Coelho, McQuinn and Hearson shortlisted for Inclusive Books for Children awards

Anna McQuinn and Ruth Hearson dominate the baby and toddler books category for the inaugural Inclusive Books for Children awards, making up two thirds of the shortlist. 

The awards span three categories for different ages, with £10,000 going to the winner of each category. 

The aim of Inclusive Books for Children is "for mainstream children’s books to be inclusive, and for inclusive children’s books to be mainstream". 

McQuinn and Hearson’s Zeki Goes to the Park (Alanna Max) and Zeki Hikes With Daddy (Alanna Max) are both shortlisted for the baby and toddler book category. They are joined by Sumana Seeboruth and Maribel Castells, on the list for Too Green! (Barefoot Books). 

In the picture books category for ages three to seven, Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Ruchi Mhasane are shortlisted for Dadaji’s Paintbrush (Andersen Press), while Sophia Payne and Sandhya Prahbat are in the running with Faruq and the Wiri Wiri (Templar). Erika Meza’s To the Other Side (Hodder Children’s) is also featured in this category, alongside The Missing Piece by Jordan Stephens and Beth Suzanna (Bloomsbury) and You’re So Amazing! by James and Lucy Catchpole and Karen George (Faber). 

Finally, in children’s fiction for ages five to nine, Coelho is shortlisted for Budgie, illustrated by David Barrow, (Barrington Stoke), while Atinuke is featured on the shortlist for Too Small Tola Makes It Count, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu (Walker). Megan Rix is also shortlisted for Lizzie and Lucky, illustrated by Tim Budgen (Puffin), and Zanib Mian is on the list for Meet the Maliks, Twin Detectives: The Cookie Culprit, illustrated by Kyan Cheng (Hodder). Also in this category, Chitra Soundhar is shortlisted for Sona Sharma, Wish Me Luck, illustrated by Jen Khatun (Walker).

This year’s judging panel is made up of educator, author and broadcaster Jeffrey Boakye and A M Dassu, an author and the Inclusive Minds director. Illustrator and author Aoife Dooley is also on this year’s list, alongside YouTuber, LGBTQ+ and disability rights advocate Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, as well as broadcaster and author Sonali Shah. The panel is being chaired by CLPE interim executive director and educator, Farrah Serroukh. 

As part of the process, each judge had to consider four key pillars around writing, illustration, inclusivity and overall enjoyment of the text.

Dassu said: "My fellow judges and I were so impressed with the inaugural shortlists in each category. The books covered many themes and represented a vast amount of diverse experiences. All the entries were interesting and engaging and they were a real pleasure to read. All of those shortlisted in each category should be commended."

Marcus Satha, co-founder of Inclusive Books for Children, added: “Our aim is to showcase children’s books that children and their families will love to read. What sets these books apart is that they offer authentic glimpses into different ways of life, as a backdrop to stories told through writing and illustration of the highest standard. It wasn’t an easy job for the judges, but we’re delighted to see so many brilliant inclusive books by incredible children’s authors and illustrators make it onto our very first shortlists, and we can’t wait to announce the winners next month.”

The Inclusive Books for Children awards ceremony will take place on 28th February at the Barbican Centre in London.