Inclusive Books for Children is a registered UK charity founded in 2022.
Our vision is for every child in the UK to grow up reading inclusive books — we want to nurture the next generation of open-minded and inspired young readers.
The CLPE Reflecting Realities and BookTrust Represents reports show that some progress has been made regarding minority-ethnic representation in children’s books, both in terms of content and creators.
It is increasingly possible to compile a diverse children’s bookshelf or library full of brilliantly written and illustrated inclusive children’s book titles.
We created our free website to make it easy for time-pressed parents, caregivers, librarians and teachers to find and buy these excellent books, confident they have made excellent choices.
Our review team are all experts in children’s literature, with professional backgrounds in education, libraries, academia and publishing. They are all champions of inclusivity and diversity, and each person brings a valuable perspective to a richly diverse team.
Our core team is equally passionate about, and tuned in to, the importance of diverse perspectives and characters in children’s literature, bringing a rich array of experience and skills every day, to make the IBC vision a reality.
The project is entirely free of commercial influence.
Learn more about our impact and mission.
Our patron
Liz Pemberton became our patron in 2025 after judging the IBC Awards the previous year.
Liz Pemberton is the Director of The Black Nursery Manager Ltd, a training and consultancy company focusing on anti-racist practice within Early Years.
With 20 years in the education sector, Liz’s roles have included Secondary School Teacher (QTS), Public Speaker and up until 2020, Nursery Manager.
Liz’s mission is to promote inclusive practice in the Early Years sector, with a particular focus on how race, culture and ethnicity should be considered in this practice.
Her accolades include being recognised in 2024 by Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage as 1 of 100 Black Women Who Have Made a Mark, and nominated as a finalist for Trainer of the Year for the 2022 Nursery World Awards.
Our partners
Peters
Peters is the UK's leading specialist supplier of children’s books and furniture to schools, academies, public libraries and multi-academy trusts.
For 90 years, Peters has worked closely with librarians, educators and reading professionals to promote literacy and help get the right books into the hands of generations of readers.
We are proud to work with them as our main book distribution partner for various initiatives, including IBC Book Box.
Hay Festival Foundation
Hay Festival Foundation is a registered charity based in the world’s first booktown of Hay-on-Wye in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, famed for its bookshops and beautiful natural surroundings.
Now in their 38th year, the Festival brings a diverse range of writers and readers together for a mix of conversation, debate, readings, sport, music, comedy and storytelling. Their work reaches children and young people in communities, schools and at their festivals.
We are thrilled to partner with them in showcasing inclusive children’s books and the winners of our IBC Awards to audiences at their annual festival in May.