Winners
Black/African American Communities
2026 FINALISTS - BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
See below for the list of 2026 finalists in the BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES category, for books with a copyright date of 2025.
People the Planet Needs Now: Voices for Justice, Science, and a Future of Promise
2026 Finalist
Author: Dudley Edmondson
Publisher: AdventureKEEN
ISBN: 9781647552770
People the Planet Needs Now by Dudley Edmondson celebrates 25 Black and Brown scientists and activists whose personal stories reveal resilience, insight, and hope. Blending environmental justice, social justice, and full-color photography, this powerful collection inspires readers to reimagine science, challenge inequity, and work toward global change.
Seeing Ourselves in Nature: Stories from Educators and Children of Indigenous, Black, and Other People of the Global Majority
2026 Finalist
Editor: Jessica Fong, MA, MEd
Publisher: Redleaf Press
ISBN: 9781605548296
Editor Jessica Fong asks how Black and Brown educators create space for predominantly Black and Brown children and families to reconnect to nature. Working to balance the predominantly white literature on nature education, Fong and 13 other educators of color share their rich, profound experiences with young children in nature.
These ABCs Belong to Me
2026 Finalist
Author: Alicia McKenzie
Illustrator: Sarah Demonteverde
Publisher: The Collective Book Studio
ISBN: 9781685557997
A joyful ABC picture book that helps kids reclaim the words used to describe them—transforming labels into superpowers and building confidence one letter at a time.
2025 WINNERS - BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
See below for the list of 2025 winners in the BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES category, for books with a copyright date of 2024.
She Remembered It All: The Art of Memory Painter Helen LaFrance
2025 Gold Winner
Author: Jayne Moore Waldrop
Illustrator: Michael McBride
Publisher: Shadelandhouse Modern Press
ISBN: 9781945049477
The story of Helen LaFrance, a self-taught memory painter and outsider artist who captured a lively, vibrant view of rural life in a changing world. She created art for nearly a century, beginning as a child using homemade pigments made with berry juice, laundry bluing and plant leaves.
Beyond Fragility: A Skills-Based Guide to Effective Anti-Racist Allyship
2025 Silver Winner
Authors: Yara Mekawi, PhD, Natalie Watson-Singleton, PhD, and Danyelle Dawson, MA
Publisher: Bridge City Books
ISBN: 9781962305068
A concrete, step-by-step approach to anti-racist allyship that doesn’t just educate you about anti-racism—it teaches you how to DO anti-racism work. Whether you have limited organizational power or are the company CEO, this book will teach you how to effectively speak out and show up for people of color.
Black Defender: The Awakening
2025 Silver Winner
Author: Dr. David Washington
Publisher: Washington Comix
ISBN: 9788218443207
When a successful entrepreneur and special forces veteran is reminded of the harsh reality that justice is not available for everyone, he sets out to take matters into his own hands. Along the way, he learns that he needs to become a hero to save his city.
About the
Independent Book Publishers Association
Founded to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,200 members, IBPA is the largest independent publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry.
For more information, visit www.ibpa-online.org.
