Here at BooksForTopics HQ, we were delighted to be involved in judging the longlist for this year’s Diverse Book Awards. Now in their fourth year, these awards were created by award-winning author Abiola Bello and award-winning publicist Helen Lewis, to highlight the best of the diverse voices published in the UK and Ireland.

We are very excited to share the shortlist for these awards, showcasing the best of the UK and Ireland’s diverse children’s books, and featuring several of our own favourite authors, illustrators and titles.

Among the selected picturebooks are Dadaji’s Paintbrush, a universal story of love and loss in a beautiful Indian setting, which features on our Year 1: 50 Recommended Reads booklist. Also shortlisted is Our Tower by Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, a modern-day fable about learning to find nature and magic everywhere, which was the BooksForTopics pick for the 2023 Read for Empathy collection.

The Children’s category highlights a BooksforTopics favourite, The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger, which our review panel described as, “…a fantastic mystery story, which could also lead to discussions about race, theatre, slavery and family history.” Author Sangu Mandanna is shortlisted for Kiki Kallira Conquers a Curse – a welcome return for one of our favourite characters who first featured on our Diverse & Inclusive Books for Upper KS2 booklist with Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom.

Check out the full shortlist for the 2023 Diverse Book Awards below!

We’re so excited for the inaugural The Week Junior Book Awards, sponsored by Bookily from National Book Tokens, and in partnership with The Bookseller and World Book Day!

The recently-revealed shortlist features a host of fabulous reads for children of all ages, many by some of our favourite authors. Among the Fiction picks for younger readers are several writers who have appeared in our Year Group Recommended Reads lists, like Harriet Muncaster, Nadia Shireen and Serena Patel, who are nominated for Isadora Moon Under the Sea, Grimwood and Anisha, Accidental Detective: Holiday Adventure respectively. The Fiction choices for older readers include our previous Books of The Month picks Tyger, Like a Charm and Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List.

Alongside the Fiction and Non-fiction awards, there will also be recognition for an Illustrated Book, with contenders including Bunny vs Monkey: Rise of the Maniacal Badger and Peanut Jones and the Twelve Portals – both by illustrators whose work we’ve always enjoyed. The Audiobook category includes authors such as Malorie Blackman and David Walliams – with narrators including well-known actors, authors and even a pop star – while The Week Junior readers will be voting for their choice of Cover of the Year from a vibrant and striking selection.

Check out the full shortlist for the 2023 The Week Junior Book Awards below or read about the 2023 Week Junior Book Award winners here.