The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) is set to host the inaugural Book, Toy, & Media (BTM) Awards on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at The Dogwood in Atlanta, GA. This landmark event will celebrate the power of Black creativity in shaping the imaginations, identities, and futures of Black children everywhere.
Hosted as part of NBCDI’s 2025 National Conference, the evening will feature Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author, as keynote speaker. It will also honor groundbreaking BTM Champion Awardees whose work has transformed the landscape of culturally affirming children’s content:
● U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael G. Warnock
● Dr. Lisa Williams
● Jacqueline Woodson
● Ralph Farquhar
● Bruce W. Smith
● Makeda Mays Green
Honoring Visionaries: Award Recipients Across Five Categories
In addition to the Champion Awards, NBCDI will recognize creators whose visionary books, toys, and media are setting a new standard of excellence for Black children:
● First Light Book Award (ages 0 – 3): Cedella Marley (Author, Is This Love?)
● Infinite Possibilities Book Award (ages 4 – 8): Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow(Author, Your Name is a Song)
● First Light Toy Award (ages 0 – 3): Tyshia Ingram (inventor, ABC Affirmation Flash Cards-Black Boy Joy)
● Infinite Possibilities Toy Award (ages 4 – 8): Zoe Oli (inventor, Curly + Confident Clubhouse)
● Kuumba Media Excellence Award (ages 2 – 8): Fracaswell “Cas” Hyman (creator, writer, director, and producer, Bookmarks)
A Rigorous and Trusted Process
Winners were selected through a careful, community-rooted process shaped by the BTM Awards Advisory Council — including Eileen Robinson, Claire Green, Ehi Oviasu-Kahn, and Lola Rooney — and finalized by the BTM Awards Review Board, featuring Tatjyana Elmore, Ed Greene, Diane Jones-Lowrey, James Howard, Heather Jenkins, and Terri-Nichelle Bradley.
A Collective Movement for Representation
The BTM Awards are made possible by partnerships and collaborations with leaders across publishing, toys, and media, including the Children’s Book Council, Common Sense Media, Astra, Women in Toys, and The Toy Foundation.
The event is sponsored by visionary supporters including Disney Entertainment, Bainum Family Foundation, Penguin Young Readers, and Random House Children’s Books. In-kind sponsors include Simon & Schuster, Random House Children’s Books, Penguin Young Readers, and more.
A Future Where Every Black Child Is Seen
“The BTM Awards are more than a celebration — they are a declaration,” said Dr. Leah Austin, President & CEO of NBCDI. “Black children deserve books, toys, and media that reflect not only who they are but who they are becoming. This is about shaping futures and ensuring joy, imagination, and innovation remain central to their growth.”
Tickets for the Book, Toy, & Media Awards are available through NBCDI’s Conference Registration portal: www.nbcdi.org/conference25