IBC reveals 2026 Awards longlist

The annual awards celebrate excellence in storytelling and representation across three categories: baby and toddler books (ages one to three), picture books (ages three to seven) and children’s fiction (ages five to nine).

The authors and illustrators of 14 titles are in contention for an IBC Award, a share of the £30,000 prize fund and the opportunity to participate in the award winners’ showcase at the Hay Festival next May.

Children’s fiction longlist:

• Destiny Ink: Birthday Secret by Adeola Sokunbi (Nosy Crow)
• George and the Mini Dragon by George Webster, Helen Harvey and Tim Budgen (Scholastic)
• Marv and the Duck of Doom by Alex Falase-Koya and Paula Bowles (OUP)
• Pia’s Pet Club: Puppy Problem by Serena Patel and Emma McCann (Usborne)
• Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow)
• The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Trip by Farhana Islam and Simran Diamond Singh (Farshore)

Picture book longlist:

• A Taste of Home by Maryam Hassan and Anna Wilson (Orchard Books)
• Cloud Boy by Greg Stobbs (OUP)
• Dancing Dumplings for My One and Only by Eva Wong Nava and Natelle Quek (Walker Books)
• Noah’s New Home by Zeshan Akhter and Nabila Adani (Templar Books)
• That’s Not Stella by Donna Fredin (Flying Eye Books)
• The Beautiful Layers of Me by Sophia Payne and Ruchi Mhasane (Walker Books)
• The Hunt for the Fog Town Moose by Stefania Aldana Trujillo (Kumusha Books)
• Wednesday Is for Wiggling by Eva Wong Nava and Holly Sterling (Walker Books)

Several IBC Awards newcomers feature on this year’s diverse longlist, including author-illustrator Greg Stobbs, author Farhana Islam and TV presenter and writer George Webster. Last year’s children’s fiction winner Adeola Sokunbi returns for the second time, while creative duo Alex Falase-Koya and Paula Bowles feature for a third.

As in previous years, the baby and toddler books category will move straight to shortlist due to a lower number of submissions. Four shortlisted titles will be announced in January alongside the other awards categories.

The five judges tasked with whittling down this year’s longlist are Pragya Agarwal, writer and academic; Scott Evans, primary school teacher and creator of The Reader Teacher website; Mei Matsuoka, children’s illustrator and author; Phyllis Ramage, librarian and children’s literature academic; and Nina Tame, disability consultant and content creator.

Scott Evans, said in anticipation of judging the longlist: ‘I’m honoured to support the IBC Awards as a judge to celebrate voices that uplift underrepresented experiences and to champion books that belong to all children. As Rudine Sims Bishop says, books become mirrors, windows and sliding doors and every child deserves access to all three.’

Sarah Satha, IBC co-founder, said: ‘For a third year running, the IBC Awards have teased out the crème de la crème of inclusive children’s literature in the UK. This outstanding collection of works from a supremely talented group of creatives – most from underrepresented groups – goes to show that inclusivity goes hand-in-hand with excellence. Our judges face an exceptionally tough task, and we can’t wait to see which books prevail!’

To learn more about the longlisted books and to read our expert reviews, visit our 2026 Awards longlist booklist.

Fabia Turner is Head of Content at IBC and the Founder of the Jericho Prize for Children’s Writing. She is also a former primary teacher and educational book editor with a love of children’s literature.