The Diverse Book Awards 2024 – Shortlists Announced!
13 September, 2024Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators shortlisted for this year’s The Diverse Book Awards!
Now in their fifth year, The Diverse Book Awards highlight the year’s outstanding diverse and inclusive books across four categories: Picture Books, Children’s Books, YA Books and Adult Fiction.
Commenting on this year’s awards, Abiola Bello, co-founder of The DBAs, said: ‘Once again, we have the best diverse shortlist in book publishing! It’s so exciting celebrating five years of The Diverse Book Awards and seeing such fantastic books. There is a range of familiar names and past winners, as well as debuts. The judges have been so amazing helping us with the longlist and shortlist and I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone when the winners are announced in October.’
Helen Lewis, fellow co-founder of The DBAs, said: ‘We all know that diversity in publishing is imperative for so many reasons; from enriching the narrative through sharing stories that help shape our understanding of the world, to building acceptance, empathy, positive self-esteem, healthy relationships, and kindness. This year’s shortlist literally has something for everyone, and I am so proud of all that The Diverse Book Awards has done, and continues to do, on a grassroots to a national scale.’
The Diverse Book Awards 2024 – Picture Book Shortlist:
I’m Going to Be a Princess by Stephanie Taylor, illustrated by Jade Orlando (Nosy Crow)
One Little Word by Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Allison Colpoys (Frances Lincoln Children’s
Books)
To The Other Side by Erika Meza (Hodder Children’s Books)
Stop! That’s Not My Story by Smriti Halls, illustrated by Erika Meza (Simon & Schuster Children’s UK)
Shine by Sarah Asuquo, illustrated by Nadia Fisher (Scholastic)
A Hero Like Me by Angela Joy & Jen Reid, illustrated by Leire Salaberria (Frances Lincoln
Children’s Books)
Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf by Craig Barr-Green, illustrated by Francis Martin (Little Tiger)
Not Now, Noor! by Farhana Islam, illustrated by Nabila Adani (Puffin)
Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate (Andersen Press)
The Diverse Book Awards 2024 – Children’s Shortlist:
The Storm Swimmer by Clare Weze (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
A Different Kind of Freedom: A Romani Story by Richard O’ Neill (Scholastic)
Kicked Out by A. M. Dassu (Old Barn Books)
Glow Up Lara Bloom by Dee Benson (Hot Key Books)
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Otter-Barry Books)
Steady For This by Nathanael Lessore (Hot Key Books)
Glitter Boy by Ian Eagleton (Scholastic)
The Thief of Farrowfell by Ravena Guron, illustrated by Alessia Trunfio (Faber & Faber)
Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan (Andersen Press)
The Diverse Book Awards 2024 – YA Shortlist:
Away With Words by Sophie Cameron (Little Tiger)
You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud (Usborne Publishing Ltd)
My Life As A Chameleon by Diana Anyakwo (Atom)
The First Move by Jenny Ireland (Penguin)
A Million To One by Adiba Jaigirdar (Hodder Children’s Books)
Gwen and Art are NOT in Love by Lex Croucher (Bloomsbury YA)
Boy Like Me by Simon James Green (Scholastic)
Wild Song by Candy Gourlay (David Fickling Books)
This Book Kills by Ravena Guron (Usborne Publishing Ltd)
The Diverse Book Awards 2024 – Adult Fiction Shortlist:
Bellies by Nicola Dinan (Doubleday)
Close to Home by Michael Magee (Hamish Hamilton)
Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks (Jonathan Cape)
Ghost Girl, Banana by Wiz Wharton (Hodder and Stoughton)
How (Not) to Have an Arranged Marriage by Dr Amir Khan (Macmillan)
Maame by Jessica George (Hodder and Stoughton)
Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie (Oneworld)
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson (Viking)
Those People Next Door by Kia Abdullah (HarperCollins)
The winners of The Diverse Book Awards 2024 will be announced on 10th October at an in-person award ceremony in London. Watch out for our winner announcement.
For more children’s book awards, click here.
