I’m Your Neighbor Book Awards

The awards were established to celebrate the exemplary children’s books that represent the experience of refugee, ayslee, and immigrant families and the generations that follow them. In sync with the I’m Your Neighbor Books mission, each of the awarded books excel in:

  • Starting conversations on modern immigration
  • Refuting false narratives about communities of color
  • Creating emotional connections to a vast diversity of voices
  • Sharing the joy and strength of immigrant kids and families
  • Building the cultural competency of all readers
  • Laying the groundwork for cross-cultural communication

2023 New Arrival Book Award

Congratulations to Green Card Voices for the New Arrival Book Award for Our Stories Carried Us Here: A Graphic Novel Anthology.

This award honors a children’s picture book or novel that presents the resiliency of the refugee or immigrant experience with honesty and artistry.

2022 Winner

2023 New Generation Book Award

Announcing 12/14/23

This award honors a children’s picture book or novel that presents the strengths, challenges, and joys of a child raised by immigrant family members.

2022 Winner

2023 Community Book Award

Announcing 12/21/23

This award honors a children’s picture book or novel that celebrates both the unique qualities of a particular community, but also the beautiful diversity of its members.

2022 Winner

2023 Multilingual Book Award

Announcing 12/21/23

This award honors a children’s picture book or novel that honors the challenges of obtaining a new language and the power of holding and speaking multiple languages.

This is a new award in 2023.

2023 Social Action Book Award

Announcing 1/4/24

This award honors a children’s picture book or novel that inspires readers to not only read, feel, and empathize, but to envision making changes within themselves and their communities.

2022 Winner

2023 Readers Choice Book Award

Announcing 1/11/24

This award honors a children’s picture book or novel that our community of readers feel exemplifies the I’m Your Neighbor Books’ mission to create a stronger culture of welcoming and belonging.

2022 Winner

Award Guidelines

The Award

The I’m Your Neighbor Book Awards celebrate exemplary children’s books that represent the experience of refugee, ayslee, and immigrant families and the generations that follow them.

Eligibility & Submission

The selection committee will consider any children’s book published or distributed in the United States that features an Immigrant or New Generation character or theme.

We review books in June from the previous calendar year. For example, in June 2024, the committee will consider books published in 2023. The awards are announced in December of each year. The only exception to this rule is the Reader’s Choice Award. This award may be awarded to an older book title if educators, librarians, and immigrant service groups find it deeply valuable to their work.

Review copies (final, ARC, or F&G) can be mailed to I’m Your Neighbor Books | 84 Cove Street #4 | Portland, ME 04101. Questions can be directed to kcappy@imyourneighborbooks.org.

Our Thanks

We extend our utmost gratitude to: