IBC Awards all-star shortlist 2023–2026

This delightfully funny, captivating story is a fantastic little board book to share with little ones, especially fussy eaters!

Zeki and Daddy explore the outdoors! Join them as they discover tiny leaves, delicate footprints and slow snails.

Join Zeki for summertime at the park. From riding rockers to stomping in the splash pad – there’s much fun afoot!

A bright, engaging, partially rhyming story in which Baby, with Mum's help, chops, fries, mashes and mixes ingredients, making the classic Bangladeshi potato dish, aloo bhorta.

Join Zeki, Daddy and Mr Seahorse as they meet Nana-G for some yummy restaurant food and a lovely day out!

A beautiful, bright board book highlighting some of the activities that take place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo!

Ready, steady, go, go, go! Join Ada and her animal friends for a fun-filled race to remember!

A highly relatable early story of the frustrations and intense feelings children can experience ending one activity and moving onto another.

Join Zeki and mum as they enjoy quality time around food and friends at the Saturday market!

A wonderfully tactile and accessible board book. Find the objects on the page using your senses!

Everyone keeps telling Joe how amazing he is, even when he’s not doing anything amazing. Joe finds this rather annoying.

Faruq adores food and would love to cook for his family. They expect him to become a doctor, but can he share with them his true passion? 

A boy in an Indian village loves painting with his grandfather, but finds himself overwhelmed after his grandfather passes away.

Sunny loves jigsaw puzzles until… DISASTER! A final jigsaw piece is missing. So, Sunny sets off to find it.

Meza’s animated images contrast symbolic, colourful Mexican festival masks with menacing shadow monsters to capture a perilous journey. 

Vibrant, distinctive storytelling in words and pictures and an endearing lead character offer a fresh take on Little Red Riding Hood!

Beautifully visualised with shimmering illustrations, this is an engaging and inspirational story that skilfully helps children to feel secure in themselves.

Brimming with depth and emotion, sibling rivalries are boldy brought to the fore in this deeply affecting story.

A lyrical, powerful and empathetic story about family change, acceptance and affirmation of all that two people can do!

Beautifully illustrated book about feeling homesick and then finding friendship after moving to different country.

Join Ameena as she attends her first nikah! A beautiful exploration of cultural identity, clothing and pride in her heritage

This charming picture book whisks you away with a scrumptious story for each favourite meal or dessert.

A beautifully illustrated book brimming with empathy for refugees and showing how communities can support those in need.

A beautiful, lyrical picture book about a little girl’s love for her grandma and their shared ritual of dumpling making.

A beautiful, affirming picture book exploring the complexities of ADHD, with an embracing and loving ending.

Excitement and nerves fizz from the pages as Destiny prepares for her first sleepover, but what about the night-time monsters?

This delightfully entertaining, action-packed superhero adventure, with animal mayhem and gadgets, will enthral newly independent readers and Marv fans alike.

Keisha Jones and the Bee Squad stand tall and proud to protect neighbourhood trees from the chop. 

Sworn to protect mythical creatures, a diverse society faces a dilemma in this magical series. 

A rip-roaring start to a new series about George, his friends and his pet — a mini dragon called Lava!

Supa Nova loves inventing things, but can she invent something that eats plastic? A vibrant, fun graphic novel from a new series.

It’s puppy pandemonium! Meet Pia, her pals and their pets in this uproarious new series from the award-winning creators of the Anisha, Accidental Detective series.

Brimming with energy and excitement, Mina and her classmates are on a school camp when they come face-to-face with the legend of Bertie Blackteeth.

Twin troubles abound as Maysa and Musa Malik seek to uncover the culprit of a cookie crime at their mosque.

When Miles rescues a lost little budgie outside his tower block, he also finds an unexpected friendship.

Join young detective Lizzie and her adorable puppy Lucky on another mystery-solving adventure as they visit the Five Freedoms Sanctuary, a home for rescued animals.

When Sona’s teacher plans to get married, Sona struggles with the idea that her teacher may be leaving the school.

Now that lockdown is over, Tola has returned to her flat and family. But not everyone believes where she's been…