Inclusive books for children

Do the books in your baby and toddler group represent the wide variety of children and families who attend - or may attend one day?

Inclusive Books for Children (IBC) has revealed the 13 books that made it onto the shortlists for their new inclusive children’s book awards. Inclusive Books for Children aspires for mainstream children’s books to be inclusive, and for inclusive children’s books to be mainstream. Along the way, they hope to nurture a new generation of open-minded and inspired young book lovers. 

The 13 shortlisted titles are:  

Baby and toddler books:  

  • Too Green! by Sumana Seeboruth and Maribel Castells (Barefoot Books) 
  • Zeki Goes to the Park by Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson (Alanna Max) 
  • Zeki Hikes With Daddy by Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson (Alanna Max) 
     

Picture Books for ages 3–7 

  • Dadaji’s Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane (Andersen Press) 
  • Faruq and the Wiri Wiri by Sophia Payne and Sandhya Prahbat (Templar) 
  • The Missing Piece by Jordan Stephens and Beth Suzanna (Bloomsbury) 
  • To the Other Side by Erika Meza (Hodder Children’s) 
  • ³Û´Ç³Ü’r±ð So Amazing! by James and Lucy Catchpole and Karen George (Faber & Faber) 

 

Children’s fiction for ages 5–9 

  • Budgie by Jospeh Coelho, illustrated by David Barrow (Barrington Stoke) 
  • Lizzie and Lucky: The Mystery of the Lost Chicken by Megan Rix, illustrated by Tim Budgen (Puffin) 
  • Meet the Maliks, Twin Detectives: The Cookie Culprit by Zanib Mian, illustrated by Kyan Cheng (Hodder)  
  • Sona Sharma, Wish Me Luck by Chitra Soundhar, illustrated by Jen Khatun (Walker) 
  • Too Small Tola Makes It Count by Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu (Walker)