Joy for Books Awards

The Joy for Books Awards is a recognition program established by Joy for Books, a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) children’s books as a pathway to literacy. These awards honor excellence in culturally diverse children's books across the following categories, celebrating authors, illustrators, and publishers contributing to children's literature's richness and inclusivity. Nominations close on May 15, 2024.

Categories

  • Best Early Literacy Books (ages: 0-3)

  • Best Books for Kindergarten & Grade 1

  • Best Books for Grade 2 & 3 Books

  • Best Books for Grades 4 & 5

  • Best Books for Middle School (Grades 6 - 8)

  • Best New Author

  • Best Classic (1994 and earlier)

  • Best Illustrations

  • Best Self- or Indie published

  • Best Poetry

Book Selection Criteria

Please consider our selection criteria before nominating a title:

  • The main characters in the book are BIPOC.

  • The copyright date falls between 2021 and 2024 or is earlier than 1994 for our Best Classic category.

  • Ideally, BIPOC creators have either authored, illustrated, or published the work.

  • The book is available for purchase as a bound book (not an e-book) by August 1 of this year.

  • The target audience and reading level are appropriate for ages 0 through 13.