One important element of The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) work is to support access to books that are relevant and accessible to children with different needs and abilities. Nella Pickup introduces 2025 IBBY Selection of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities and the two Australian titles selected for inclusion.
Every second year, IBBY Australia Inc. nominates ten titles for inclusion in the IBBY Collection located at the Toronto Public Library, Canada. A selection of Outstanding Books is then made, and this selection is summarised in a Catalogue.
Tasmanian author, Avery McDougall’s Invisibly Grace (Forty South Publishing) and Jessica Watson & Aśka’s Stars in Their Eyes (Fremantle Press) were two of the forty books chosen for the 2025 catalogue from 200 submissions around the world. The Catalogue was announced at 2025 Bologna Children’s Book Fair on 31 March. Copies of the selected books were on display during the Fair. Inclusion in the Catalogue can lead to international sales/rights.
Australian nominations for inclusion in the 2027 list (books published between July 2023 and June 2025) will open in July. The 3-person panel will be looking for books about characters with varied abilities and, also for accessible books, which provide opportunities for people of all abilities to read independently.
Accessible books include formats such as Braille, Picture Communication Symbols, Sign language, Easy-to-Read language, tactile or textured illustrations, dyslexia-friendly font and other design features. Many of these formats are published by small publishing houses. If you know of suitable title/s, please contact IBBY.Australia@gmail.com for details on how to nominate for selection for the 2027 catalogue.
To see the 2025 catalogue, visit https://www.ibby.org/archive-storage/08_Books_Disabled_Children_14771/Outstanding_2025.pdf
Nella Pickup
Reader and retired librarian
National Executive Member, International Board of Books for Young People/IBBY Australia Inc
Children's Book Council of Australia, Tasmanian Branch - Life Member
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