Welcome to the inaugural edition of EJK Award 35th News!
We are excited to share highlights of what’s happening across the country during our important year-long campaign. The EJK Award winning and honor books demonstrate empathy and tolerance, especially important during these polarizing times. We will keep you posted on virtual events leading up to the 35th EJK Award to be announced in March of 2021. To learn more and to be eligible to receive The Snowy Day gift package, sign up by September 25th here. We invite you to share this newsletter with friends and family.
Deborah Pope
Ellen H. Ruffin
Executive Director
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
Curator
deGrummond Children's Literature Collection
Thank You

The EJK Foundation is proud to recognize our EJK Award Champions. Our Executive and Advisory Committees are sharing news and information with their constituents and members. Authors, illustrators and publishers who have made their mark by receiving these honors will be highlighted. Go to our 35th landing page to find Our Champions and see more.
Toolkits for Libraries and Schools a Big Hit

Educators and librarians across the country are downloading our Activities and Guides for Virtual and In-person learning. Features include the Mock EJK Award program (check out the Mock Webinar), a Read Aloud guide, and Book Discussion Guides that highlight EJK Award books based on 14 themes such as Social Justice & Equity, Strong Girls, Immigrants & Refugees, and First Day of School.
Latinx Webinar to feature EJK Award Honorees

Sign up now for our webinar, “Latinx Kid Lit: Meet the Makers,” on October 21st featuring Zeke Peña , Bianca Diaz, and Juana Martinez-Neal with studio tours and stories about their creative processes.
 
Then in November we’ll participate in a roundtable at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Conference.
 
Since June, EJK Award’s 35th anniversary has been front and center starting with Noche de Cuentos, an annual evening of storytelling (organized by REFORMA - the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking - American Library Association affiliate) The event featured Bianca Diaz and Zeke Peña who shared stories about illustrating their EJK Honor books. We also did an anniversary
EJK Award at Kaigler Children’s Book Festival and the 2021 EJK Award

A special EJK Foundation keynote is planned for the 2020 Fall Fay B. Kaigler Festival (November 16 - 20th) on November 17th, which will be presented with The deGrummond Library at the University of Southern Mississippi. The 2020 and 2021 Kaigler Children’s Book Festivals will now be more widely accessible to our friends and supporters with a virtual format.

The celebratory 35th EJK Award Ceremony will take place during the Kaigler Children’s Book Festival, April 14 - 16. Last year’s virtual event drew more than 750 registrants, which meant family, friends, publishers, educators and librarians from across the globe could attend. Stay tuned for details about all of our upcoming events with the deGrummond and USM.
Articles in PW and SLJ kicked off our soft launch as well as ads in the August 17th issue of PW, Shelf Awareness, and SLJ. Sign up by September 25th to be eligible to receive The Snowy Day gift package.
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