The winner of the 2020 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award was Black History Matters: The Story of Black History, From African Kingdoms to Black Lives Matter.

Written by acclaimed Black historian, Robin Walker, the 2020 judges praised this outstanding book which provides a timely introduction both to Black history and the Black Lives Matter movement:

“This accessible, comprehensive and inspiring book provides a balanced and timely introduction, both to Black history and to the BLM (Black Lives Matter) movement. It’s an excellent classroom resource that will be used time and time again by teachers.”

The 2020 Award focused on books for 11-18 year olds, published in 2018 and 2019. Each year the award alternates each between books in the 5–11 and 11–18 age groups. It is given to an outstanding example of traditionally published non-fiction (with or without illustrations) that stimulates and enhances learning, with the winner receiving £2,000 prize money. This years judges were children’s author, Bali Rai; school librarian, Liz Annetts; and secondary school teacher, Charlotte Baggley.

The four other titles shortlisted for this year’s award were:

• Africa, Amazing Africa: Country by Country, written by Atinuke and illustrated by Mouni Feddag (Walker Books)
• Earth Heroes: 20 Inspiring Stories of People Saving Our World, written by Lily Dyu and illustrated by Jackie Lay (Nosy Crow)
• Herstory: 50 Women and Girls who Shook the World, written by Katherine Halligan and illustrated by Sarah Walsh (Nosy Crow)
• How to be Autistic, written and illustrated by Charlotte Amelia Poe (Myriad Editions)