GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR THE EZRA JACK KEATS AWARD
Ezra Jack Keats Award for Writer
The EJK Award is given to a new writer for a picture book written in the tradition of EJK that:
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Highlights the universal qualities of childhood and the strength of the family, and community.
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Reflects the multicultural nature of our world.
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Has an original text and original story (no folktales or retelling of folktales).
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Unifies illustrations and text.
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Avoids stereotypes.
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Is respectful of the child’s intelligence, sensitivity, curiosity, and love of learning.
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Displays freshness and originality of language and literary expression.
The Award is given for distinguished writing and text, not for illustration.
The intent of the Award is to identify and encourage early talent and to promote the creation of outstanding diverse literature for children. To be eligible, the author will have no more than three books published under any name, prior to the book under consideration. Both U.S. and international writers are eligible for booksthat are published in North America, and in the English language.
Self-published books are not eligible for consideration. Books must be available through national distribution, i.e. Ingram and/or Baker & Taylor. We do not review ebook-only or print-on-demand titles. Books must be submitted by the publisher.
Ezra Jack Keats Award for Illustrator
The EJK Award is given to a new illustrator for a picture book illustrated in the tradition of Ezra Jack Keats that:
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Highlights the universal qualities of childhood and the strength of the family, and community.
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Reflects the multicultural nature of our world.
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Unifies illustrations and text (if present).
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Avoids stereotypes.
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Is respectful of the child’s intelligence, sensitivity, curiosity and love of learning.
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Demonstrate excellent command of the chosen medium.
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Display freshness and originality in style and/or form of artistic expression.
The Award is given for distinguished artwork that creatively and skillfully embodies the essence of the story or text.
The intent of the Award is to identify and encourage early talent and to promote the creation of outstanding diverse literature for children. To be eligible, the illustrator will have no more than three books published under any name prior to the book under consideration. Both U. S. and international artists are eligible forbooks that are published in North America, and in the English language.
Self-published books are not eligible for consideration. Books must be available through national distribution, i.e. Ingram and/or Baker & Taylor. We do not review ebook-only or print-on-demand titles. Books must be submitted by the publisher.
Nature of the Awards and the Award Ceremony
The winning author and illustrator will each receive, at the award ceremony, a monetary award of $5,000 and the EJK medallion suspended in lucite and inscribed with the recipient’s name, the name of their book and the year it was published.
The EJK Award ceremony is held in early April during the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival at The University of Southern Mississippi. In order to receive the award, the winning writer and illustrator must attend the ceremony. The publishers are responsible for making arrangements for authors and illustrators to be at the Award ceremony.
Honor book winners will receive a monetary award of $2,000 and a glass plaque inscribed with the recipient’s name, the name of their book and the year it was published.
It is required that the publisher purchase and affix the Gold medallion book seals depicting Peter in a redsnowsuit from The Snowy Day, or a digital image of the seal, to all copies of the winning books.
It is required that the publisher purchase and affix the Silver medallion book seals depicting Peter in a redsnowsuit from The Snowy Day, or a digital image of the seal, to all copies of the honor books.
Information regarding the purchase, at cost, of the foil or digital seal can be obtained from dpope@ezra-jack-keats.org
Submissions
Entries from publishers, based on the Award criteria, must be postmarked by
December 31 of each year. Publishers will identify submitted books as EJK Award entries for Writer and/orIllustrator and send one copy of each book to each Committee member; to the Curator of the de Grummond; and to Dr. Deborah Pope, Executive
Director of the EJK Foundation. It is critical that each Committee member, the Curator and the Executive Director receive a copy of each book in order that it be properly considered for the Award.
For additional information, please contact:
Ellen Ruffin, Curator of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, or
Claire Thompson, de Grummond Assistant
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Dr., #5148
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Phone: 601-266-4349


2022-2023 Ezra Jack Keats Award Committee
Deborah Taylor, Chair
EJK Award Committee
912 N Central Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
Rita Auerbach
EJK Award Committee
140 West End Ave., #12J
New York, NY 10023
Jennifer M. Brown
EJK Award Committee
1614-O Union Valley Road, #121
West Milford, NJ 07480
Pat Cummings
EJK Award Committee
28 Tiffany Pl.
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Carmen Agra Deedy
EJK Award Committee
1956 Carrington Court
Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Vaunda Nelson
EJK Award Committee
925H Country Club Drive SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Chris Raschka
EJK Award Committee
599 West End Ave., #6A
New York, NY 10024
Dean Schneider
EJK Award Committee
2709 Sunset Place
Nashville, TN 37212
Melissa Iwai
EJK Award Committee
28 Sidney Pl
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Ex Officio Members
Deborah Pope, Executive Director
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
450 14th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Ellen Ruffin, Curator
ATTN: Claire Thompson, de Grummond Assistant
de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection
118 College Drive, #5148
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Shannan Hicks
EJK Award Committee
7645 Vestal Blvd., Apt. 1
Maumelle, AR 72113
Karen Rowell
EJK Book Committee
School of Library and Information Science
129 Fritzsche-Gibbs Hall
118 College Dr. #5146
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Caroline Ward
EJK Award Committee
8 Osee Place
Cos Cob CT 06807