The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) proudly announces the launch of its inaugural Book, Toy, & Media (BTM) Awards. This groundbreaking initiative advances NBCDI’s mission to ensure that every Black child has access to books, toys, and media that reflect who they are and who they can become.
The BTM Awards align with NBCDI’s Black Child Development Eight Essential Outcomes for Black Child Development, celebrating excellence in content that affirms Black children’s identities, fosters cultural pride, and accurately represents the diversity of our communities.
The awards spotlight the critical role that storytelling, play, and media representation have in shaping Black children’s self-esteem and future aspirations.
Representation as a Foundation for Growth
Representation matters, especially during the critical early years (birth to age 8) when children’s identities are being shaped. During this key developmental period, books, toys, and media are critical tools that support children’s learning about themselves, the world around them, and their place within it—opening the possibilities of who they are and can be. When Black children see themselves positively reflected in books, toys, and media, it supports not only self-esteem and identity development but also overall emotional well-being and sense of belonging.
Research by scholars like Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop highlights the transformative power of “windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors”—tools that allow children to see themselves, understand others, and imagine new futures. While the inclusion of Black characters in books and media has improved over time, that representation is not always positive, accurate, or culturally relevant. Moreover, this progress exists alongside growing national pushback on representation, diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational and media spaces—making NBCDI’s work more urgent than ever.
This event amplified the voices and stories that not only reflect Black children as they are but also ignite their futures with the power of positive, accurate, and culturally rich representations.
“Representation isn’t a luxury or a nice to have, it is absolutely necessary to a child’s healthy development ” said Dr. Leah Austin, President and CEO, NBCDI. “The BTM Awards is more than a celebration—it’s about taking seriously the need for every child to see themselves during a critical period of identity formation.”
About the BTM Awards
The NBCDI Book, Toy, & Media Awards recognized outstanding contributions across several categories:
· First Light Book Award (ages 0–3): Is This Love? — Cedella Marley (Author)
· Infinite Possibilities Book Award (ages 4–8): Your Name is a Song — Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Author)
· First Light Toy Award (ages 0–3): ABC Affirmation Flash Cards – Tyshia Ingram(Inventor)
· Infinite Possibilities Toy Award (ages 4–8): Curly + Confident Clubhouse – Zoe Oli(Inventor)
· Kuumba Media Excellence Award (ages 2–8): Fracaswell “Cas” Hyman — recognized for children’s media work (e.g., Bookmarks)
In addition to content awards, the NBCDI Champion Awards honored distinguished individuals and organizations advancing culturally affirming content. Honorees for 2025 included Jacqueline Woodson, Ralph Farquhar, Bruce Smith, Makeda Mays Green, Dr. Lisa Williams, and U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock.
A Rigorous and Trusted Selection Process
The Book, Toy & Media Awards were curated by two expert bodies:
· The Awards Advisory Council — providing strategic guidance and nominations.
· The Awards Review Board — evaluating finalists and selecting winners based on a rigorous scoring rubric.
Council and Board members represent leading voices in children’s literature, media, and toy industries, including leaders from Common Sense Media, Charlesbridge Publishing, Brown Toy Box, and the Black Inventors Hall of Fame.
For over 50 years, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has been a preeminent voice advocating for policies, programs, and practices that ensure Black children and families thrive in a just future. Guided by a commitment to Afrofuturism, educational equity, cultural pride, and systemic change, NBCDI envisions a world where Black children, like all children, are celebrated, protected, and empowered.
