Dassu, Boakye and Dooley to judge inaugural Inclusive Books for Children awards

Authors Jeffrey Boakye, A M Dassu and Aoife Dooley have been announced as the judges of the inaugural awards held by the charity Inclusive Books for Children (IBC). They will be joined by content creator Jessica Kellgren-Fozard, interim executive director at the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) Farrah Serroukh, as well as author and broadcaster Sonali Shah.

A total prize fund of £30,000 will be awarded to authors and illustrators of the best books demonstrating inclusivity in three categories: books aimed at 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 and are free to enter. They will close on Friday 27th October 2023, with the shortlists to be revealed in January 2024. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in March 2024.

IBC co-founders Marcus and Sarah Satha, said: “We’re thrilled to reveal our amazing judging panel, each and every one of whom is an expert in their field and a heartfelt advocate for inclusivity. We can’t wait to find out who will take home the prize in each category!”

Judge Dassu added: "I’m delighted to be a judge for the inaugural Inclusive Books for Children Awards. It’s so important for children to see themselves represented from the moment they can hold a book. For some, it can be a life-changing moment and so celebrating the best inclusive books from ages one to nine is something I’m really passionate about."