Some debuts don’t just arrive — they announce themselves. Chanté Timothy walked into the 2026 Inclusive Books for Children Awards “in London as a first-time author and walked out with two of the night’s most coveted prizes: the Children’s Fiction Award and the Children’s Choice Award for her novel Supa Nova.“ At one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious inclusive children’s book prizes, Timothy didn’t just make history — she owned it.
What Are the Inclusive Books for Children Awards 2026?
Held Feb. 25 at London’s Southbank Centre, the Inclusive Books for Children Awards celebrate the best diverse and inclusive children’s books published in the United Kingdom for readers ages 1–9. The 2026 ceremony took place as part of the United Kingdom’s National Year of Reading 2026, a nationwide initiative encouraging children to discover stories that represent their identities and experiences.
[Additional Read: From Trinidad to Harlem: A Caribbean Writer’s Journey Back to Storytelling]
Who Is Chanté Timothy?
Born and raised in the United Kingdom to parents from Guyana, Chanté Timothy is a British Caribbean children’s book author whose debut novel “Supa Nova” was published by Nosy Crow. Timothy has been vocal about the importance of diverse representation in children’s literature, particularly for Black British and Caribbean children who have historically been underrepresented in mainstream stories.
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What Is “Supa Nova” About?
“Supa Nova” blends humor, warmth and adventure to explore themes of identity, friendship and confidence. At its heart, the book is a celebration of everyday childhood experiences through perspectives that have long been missing from children’s fiction. Judges praised Timothy’s lively voice and emotional authenticity, noting her ability to balance playful imagination with meaningful, resonant themes.
Children’s Choice Award 2026: Why This Win Matters
The Children’s Choice Award is unique among the prize categories — it is voted on entirely by young readers. Thousands of primary school pupils across the United Kingdom cast votes for their favorite titles, making Timothy’s win a powerful grassroots endorsement of “Supa Nova.” Winning both the jury-judged Fiction Award and the pupil-voted Choice Award is a rare double achievement.
All 2026 Inclusive Books for Children Award Winners
Children’s Fiction Award and Children’s Choice Award: “Supa Nova” by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow)
Baby and Toddler Books: “Let’s Play” by Alex Strick, Annie Kubler and Sarah Dellow
Picture Books: “The Beautiful Layers of Me” by Sophia Payne and Ruchi Mhasane
All six winners share a £30,000 prize fund and will present their work at the internationally renowned Hay Festival in May 2026. This marks the second year since the awards launched in 2023 that all category winners were women.
Caribbean Voices in British Children’s Literature: A Growing Movement
Timothy’s double win is seen as a landmark moment for Caribbean and Black British representation in United Kingdom children’s publishing. Her success signals a broader cultural shift: The next generation of children’s books is becoming more inclusive, more globally influenced and more reflective of modern Britain.
For Caribbean readers, educators and parents searching for diverse children’s books in the United Kingdom, “Supa Nova” is now among the most awarded debut children’s novels of 2026.
About the Inclusive Books for Children Organization
Organized by the charity Inclusive Books for Children, the awards aim to spotlight stories that challenge outdated stereotypes and reflect the full diversity of contemporary society. Through its IBC Book Box program, the organization distributes hundreds of inclusive titles to United Kingdom schools each year.
