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:
● Highlights the universal qualities of childhood and the strength of the family.
● Reflects the multicultural nature of our world.
● Has an original text and original story (no folktales or retelling of folktales).
● Unifies illustrations and text.
● Avoids stereotypes.
● Is respectful of the child’s intelligence, sensitivity, curiosity, and love of learning.
● 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. To be eligible, the author will have no more than three books published under any name, prior to the year under consideration. Both U. S. and international writers are eligible for books that are published in North America, and in the English language.
Self-published books are not eligible for consideration.
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:
● Highlights the universal qualities of childhood and the strength of the family.
● Reflects the multicultural nature of our world.
● Unifies illustrations and text (if present).
● Avoids stereotypes.
● Is respectful of the child’s intelligence, sensitivity, curiosity and love of learning.
● Demonstrate excellent command of the chosen medium.
● 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. To be eligible, the illustrator will have no more than three books published under any name prior to the year under consideration. Both U. S. and international artists are eligible for books that are published in North America, and in the English language.
Self-published books are not eligible for consideration.
Nature of the Awards and the Award Ceremony
The winning author and illustrator will each receive a cash award of $3,000 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. If one book receives both awards, the author and illustrator will each receive $3,000 and the EJK medallion suspended in lucite and inscribed as indicated above, to be presented to the recipients at the award ceremony.
The EJK Award ceremony is held in 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.
The award for Honor Books will be a glass plaque inscribed with the recipient’s name, the name of their book and the year.
It is required that the publisher purchase and affix the Gold medallion book seals depicting Peter in a red snowsuit from The Snowy Day, or a digital image of the seal, to all copies of the winning books. A silver seal with the same image is available for use on the covers of all honor books. The foil seals and the digital image of the seals can be purchased at cost by the publisher.
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/or Illustrator 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 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
2020-2021 Ezra Jack Keats Award Committee
Rita Auerbach, Chair
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
Dr. Claudette S. McLinn
EJK Award Committee
2681 Sasha Court
Simi Valley, CA 93063
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
Melissa Sweet
EJK Award Committee
37 Saint Lawrence
Portland, ME 04101-4315
Deborah Taylor
EJK Award Committee
912 N Central Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
Ex Officio Members
Deborah Pope, Executive Director
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
450 14th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Ellen Ruffin, Curator
EJK Book Award Committee
c/o Claire Thompson, de Grummond Assistant
de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection
118 College Drive, #5148
Hattiesburg, MS 39406
Karen Rowell
EJK Book Award Committee
School of Library and Information Science
129 Fritzsche-Gibbs Hall
118 College Dr. #5146
Hattiesburg, MS 39406