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<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in" align="center"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: purple; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt">2013 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"></span></b></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in" align="center"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: purple; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt">Book Awards Winners Announced</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt"></span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in" align="center"><a href="http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2013-BA-winners_4.jpg" target="_blank"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none"><img alt="Inline image 2" src="cid:C3C50C26FA404B2C98C08A16556C816D@RitaHP" enterTime="1362789415372" showedTooltip="0"></span></b></a><span style="WIDTH: 16px; PADDING-RIGHT: 16px; HEIGHT: 16px" class="wrc0"></span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in" align="center"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: purple">Ezra Jack Keats Foundation and de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times"></span></b></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in" align="center"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: purple">The University of Southern Mississippi to Present Awards at</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times"></span></b></p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in" align="center"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: purple">Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival on April 11<sup>th</sup></span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times"></span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">NEW YORK—March 4, 2013—</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection
at The University of Southern Mississippi announced today the winners of the 27th annual Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Book Awards. The 2013 awards ceremony will be held on April 11th during The University of Southern Mississippi’s Fay B.
Kaigler Children’s Book Festival. The winners will receive a gold medallion as well as an honorarium of $1,000. Wendell Minor, a noted children’s book illustrator who has worked with, among others, Charlotte Zolotow, Buzz Aldrin and Diane Siebert, will be
guest presenter.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">“The Book Award was created to bring attention and recognition to new artists who carry on in the spirit of Keats,” said Deborah Pope, Executive Director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.
“The jury looks for new books of beauty that portray the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family and the multicultural nature of our world.”</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">“The Ezra Jack Keats Book Award is an exciting extension of our work as guardians of important children’s literature,” said Ellen Ruffin, Curator of the de Grummond Children’s Literature
Collection. “Ezra’s legacy lives on in the offerings of these fine new authors and illustrators, whose own books may one day join Ezra’s in the de Grummond Collection.”</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </p>
<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in" align="center"><a href="http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Gold_Award_Seal_crop.jpg" target="_blank"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt; TEXT-DECORATION: none"><img alt="Inline image 4" src="cid:0F67138C0C8E45FDB71940ABD9D5837F@RitaHP" width="200" height="195"></span></b></a><span style="WIDTH: 16px; PADDING-RIGHT: 16px; HEIGHT: 16px" class="wrc0"></span><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt"></span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">The 2013 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award Winner Is:</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times"></span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Julie Fogliano
</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">for<i> <b>And Then It’s Spring</b></i><br>
Published by: Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">First-time author Fogliano shares the excitement that goes hand in hand with planting the first seeds of spring. After months of snow, a boy and his dog agree that enough is enough,
and decide to plant a garden. They dig, plant, play and wait…and wait…until at long last, shades of green begin to replace the brown. Spring is in the air!</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">And Then It’s Spring</span></i><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> is illustrated by Erin E. Stead.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Says Fogliano, “I was struggling to find an idea for a children’s book, and a friend challenged me by asking me to create a thought of the day for him for every day of the year to
get inspired. On day 156, I was in my yard and, even though it was April, there was no sign of grass growing anywhere. Suddenly, inspiration struck…
<i>And Then It’s Spring</i> </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">‛</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">grew’ from there.”</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">The 2013 Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award Winner Is:</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times"></span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Hyewon Yum
</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">for <b><i>Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten!
