The Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award was established in 1985 to encourage and celebrate up-and-coming authors of picture books written in the tradition of Keats—that is, with original, well-told stories that reflect the universal qualities of childhood and the multicultural nature of our world. The goal is to help writers continue to create outstanding picture books for a diverse audience. The New Illustrator Award was added in 2001 to reward originality of artistic expression as well.
2017 Winner:
A Piece of Home
by Jeri Watts
Category: New Writer Award
2017 Winner:
Daniel Finds a Poem
by Micha Archer
Category: New Illustrator Award
2016 Winner:
Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton
by Don Tate
Category: New Writer Award
2016 Winner:
Sonya's Chickens
by Phoebe Wahl
Category: New Illustrator Award
2015 Winner:
Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin
by Chieri Uegaki
Category: New Writer Award
2015 Winner:
Shh! We Have a Plan
by Chris Haughton
Category: New Illustrator Award
Also: Cybils Award Winners
2014 Winner:
Tea Party Rules
by Ame Dyckman
Category: New Writer Award
2014 Winner:
Rain!
by Linda Ashman; illustrated by Christian Robinson
Category: New Illustrator Award
2013 Winner:
And Then It’s Spring
by Julie Fogliano
Category: New Writer Award
2013 Winner:
Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten!
by Hyewon Yum
Category: New Illustrator Award
2012 Winner:
Tía Isa Wants a Car
by Meg Medina
Category: New Writer Award
2012 Winner:
Same, Same but Different
by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Category: New Illustrator Award
2011 Winner:
I Know Here
by Laurel Croza
Category: New Writer Award
Also: Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards for Excellence in Children's Literature
2011 Winner:
Bunny Days
by Tao Nyeu
Category: New Illustrator Award
2010 Winner:
Most Loved in All the World
by Tonya Cherie Hegamin
Category: New Writer Award
2010 Winner:
Only a Witch Can Fly
by Alison McGhee; illustrated by Taeeun Yoo
Category: New Illustrator Award
2009 Winner:
Garmann's Summer
by Stian Hole
Category: New Writer Award
2009 Winner:
Bird
by Zetta Elliott; illustrated by Shadra Strickland
Category: New Illustrator Award
2008 Winner:
Leaves
by David Ezra Stein
Category: New Writer Award
2008 Winner:
The Apple Pie that Papa Baked
by Lauren Thompson; illustrated by Jonathan Bean
Category: New Illustrator Award
2007 Winner:
For You Are a Kenyan Child
by Kelly Cunnane
Category: New Writer Award
Also: What We Read: East Africa
2007 Winner:
Mystery Bottle
by Kristen Balouch
Category: New Illustrator Award
2006 Winner:
My Best Friend
by Mary Ann Rodman
Category: New Writer Award
2006 Winner:
Silly Chicken
by Rukhsana Khan; illustrated by Yunmee Kyong
Category: New Illustrator Award
2005 Winner:
Going North
by Janice N. Harrington
Category: New Writer Award
2005 Winner:
The Night Eater
by Ana Juan
Category: New Illustrator Award
2004 Winner:
Yesterday I Had the Blues
by Jeron Ashford Frame
Category: New Writer Award
2004 Winner:
My Name Is Yoon
by Helen Recorvits; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
Category: New Illustrator Award
2003 Winner:
Ruby's Wish
by Shirin Yim Bridges; illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Category: New Writer Award & New Illustrator Award
2002 Winner:
Freedom Summer
by Deborah Wiles; illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue
Category: New Writer Award & New Illustrator Award
2001 Winner:
Henry Hikes To Fitchburg
by D.B. Johnson
Recommended Age: 4
Category: New Writer Award
Also: Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards for Excellence in Children's Literature
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
2001 Winner:
Uptown
by Collier Bryan
Recommended Age: 3
Category: New Illustrator Award
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
2000 Winner:
Dear Juno
by Soyung Pak
Category: New Writer Award
1999 Winner:
Elizabeti's Doll
by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen
Category: New Writer Award
1997 Winner:
Calling the Doves (El canto de las palomas)
by Juan Felipe Herrera
Category: New Writer Award
1995 Winner:
Taxi! Taxi!
by Cari Best
Category: New Writer Award
1993 Winner:
Tar Beach
by Faith Ringgold
Recommended Age: 4
Category: New Writer Award
Also: New York Public Library’s List of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know
1991 Winner:
Tell Me a Story, Mama
by Angela Johnson
Category: New Writer Award
1989 Winner:
Anna's Special Present
by Yoriko Tsutsui
Category: New Writer Award
1987 Winner:
Jamaica's Find
by Juanita Havill
Category: New Writer Award
1986 Winner:
The Patchwork Quilt
by Valerie Flournoy
Category: New Writer Award
The Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award was established in 1985 to encourage and celebrate up-and-coming authors of picture books written in the tradition of Keats—that is, with original, well-told stories that reflect the universal qualities of childhood and the multicultural nature of our world. The goal is to help writers continue to create outstanding picture books for a diverse audience. The New Illustrator Award was added in 2001 to reward originality of artistic expression as well.