International Latino Book Awards

The International Latino Book Awards (ILBA) are annual awards given to authors, translators, and illustrators for books written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Founded in 1997, the ILBA is listed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Carlsbad, California.[1]

The awards are produced by Empowering Latino Futures, formerly Latino Literacy Now,[2] an organization co-founded by Edward James Olmos, Kirk Whisler, and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking,[3] affiliated to the ALA (American Library Association). Other organizations associated with the ILBA include Las Comadres para Las Americas, Reforma, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Community College District, American Library Association, Hispanic Heritage Literature Organization, El Latino San Diego, Education Begins in the Home, International Society of Latino Authors, and the Latino 247 Media Group.

Awards are distributed across more than 100 categories, each consisting of gold, silver, and bronze divisions, in addition to honorable mentions. In 2023, the event received over 4,000 participation entries. The judging panel is composed of more than 200 individuals, whose identities are kept confidential [4]