025 awards.

Julie Finch, Hay Festival global ceo, said: 'As a charity, our mission at Hay Festival is to widen access to culture for everyone. We are delighted to be working with Inclusive Books for Children — an organisation aligned with our mission — to promote their fantastically diverse reading lists at Hay Festival Hay-on-Wye 2025 this spring, including a very special event to celebrate the winners of the IBC Awards. Join us!'

Sarah Satha, co-founder of IBC, said: ’The storytelling across this collection is first-rate, taking us on profound emotional journeys, to whole new worlds, or on exhilarating adventures. The additional work and care that creators must undertake to make their stories inclusive takes that storytelling to the next level, making these books essential reading for a new generation of open-hearted young book lovers.’