The Ezra Jack Keats awards honors new authors and illustrators of children’s picture books whose work reflects Ezra Jack Keats’ values; the universal qualities of childhood, a strong and supportive family and the multicultural nature of our world.  

http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/

Ezra Jack Keats, also a  collage artist, wrote  “The Snowy Day “among other classics.  

 I had so wished that Anna Witte, Lola's author, could have come so we could celebrate  together.

Here we are the other winners who could 
make it.!
  


Nicola Winstanley for "Cinnamon Baby"
Meg Medina for "Tía Isa Wants a Car"

Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw for "Same, Same but Different"
And the goofy tall one on the right ? My face hurt from smiling.

We were wined and dined until I was dizzy with all the attention. The authors and illustrators all sat together each meal and talked shop. Book signings were great fun.  And then finally I saw the de Grummond  Collection with Virginia Butler an expert on Ezra Jack Keats, as my guide. There were original  sketches, and illustrations from his and many other illustrators' works. It was fascinating to see how he worked. I learn so much with just one good look at an original.

 E.J.Keats Original

 E.J.Keats Original

E.J.Keats Original

Lola and I

 DIANE FLEMING-

 great illustrator and author, great person, great speaker. Knows children inside out

Sculpture by Margaret Wise Brown- wrote "Goodnight Moon"

 Virginia Butler- Currently writing a book on Ezra Jack Keats

Cool Hands on Workshops

Nicola Winstanely (author of "Cinnamon Baby") and I

Jane and I traveled to and from the festival. 

Beautiful talk she gave on the importance of story. She got the Old Miss. award. Big one.

Cool murals

Lola's next pair of shoes.

LOLA went to an award ceremony in Mississippi! And got a seal (not the barking kind) !

 THE EZRA JACK KEATS AWARD

HONORABLE MENTION

at

 The Fay B. Kaigler

 Children's Book Festival in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Interlink Folk Tale Book Covers

http://www.interlinkbooks.com/

Bird Sniff - Collage

2012 New Writer and New Illustrator Honor Anna Witte (writer) and Micha Archer (illustrator) for Lola’s Fandango Publisher: Barefoot Books; Rei/Com edition

Ethiopian Folk Tale- The lion's Whiskers

Lola's Fandango - Officially named an Editor's Choice by Booklist

Lola’s Fandango. Witte, Anna (author).  Illustrated by Micha Archer.  Oct. 2011. 48p. Barefoot, hardcover, $16.99 (9781846861741). K-Grade 3. REVIEW. First published August, 2011 (Booklist). Lola lives in a small apartment with her big sister. Is Lola jealous of Clementina? Well, she does have the better name. And hair. And she can paint. Then, Lola finds something hidden in Mami’s closet: a pair of polka-dot high heels that go “toc toc” on the wooden floor. When she learns they are for flamenco (not flamingo) dancing, she insists on learning (especially since Clementina doesn’t dance), and after much pleading, Papi agrees to teach her in secret. Witte and Archer hit all the right notes here. The text dances across the pages, with “tacs” and “tocs” and “ticas” beating out the rhythm. The action, both external and internal, is visualized in the charming collage-style artwork, which can be as small as stamps or full-page extravaganzas. At heart (and it has lots of heart), this story touches on two important points: the good part of sibling rivalry, pushing a child to find her own talents; and the way the arts can create new worlds. By the book’s conclusion, a surprise party for Mami’s birthday, the small apartment is filled with friends, music, and laughter. Lola, in her new dress, twirls into the living room, tapping her way to a world of possibilities. A short history of the fandango (a type of flamenco) and a glossary are appended. A CD is included, and a Spanish-language version is also available. — Ilene Cooper

INDIAN FOLK TALE-The QUARRELING QUAILS

Recent work for the Indian tale "The Tiger, the Brahman and the Jackal"

SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS ORIGINAL ART SHOW 2011- OPENING IN OCTOBER

WHAT IS IT? The Original Art: Celebrating the Fine Art of Children’s Book Illustration  is on display at the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators from October 26 through December 29, 2011. Founded by artists’ agent Dilys Evans and now celebrating its thirty-first anniversary, this exhibit showcases the year’s best children’s books.

 HOW WAS THE OPENING?

   CROWDED but exciting. I love looking at original artwork. My piece from "The Wise Fool" looked good framed by my good friend Ani Rivera from Archival Matters.