Winners of the Fourth Diverse Book Awards Announced
The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced at an event held at Waterstones Piccadilly in London.
The organisers of the awards hope that the longlist, shortlist and winners will become essential reading on a national level, highlighting the outstanding diverse and inclusive books published by authors based in the UK and Ireland.
In addition to the category winners, Malorie Blackman was awarded the inaugural Malorie Blackman Impact Award, sponsored by Literally PR. Accepting the award, Malorie Blackman said, ‘I want to say a HUGE thank you to Abiola Bello and Helen Lewis for creating the Diverse Book Awards which I believe is now in its fourth year. They wanted to shine a welcome spotlight on marginalised voices in the publishing world and that is indeed what they have done. I’m so honoured and humbled to launch the new Malorie Blackman Impact Award, to be given to those who have committed to diversity and inclusion in publishing. I can think of no greater accolade than to have such an award named after me.’
The Diverse Book Awards Winners 2023
WINNER – The Diverse Book Awards 2023 – picture book category
Dadaji’s Paintbrush by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Ruchi Mhansane (Andersen Press)
In second place:
Nour’s Secret Library by Wafa Tarnowska, illustrated by Vali Mintzi (Barefoot Books)
In third place:
Our Tower by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Richard Johnson (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)
WINNER – The Diverse Book Awards 2023 – children’s books category
The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger by J.T. Williams and illustrated by Simone Douglas (Farshore)
In second place:
The Twig Man by Sana Rasoul (Hashtag Press)
In third place:
A Flash of Fireflies by Aisha Bushby (Farshore)
WINNER – The Diverse Book Awards 2023 – YA category
When Our Worlds Collided by Danielle Jawando (Simon & Schuster)
In second place:
Love In Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello (Simon & Schuster)
In third place:
If You Still Recognise Me by Cynthia So (Little Tiger)
The Diverse Book Awards Readers’ Choice Award 2023
New for 2023 is the Readers’ Choice Award. There were almost 1,000 votes for this prize across the categories, 100 received in the first hour alone, which for the first year of its life is pretty amazing. Each of the 2023 longlisted books were open to votes from the announcement of the longlist through to the announcement of the shortlist.
The Diverse Book Awards 2023 Readers’ Choice Award – picture book category
WINNER
With 23.2% of the vote…
Small’s Big Dream by Manjeet Mann, illustrated by Amanda Quartey, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books.
In second place, with 15.9% of the vote…
Me and My Dysphoria Monster by Laura Kate Dale, illustrated by Ang Hui Qin, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
In third place, with 9.6% of the vote…
John Agard’s Windrush Child by John Agard, illustrated by Sophie Bass, published by Walker Books.
The Diverse Book Awards 2023 Readers’ Choice Award – children’s books category
WINNER
With 21.2% of the vote…
The Twig Man by Sana Rasoul, published by Hashtag Press.
In second place with 10.1% of the vote…
Keep Dancing Lizzie Chu by Maisie Chan, published by Piccadilly Press.
In third place with 9.1% of the vote…
Sadé and the Shadow Beasts by Rachel Faturoti, illustrated by Rumbidzai Savanhu, published by Hodder Children’s Books.
The Diverse Book Awards 2023 Readers’ Choice Award – YA category
With 21.6% of the vote…
Love In Winter Wonderland, by Abiola Bello, published by Simon & Schuster
In second place, with 15.5% of the vote…
Gay Club! By Simon James Green, published by Scholastic.
In third place, with 12.6% of the vote…
Toxic by Natasha Devon, published by UClan Publishing.
The 2024 Diverse Book Awards will reopen for nominations in mid-January 2024 to mid-March 2024. For more news and updates, please visit the website and join the mailing list.
An online ‘winners panel’ event will be held on 9th November at 7pm.
