The Ezra Jack Keats Award in Conversation: New Winners and Older Thoughts

Did you see? Did you see? The Ezra Jack Keats Awards were announced today! You can take a peek at the brand new winners in a press release at the end of this post. But before we get to any of that, what exactly ARE the Ezra Jack Keats Awards?

To answer these questions, I had the great good fortune to have a conversation with Jocelyn McCarthy, the Associate Director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. She was happy to clarify for me some of the questions I’ve had about the award over the years:

Betsy Bird: Jocelyn! So good to talk to you today! I think that for many librarians, educators, booksellers, and even parents, the Ezra Jack Keats Awards are both stirring and a bit of a mystery overall.

Jocelyn McCarthy: I’m so excited to talk with you today, Betsy! I especially love helping educators, families, and booksellers see how the EJK Awards can guide them to amazing new books that bring more diversity to their libraries and highlight the rising stars in kids’ literature.

BB: Could you give us an overall feeling for the award and the criteria? 

Jocelyn: For nearly 40 years, the EJK Award has stood out because of its core focus—celebrating books that truly reflect our diverse world. Our goal is to help kids see themselves, connect with others, and expand their view of the world, all while preparing them for the future. And just like The Snowy Day, the winning books aren’t just meaningful – they’re the kind kids (and adults) want to read and revisit again and again, letting those deeper messages really sink in. For more details, I hope your readers check out our website at: ejkf.org

BB: And what makes a book a good EJK contender?

Jocelyn: We’ve honored many great stories about history and notable figures, but we’re especially drawn to books that don’t feel like they’re teaching a lesson. The ones that really stand out are the ones that show kids figuring things out for themselves – those books have a real edge.

BB: Makes sense. Now what does the process of selecting EJK winners look like?

Jocelyn: The nine judges get books all year long, gradually narrowing down their favorites. By late December, they each submit their top seven picks. Then, over three days of virtual meetings, they discuss, vote, and finally choose the Award and Honor books. I have to say, almost every judge who’s been part of this process has told us how insightful and respectful the EJK Award discussions are—and I’m pretty proud of that!

BB: Who gets to serve on that committee? How do they make their decisions? Are books submitted by their publishers or could anything that comes out in a current publishing year win?

Jocelyn: Committee members join by invitation, with nominations coming from the current judges and final selections made by the Executive Committee. We put a lot of thought into balancing the group – making sure there’s diversity in ethnicity, location, professional background, among other considerations. Judges serve for three years, and Chairs for two, which helps create a real sense of trust and connection, leading to thoughtful and warm discussions.

What makes the EJK Award Committee special is that, along with top-notch librarians and scholars, we also have celebrated kidlit authors and illustrators. That means winners and honorees are being recognized by their peers. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for everyone – librarians, scholars, authors, and illustrators – to see how each approaches evaluating a book.

BB: So what, then, to your mind, constitutes an exemplary EJK winner? What qualities does it need to contain?

Jocelyn: A great winning book is one that kids love hearing again and again. It opens up their world while also reassuring them that they’ve got what it takes to handle the ups and downs of growing up.

BB: And what are some recent winners that you think embody this idea best?

Jocelyn: This is a very subjective and abbreviated list, but here goes:

• • Crown by Derrick Barnes (EJK Writer Award), Illustrator by Gordon C. James (EJK Illustrator Honor)

• • Julian is a Mermaid written & Illustrated by Jessica Love (EJK Illustrator Honor)

• • Nana Akua Goes to School by Tricia Walker (EJK Writer Award) illustrated by April Harrison

• • LaLa’s Words written and illustrated by Gracie Zhang (EJK Illustrator Award)

• • Thank you Omu written and illustrated by Oge Mora (EJK Illustrator Award)

We’d love to hear from your readers whether they feel these books exemplify the qualities we’ve been describing here! And, please have them go to our website where they can choose books for themselves.

BB: Absolutely. Of course currently we are living in a country where DEI is now being systematically excised from school libraries and curriculums at the behest of the current administration. Could you speak to why the EJK Awards are more pertinent and important now than ever, considering the current atmosphere?

Jocelyn: If you’re a parent or educator looking for ways to teach kids about kindness, sharing, and doing what’s right – especially in today’s world – the EJK Award and Honor books are a fantastic resource. These beautiful stories help get those messages across in a meaningful way.

Here’s what makes the EJK Award so special:

• • It’s the only award that celebrates books embracing all ethnic and social groups.

• • The winning and honor books create the kind of diverse, high-quality library we all want for our kids.

• • The authors and illustrators we recognize are more diverse than those of any other children’s book award.

BB: Finally, I’d love it if you could tell us what you’d like to see more of in the future. What are you hoping for? Are there any trends you like to see more of? Topics? Voices?

Jocelyn: This is the big question that really gets to the heart of things. We’re most concerned about the challenges facing public education, libraries, teachers, and librarians, as well as the growing reliance on screens in kids’ lives.

Of course, we also want to see more diversity in publishing – more support for small presses and more opportunities for diverse authors and illustrators to have their work featured in schools and libraries.

But at the core of all this progress are our public schools and libraries. These spaces are essential, and we must protect and strengthen them to ensure every child has access to the opportunities they deserve.

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And now, folks of all sorts, here are the 2025 Ezra Jack Keats Award and Honor winners. You click on the images below to see them at a larger scale:

You can find out more about the EJK Award, the esteemed EJK Award Committee, and the EJK Foundation by visiting their website. Thanks once again to Jocelyn for the chance to talk about the award and for sharing the winners with us here today.

Filed under: Interviews