And the Winner Is . . . Launching a Mock Ezra Jack Keats Award Program

Abstract

Awards abound in youth literature, and over the past few decades, mock award programs in which students and patrons evaluate books according to award criteria and select their own winners within their communities have become fixtures in school and public libraries.

We have found that the Ezra Jack Keats (EJK) Award readily lends itself to a parallel mock award program. The EJK Award champions “illustrators and writers, early in their careers, who create extraordinary books that reflect our diverse population, the universal experience of childhood and the strength of family and community.” Launched in 1986, the award is administered by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation (EJKF), in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi. The corresponding Mock EJK Award program also celebrates diverse picture books by early career creators and can be easily adapted to encompass different audiences, goals, and time spans.