The winners and honorees of the 35th Ezra Jack Keats Award will be announced on March 9th! Check back to meet this year’s winning authors and illustrators at the EJK Award ceremony and to sign up for a host of exciting virtual events. Features include a Kidlit panel at the famed Books of Wonder, a Silent auction of illustrators’ original artwork, and our documentary premiere.
The 35th anniversary campaign is produced in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection.

EJK Award Winners & Honorees
To see a list of all winners and honor awards go here.
Meet the EJK Award Selection Committee: Winners & Honorees announced March 9th

Meet our EJK Award Committee
Composed of book passionate stars in the field of children’s literature, our EJK Award Selection Committee thinks a lot about the positive effect receiving an EJK Award can have on the careers of winners and honorees. We were lucky to catch a few minutes with them to reflect on the way the awards advance the multicultural nature of our world.
Mark Your Calendar

2021 Winners & Honorees announced

Books of Wonder (NYC) Virtual Panel: Reflections on Receiving the Award
- “EJK Award Luminaries” Pat Cummings (moderator), Winners Oge Mora, Meg Medina, Sydney Smith and Honoree Mike Curato

Kaigler Children’s Book Festival.
- 35th EJK Award Ceremony
- EJK 35th Silent Auction Co-Hosted by R. Michelson Galleries with Luminaries
- Mock EJK Award Panel, plus much, much more.

Books of Wonder (NYC) Virtual Panel: 2021 Winners
- Two Panel Discussions with this year’s EJK Award/Honor Winning Authors & Artists

Documentary Premiere on the evolution of diversity in American children’s literature and the contribution of the EJK Award.
Anniversary Activities
Explore our webinar panels that focus on the insiders’ experience of making children’s books, and feature EJK Award winners and honorees. Sample our educational materials designed for virtual and in person use, including Mock EJK Award programs now in process across the country! Find more information below.
Social Media Tips & Graphics
Be part of the 35th Anniversary by using some of these sample messages and downloadable graphics in your social media!
Learn More
Read our newsletter. Sign up to receive info about the 35th Anniversary. Become a part of the celebration.
Press Room
Find background materials, an EJK Award timeline and digital assets designed for media, but all are welcome to come and browse.
Donations are Appreciated
Support the EJK Award winner and honoree prizes and help us promote more diverse literature for kids.

Our Champions
Celebrate our extraordinary group of authors, illustrators and their books with your community.
Winners & Honorees
Discover more about the lives and inspiration of EJK Awards past and present.
Publishers
Learn how these EJK Award winning publishers continue to advance diversity in children’s literature.
Committees
Meet the amazing individuals who have joined us for this momentous year.

The year-long EJK Award anniversary campaign (taking place from June 2020 through June 2021) is produced by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation and de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.