EZRA JACK KEATSÂ AWARD
Known collectively as the Ezra Jack Keats Award, the New Writer Award was established in 1985 and the New Illustrator Award in 2001 to recognize and encourage emerging talent in the field of children’s books. Many past winners have gone on to distinguished careers, creating books beloved by parents, children, librarians and teachers around the world.
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The Ezra Jack Keats Award is given annually to an outstanding new writer and new illustrator by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. An Honor Books category was added in 2012. A distinguished selection committee of early childhood education specialists, librarians, illustrators and experts in children’s literature reviews the entries, seeking books that portray the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family, and the multicultural nature of our world. The Ezra Jack Keats Award was co-presented by the New York Public Library from 1986 to 2011. Since 2012, the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection has co-presented the award at the Children’s Book Festival, held in April at The University of Southern Mississippi, in Hattiesburg.
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To be eligible, writers and illustrators must have had no more than three books previously published.
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To read more about the Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, click here.
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2025 Ezra Jack Keats Award and Honor Winners
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Meet the outstanding scholars, editors, librarians, authors and illustrators who choose the EJK Award and Honor recipients. We couldn't be more proud!
Deborah Pope and the Legacy of Ezra Jack Keats
Ezra Jack Keats changed the landscape of children's literature, bringing vibrant, everyday stories to life with characters that reflected the world around us. In this special video feature, Deborah Pope, President of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, shares how Keats' groundbreaking work—most famously The Snowy Day—helped open doors for diverse voices in storytelling.
From his innovative use of collage to his heartfelt depictions of childhood, Keats created books that gave every child a chance to see themselves on the page. Join us as we explore his enduring impact and the vital role of the de Grummond Collection in preserving his legacy for generations to come.