The winners of the 2025 Children’s Africana Book Awards have been announced, with numerous African authors receiving recognition for their outstanding contributions to children’s literature.
Nigerian authors dominated this year’s awards, with six writers receiving honors across different categories.
In the Chapter Book category, Jordan Ifueko won for The Maid and the Crocodile (Amulet Books), while Jane Igharo was recognized for With Love, Miss Americanah (Feiwel and Friends). Diana Anyakwo’s My Life as a Chameleon (IgKids) and Erhu Kome’s The Smoke that Thunders (Accord Books/Norton Young Readers) were also among the winning books by Nigerian authors.
In the Picture Book category, Bunmi Emenanjo’s I’ll See You in Ijebu (Barefoot Books) received a top award, while Ayo Oyeku earned an Honor Book recognition for What Happened on Thursday: A Nigerian Civil War Story (Amazon Crossing Kids).
Ghana was represented by two authors in the awards: Craig Kofi Farmer won in the Chapter Book category for Kwame Crashes the Underworld (Roaring Brook Press), while Mamle Wolo received an Honor Book recognition for Flying Through Water (Little Brown/Hachette).
The Children’s Africana Book Awards, established in 1991, celebrate outstanding authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult books about Africa. This year’s awards continue to showcase the growing presence of authentic African voices in children’s literature.
The complete list of winners includes:
Best Chapter Books:
- The Maid and the Crocodile by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet Books)
- With Love, Miss Americanah by Jane Igharo (Feiwel and Friends)
- Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer (Roaring Brook Press)
- My Life as a Chameleon by Diana Anyakwo (IgKids)
Honor Chapter Books:
- The Kingdom of Dust by Lisa Stringfellow (Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins)
- The Smoke that Thunders by Erhu Kome (Accord Books/Norton Young Readers)
- Flying Through Water by Mamle Wolo (Little Brown/Hachette)
Best Picture Books:
- The Heart Never Forgets by Ana Otaru and Hayden Goodman (Illustrator) (Atheneum Books)
- The Gabi That Girma Wore by Fasika Adefris and Sara Holly Ackerman, illustrated by Netsanet Tesfay (Little Brown)
- Zamzam by Karen Leggett Abouraya and Susan Roth (Illustrator) (Reycraft Books)
- I’ll See You in Ijebu by Bunmi Emenanjo and Diana Ejaita (Illustrator) (Barefoot Books)
Honor Picture Book:
- What Happened on Thursday: A Nigerian Civil War Story by Ayo Oyeku and Lydia Mba (Illustrator) (Amazon Crossing Kids)
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
