What are the IBC Children’s Choice Awards?
The IBC Children’s Choice Awards are an exciting shadowing scheme for our IBC Awards, where children act as judges, reading the shortlisted books and voting on their favourites.
The scheme aims to engage children in fun reading activities that mirror the IBC Awards process. They will have 5 weeks to read and judge 5 books.
Registration is now open, with book pack pre-ordering available in December.
Reading and judging will take place between 12 January and 16 February 2026.
How to participate?
- Register for the IBC Children’s Choice Awards by clicking the link below to fill out a short form. Registration closes 12 January 2026.
- Buy the shortlisted books.
- For schools or libraries ordering via our official partner, Peters, you will receive an email in December with a link to pre-order your IBC Children’s Choice Awards book pack. The books will be delivered on or shortly after Monday 12 January 2026.
- If you are ordering from elsewhere, check your inbox on Monday 12 January 2026, for the announcement of the shortlisted titles.
- Read the books with your children. You have 5 weeks to read 5 books, from 12 January to 16 February 2026.
- Vote for your winner!
The deadline for casting your vote is Monday 16 February 2026.
Register for the IBC Children’s Choice Awards 2026!
Who can participate?
Children in any setting can participate, supported by an adult. For example, any teacher, librarian, parent or caregiver can register to participate in the Children’s Choice Awards on behalf of one child or a group.
What age range is this for?
Children of any age can take part in the Children’s Choice Awards with adult direction. There are three book award categories to choose from:
- Baby and Toddler Books (1–3)
- Picture Books (3–7)
- Highly Illustrated Children’s Fiction (5–9)
The above age brackets are for loose guidance only. In particular, children aged 7 and over are welcome to participate in the Picture Book shadowing process. Likewise, children aged 9 and over can take part in Children’s Fiction shadowing.
Winners and prizes
The authors and illustrators of the winning books will be announced at the IBC Awards ceremony on Wednesday 25 February 2026, at London’s Southbank Centre.
Each winner will be presented with a trophy and a gift of £250 worth of books made in their name to the school of their choice.
The ceremony will take place in the evening and will be livestreamed. As Children’s Choice Awards participants, your children will be sent a special video message from the winners a few days after the ceremony.
What are the IBC Awards, and why are we launching the Children’s Choice Awards?
As a registered literacy charity, we aim to help parents, teachers and librarians source diverse and inclusive books for children. Our annual IBC Awards highlight outstanding new children’s literature for the under-9s in three categories, rewarding children’s authors and illustrators with a shared prize fund of £30K.
This year, we are launching our Children’s Choice Awards in tandem with the main book awards. This shadowing scheme is designed to excite children about reading, motivating them to engage with a broader range of books.
The scheme follows the release of The National Literacy Trust’s annual reading survey, revealing children’s reading for pleasure is at its lowest in two decades, with only ‘1 in 3 (32.7%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 enjoying reading in their free time in 2025’, a 36% drop since 2005.
For more information about IBC and the work we do, check out our About us page, inclusive book reviews, recommendations and thematic booklists curated by experts.
I would love to participate, but my organisation doesn’t have the budget
There are 10 free sets of shortlisted books available to applicants who make a compelling case for receiving them. Complete this short form to apply.
Got questions?
Find out everything you need to know in our IBC Children’s Choice FAQs.
If you still have questions, email sophie@inclusivebooksforchildren.org.