Seventh Diverse Book Awards shortlist announced

#TheDBAwards

The Diverse Book Awards is back again bigger and better than ever with nominations reaching a record high. With two new categories – Adult Non-Fiction and Children’s Non-Fiction – more than 200 books were submitted across the awards including Picture Books, Children’s, Young Adult and Adult Fiction.

The Diverse Book Awards, created by publishing entrepreneurs Abiola Bello (award-winning author of 14+ books) and Helen Lewis (prize-winning publicist and director at LitPR), continues to evolve to become ever more inclusive and interactive, and is proudly celebrating its seventh year.

Once again, readers in schools, libraries, book clubs, and homes across the country, voted for their number one winner in each of the longlisted categories as part of The Readers’ Choice Award. The winners will be confirmed at the invite-only awards party on October 22^nd at Waterstones Piccadilly in London.

The Malorie Blackman Impact Award winner will also be revealed at the in-person event, following in the footsteps of Malorie Blackman (2023), Nikesh Shukla (2024), and Sita Brahmachari (2025).

Today, as the seventh Diverse Book Awards shortlist is officially revealed, the ambition is that the lists will continue to hold pole position as ‘essential reading’ on a national level, highlighting the outstanding diverse and inclusive books published by authors based in the UK and Ireland during 2026.

Abiola Bello, co-founder of The DBAs:

“We are serving up the best diverse shortlist in book publishing for all to read. It’s so exciting celebrating seven years of The Diverse Book Awards and seeing such fantastic books on the shortlist. 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 in October.”

Helen Lewis, co-founder of The DBAs: “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. Bigger and better every year!”

The Diverse Book Awards Shortlist 2026

PICTURE BOOKS

Bessie’s Bees by Ana Gómez, George Kirk (Templar)
Carnival Queen by Donette Williams-Harry, Amélie-Anne Calmo (Little Tiger)
Cloud Boy by Greg Stobbs (Oxford University Press)
My Rice is Best by Selina Brown, Maxwell A. Oginni (Puffin)
Noah’s New Home by Zeshan Akhter, Nabila Adani (Templar Books)
Little Rhino Lost by Candy Gourlay, Jamie Bauza (Otter Barry Books)
Super Nani and Captain Yaz by Saira Shah, Maria Gabriela Gama (Templar Books)
The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babakar, Yas Imamura (Farshore)
The Tour at School: Because you’re the new kid by Katie Clapham, Nadia Shireen (Walker Books)

CHILDREN’S FICTION

How to Roller-Skate with One Leg by Ella Dove, Jennifer Jamieson (Orchard Books)
Kofi and the Brand New Vibe by Jeffrey Boakye (Faber & Faber)
My Name is Samim by Fidan Meikle (Kelpies/ Floris Books)
My Soul, A Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin (Farshore)
Naeli and the Secret Song by Jasbinder Bilan (Chicken House)
Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past by Maisie Chan (Piccadilly Press)
Runaways by E.L.Norry (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
Running My Own Race by Abena Eyeson (Nosy Crow)
Supa Nova by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow)

YOUNG ADULT

Girl, Ultra-Processed by Amara Sage (Faber & Faber)
Heartbreaker by Anika Hussain (Hot Key Books)
Love on Sight by Asli Jensen (Chicken House)
Mondays Are Murder by Ravena Guron (Usborne)
Odd Girl Out by Tasneem Abdur-Rashid (David Fickling Books)
Roar by Manjeet Mann (Penguin Random House)
Stealing Happy by Brian Conaghan (Bloomsbury YA)
The Girl with the Red Boots by Alex Wheatle (Hodder Children’s Books)
’Til Death by Busayo Matuluko (Simon and Schuster Children’s Books)

ADULT

Chaotic Energy by Stephanie Yeboah (Orion)
Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
Hail Mary by Funmi Fetto (Magpie)
Kakigori Summer by Emily Itami (Phoenix)
Salutation Road by Salma Ibrahim (Mantle)
The Isle in the Silver Sea by Tasha Suri (Orbit)
The Kill List by Nadine Matheson (HQ)
The Manual for Good Wives by Lola Jaye (Pan Macmillan)
What Happens in the Dark by Kia Abdullah (HarperCollins)

PICTURE BOOK/CHILDREN’S/YA NON FICTION

Different Like Us! Inspiring Real Stories from Kids Everywhere by Margaret Rooke (Jessica Kingsley Publishers) – Children’s
It’s a Brave Young World by Anu Adebogun, Soofiya and Lila Cruz (Little Tiger) – YA
Ten Children Who Changed the World by Paterson Joseph, Rumbidzai Savanhu (Wren & Rook/Hachette) – Children’s
The Endless Sea by Chi Thai, Linh Dao (Walker Books) – Picture Books
We Are Your Children by David Roberts (Two Hoots) – YA

ADULT NON-FICTION

Act Normal: Joy and Despair in Postcolonial Britain by Pete Kalu (HopeRoad)
The Science of Racism by Keon West (Picador)
The Trembling Hand by Mathelinda Nabugodi (Hamish Hamilton)
To Be Young, Gifted and Black by Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason (OneWorld)
Who Wants Normal? Life Lessons from Disabled Women by Frances Ryan (Fig Tree)