Catholic bishops’ anti-racism book wins prize for children’s literature

CNA Staff, Oct 15, 2020 / 02:00 pm (CNA).- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ recently-released children’s book “Everyone Belongs” has won a gold medal in the Religion/Spirituality category of the 2020 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, the conference announced Oct.15. 

The Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, according to its website, are “100% dedicated to identifying the best children's books published each year for the North American market.” 

The book, published by Loyola Press in December 2019, was authored by the USCCB’s Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, and illustrated by Kristin Sorra. 

“Intended for children ages 5-12, Everyone Belongs helps young readers explore potential solutions, reconciliation, and healing,” said the USCCB in a statement released on Thursday. The book tells the story of Ray Ikanga, a young boy who moves to the United States with his family as refugees fleeing violence. 

“The family’s excitement as they move into a new neighborhood is interrupted when someone sprays a hurtful message on their garage,” said the USCCB.

Everyone Belongs will allow conversations with readers about what our faith calls us to do, especially now, as our country grapples with the realities of racial justice.”

The book was inspired by the November 2018 publication of “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter Against Racism,” which won a nearly unanimous vote at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ general assembly that month, following several years of racial tensions in the U.S., sparked by incidents including police shootings of African-American men that prompted major protests in Ferguson, Mo., and Baltimore, among other parts of the country.

Racial tenions have continued to rise since then, including months of protests and civil unrest following the death of George Floyd earlier this year.

“Everyone Belongs” won a gold medal in the 2020 Living Now Book Awards in the category “Children’s Picture Books,” and placed second in the 2020 Catholic Press Association’s children’s books category. 


If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.


1 Comment

  1. Nature has blessed Planet Earth with people of different colors. Black, brown, yellow and white are all distinguished citizens of the Planet. May all learn to live in peace and harmony.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated. While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged, please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion, comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published. Thank you.


*