Canadians Paul Harbridge and Gracey Zhang win 2022 Ezra Jack Keats Awards
Tabassum Siddiqui | | Posted: March 9, 2022 8:58 PM | Last Updated: March 9, 2022
Children's books Out Into the Big Wide Lake and Lala's Words recognized for diverse representation
Toronto writer Paul Harbridge and Vancouver-born, New York-based author and illustrator Gracey Zhang are the winners of this year's Ezra Jack Keats Awards, which celebrate exceptional early-career authors and illustrators for work portraying the multicultural nature of our world in the spirit of the late groundbreaking children's author.
Harbridge won the writing award for his book Out Into the Big Wide Lake, an empowering story illustrated by Quebec artist Josée Bisaillon. The picture book is about a young girl with Down syndrome who gains confidence and independence through a visit to her grandparents.
"I learned about diversity teaching English as a Second Language to immigrants in Toronto, the most culturally diverse city in the world, and as a speech-language pathologist working first with persons from the Deaf community and later with adults with developmental disabilities. But the best lesson about diversity came from growing up with Linda, my little sister with Down Syndrome," Harbridge said in a statement.
"Winning the EJK Award for Writing is so special to me because it means, in my own small way, I am carrying on Mr. Keats's work to show the world that, despite our differences, at heart we are all the same."
Zhang won the illustration award for the picture book Lala's Words. Written and illustrated by Zhang, Lala's Words is the story of a young girl who tends to the plants in her neighbourhood and is affected by the power of kind words.
"When I was writing and illustrating Lala's Words, I sought to create a story that came from my own experience of familial relationships and communication that felt decidedly unique and my own. While sharing stories with others, many of whom were also children of immigrants, I found a common understanding and that we shared similar experiences," Zhang said.
"To have Lala's Words recognized for furthering these values is an immense honour and celebration of those stories we share."
The Ezra Jack Keats Award is presented by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation and the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi.
LISTEN | Gracey Zhang on CBC Radio's Q:
A committee of children's literature and early childhood education specialists, librarians, authors and illustrators select the winners, which are announced in early March each year.
In addition to the awards won by Harbridge and Zhang, four "honour books" were also named, including:
- Playing at the Border by Joanna Ho (writer honours)
- Everybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter (writer honours)
- Every Little Kindness by Marta Bartoli (illustrator honours)
- Many Shapes of Clay by Kenesha Sneed (illustrator honours)
The awards will be presented virtually on April 7 during the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi.
In 2020, Halifax writer and illustrator Sydney Smith won the Ezra Jack Keats Award for writing for his picture book Small in the City, and in 2019, Toronto author-illustrator Matt James' The Funeral was named an honour book for illustration.
Other past winners include Oge Mora, Meg Medina, Christian Robinson, Bryan Collier and Sophie Blackall.