</i></b><br>
Published by: Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">First day of kindergarten jitters may be nothing new, but in Yum’s book, it’s a parent who is frantic and needs reassuring! Playfully using color and size (Mom and son take turns
appearing small and blue-tinted; large and rosy pink), this author-illustrator captures the emotional highs and lows of both parent and child around this milestone.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">“My book is based on a true story,” said Yum, who wrote and illustrated her book. “My son was going off to kindergarten and I was a new mommy. I felt like the five-year-old—he wasn’t
afraid, but I was nervous. I thought it was better to draw what we were feeling, so I drew the mom in the book small and blue at first and the son large and rosy. Their colors and sizes change as they each get more and less brave throughout the day. My own
son said, </span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">‛</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Mom, that’s not how you are!’ He didn’t even notice how nervous I was.”</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">In addition, the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award honorable mentions were awarded:</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times"></span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">2013 New Writer Honor</span></b></p>
<ul style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type="disc">
<li style="MARGIN-TOP: 0.1pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Mara Rockliff for
<i>My Heart Will Not Sit Down </i>(Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers)</span>
</li><li style="MARGIN-TOP: 0.1pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Jennifer Lanthier for
<i>The Stamp Collector </i>(Published by: Fitzhenry & Whiteside)</span> </li><li style="MARGIN-TOP: 0.1pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Don Tate for
<i>It Jes’ Happened</i> (Published by: Lee & Low Books)</span></li></ul>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt">2013 New Illustrator Honor</span></b></p>
<ul style="MARGIN-TOP: 0in" type="disc">
<li style="MARGIN-TOP: 0.1pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">K.G. Campbell for
<i>Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters </i>(Published by: Kids Can Press, Ltd.)</span> </li><li style="MARGIN-TOP: 0.1pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.1pt"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sanjay Patel for
<i>Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth </i>(Published by: Chronicle Books)</span></li></ul>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">The Ezra Jack Keats Book Award Criteria</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times"></span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To be eligible for the 2013 Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, the author and/or illustrator will have no more than three children’s picture books published prior to the year under consideration.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The selection committee is comprised of early childhood education specialists, librarians, illustrators and experts in children’s literature, including: Rita Auerbach (Chair), Carolyn
S. Brodie, Nina Crews, Pat Cummings, Barbara Genco, Ginny Moore Kruse, Marisabina Russo, Lisa Von Drasek and Paul O. Zelinsky.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Ex-Officio members are: Deborah Pope, Executive Director, Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, and Ellen Ruffin, Curator, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">For a complete list of Ezra Jack Keats Book Award winners:
<a href="http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/news/ezra-jack-keats-award-winners/" target="_blank">
<span style="COLOR: blue">Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Awards for Children’s Books</span></a><span style="WIDTH: 16px; PADDING-RIGHT: 16px; HEIGHT: 16px" class="wrc0"></span>.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">For submission guidelines from the de Grummond Collection:<a href="http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/degrum/public_html/html/keats_writer.shtml" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR: blue">
New Writer Award</span></a><span style="WIDTH: 16px; PADDING-RIGHT: 16px; HEIGHT: 16px" class="wrc0"></span>,
<a href="http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/degrum/public_html/html/keats_illus.shtml" target="_blank">
<span style="COLOR: blue">New Illustrator Award</span></a><span style="WIDTH: 16px; PADDING-RIGHT: 16px; HEIGHT: 16px" class="wrc0"></span>.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">About the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times"></span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Founded by the late Caldecott award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats, the Foundation supports arts and literacy programming in public schools and libraries
across the country, with the goal of bringing the joy of reading and learning to all children while highlighting the importance of diversity in children’s books. In addition to the Ezra Jack Keats Book Award, the Foundation sponsors the Ezra Jack Keats/New
York City Department of Education Bookmaking Competition for grades 3-12, and the Ezra Jack Keats Minigrant program, among others. For information about the Foundation, please visit
<a href="http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR: blue">www.ezra-jack-keats.org</span></a><span style="WIDTH: 16px; PADDING-RIGHT: 16px; HEIGHT: 16px" class="wrc0"></span>.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; COLOR: rgb(255,102,0)">About the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times"></span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at
<a href="http://www.usm.edu/" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR: blue">The University of Southern Mississippi</span></a><span style="WIDTH: 16px; PADDING-RIGHT: 16px; HEIGHT: 16px" class="wrc0"></span> is one of North America’s leading research centers in
the field of children’s literature. The Collection holds the original manuscripts and illustrations of more than 1,300 authors and illustrators, as well as 180,000+ mostly American and British published books dating back to 1530. Since 1985, the
<a href="http://www.lib.usm.edu/legacy/degrum/public_html/html/aboutus-welcome.shtml" target="_blank">
<span style="COLOR: blue">de Grummond Collection</span></a><span style="WIDTH: 16px; PADDING-RIGHT: 16px; HEIGHT: 16px" class="wrc0"></span> has been the home of the Ezra Jack Keats Archive, which includes manuscripts, typescripts, sketches, dummies, illustrations
and proofs for Ezra Jack Keats’ books.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"></span> </p>
<span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Contacts:</span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sheree Wichard/Donel Young</span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">718-788-9585/732-295-2406</span></b></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0.1pt 0in"><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: times; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><a href="http://sheree@wy-pr.com/donel@wy-pr.com" target="_blank"><span style="COLOR: blue">sheree@wy-pr.com/donel@wy-pr.com</span></a><span style="WIDTH: 16px; PADDING-RIGHT: 16px; HEIGHT: 16px" class="wrc0"></span></span></b></p>
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