Children’s Book Awards – Dec 1

Posted by Ezra Jack Keats Foundation on November 12, 2024

Ezra Jack Keats Foundation invites entries for children’s book awards

The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi, invites submissions for the annual Ezra Jack Keats Award for a writer and an illustrator of children’s books.

The awards are designed to identify and encourage early talent and promote the creation of outstanding diverse literature for children.

The EJK Awards are given to picture books created in the tradition of Ezra Jack Keats that reflect the multicultural nature of our world; avoid stereotypes; highlight the universal qualities of childhood and the strength of family and community; are respectful of the child’s intelligence, sensitivity, curiosity, and love of learning; have an original text and original story (no folktales or retelling of folktales); unify illustrations and text; and display freshness and originality of language and literary expression.

The award intends to identify and encourage early talent and promote the creation of outstanding diverse literature for children. The EJK Writer Award is given for distinguished writing and text, not for illustration, while the EJK Illustrator Award is given for distinguished artwork that creatively and skillfully embodies the essence of the story or text.

To be eligible, writers and illustrators must have had no more than three books published (including any type: picture books, novels, non-fiction, or graphic novels). Self-published books are not eligible for consideration.

Submissions must be made by the book’s publisher and must be postmarked before or on December 1, 2024.

For complete program guidelines, entry procedures, and information on previous award winners, see the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation website.

Deadline: December 1, 2024