Our Mission
Bringing the multicultural, creative spirit of Keats into children’s lives and literature
- supporting arts and literacy programs in public schools and libraries
- celebrating new writers and illustrators of exceptional picture books for a diverse audience of children
- preserving Keats’s work and extending his legacy
Ezra Jack Keats Award
The EJK Awards and Honors are given annually, by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), to new writers and new illustrators of outstanding children’s books that reflect our diverse population.
Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition
Inspiring students on all skill levels, in grades 3-12, to write and illustrate stunning picture books that make them proud for a lifetime.
Tell Me Another Story
An inspiring 30 minute portrait of the power of picture books. It’s a compelling overview of diversity in children’s literature.
Partner Programs & Awards
We’re proud to partner with the following institutions to support the next generation of diverse artists, writers and scholars.
The School Art League/Ezra Jack Keats/Children’s Book Illustration Award. Two awards given to graduating high school seniors from underserved communities who are continuing their art education with a focus on illustration.
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)/Ezra Jack Keats BIPOC Prize for Illustration. One prize to be given to a yet to be published illustrator from the BIPOC community at the summer portfolio show in L.A. We intend to establish a second such prize to be given at the SCBWI NYC winter portfolio show in 2022.
Ezra Jack Keats Story and Craft, at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central, Arlington, Canarsie, Macon, Red Hook and New Utrecht Branches.
Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship, at the Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature, University of Minnesota.
We are honored to join UABB, a national initiative to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship.