Ezra Jack Keats Award · 2021

The 2021 Ezra Jack Keats Award

Nana Akua Goes to School and Brick by Brick won the 2021 Ezra Jack Keats Award. Browse them alongside all 4 honor books, with ages and reading levels for each.

2021 Ezra Jack Keats Award Winner · Writer
Nana Akua Goes to School
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 4–7 · 2020

Nana Akua Goes to School

By Tricia Elam Walker, April Harrison (Illustrator)

A shy girl fears her classmates' reaction to her grandmother's tribal markings.

Ezra Jack Keats Award (2021)
34 pages· 1,244 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud
4.5/5 Goodreads · 1,068 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: On Grandparents Day, Zura hesitates to introduce her beloved Nana Akua, whose face bears traditional West African markings. Fearing her classmates' reactions, Zura worries about ridicule. But Nana Akua, with wisdom and a quilt of African symbols, turns potential fear into a celebration of uniqueness, teaching the class about cultural pride and acceptance. Will Zura's classmates embrace the beauty of diversity?
2021 Ezra Jack Keats Award Winner · Illustrator
Brick by Brick
Sale price
$1797
Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 2020

Brick by Brick

By Heidi Woodward Sheffield

A father and son build dreams, brick by brick.

Ezra Jack Keats Award (2021)
32 pages· 312 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud
4.9/7 Bookroo·4.1/5 Goodreads · 444 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Luis admires his father, Papi, a dedicated bricklayer who builds the city. As Luis molds clay bricks at school, he dreams of a future like Papi's. One Saturday, Papi reveals a special surprise, crafted with love and hard work. What has he built for their family?
2021 Honor Books
Can Bears Ski?
Sale price
$1597
Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 2020

Can Bears Ski?

By Raymond Antrobus, Polly Dunbar (Illustrator)

Little Bear discovers why he can't hear his friends and faces a new, loud world.

Ezra Jack Keats Honor (2021)
40 pages· 588 words· Est. 5 min read-aloud
4.3/5 Goodreads · 599 ratings
$16.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: Little Bear feels vibrations but misses the sounds around him. Confused by his friends' jokes and a mysterious question, he visits an audiologist. Discovering his deafness, he begins wearing hearing aids. As his world becomes loud, Little Bear, with Dad Bear's support, learns to navigate this new reality.
The Old Truck
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 3–5 · 2020

The Old Truck

By Jerome Pumphrey, Jarrett Pumphrey

An old truck and a girl's dreams revive a farm.

Ezra Jack Keats Honor (2021)
48 pages· 90 words· Est. 1 min read-aloud
5.8/7 Bookroo·4.0/5 Goodreads · 1,628 ratings
$17.95Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: On a bustling farm, a young girl dreams big with her trusty old truck. As years pass and the truck rusts away, she grows up to run her own farm. Can she restore her childhood companion and fulfill her dreams? Discover the power of imagination and determination in this heartwarming tale.
I'm Sticking with You
Sale price
$1797
Board Book · Ages 4–8 · 2020

I'm Sticking with You

By Smriti Prasadam-Halls, Steve Small (Illustrator)

A bear's loyalty tests a friendship when mishaps push a squirrel to seek space.

Ezra Jack Keats Honor (2021)
40 pages
5.1/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 1,052 ratings
$18.99Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: Bear and Squirrel are inseparable friends, but Bear's clumsy antics—sinking canoes, breaking mugs—test their bond. When Squirrel demands space, he soon discovers life is dull without Bear's companionship. Can their friendship endure the chaos? This heartwarming tale explores the ups and downs of sticking together, proving that true friendship always finds a way.
Cyclops of Central Park
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 2020

Cyclops of Central Park

By Madelyn Rosenberg, Victoria Tentler-Krylov (Illustrator)

A cyclops braves New York City to find a missing sheep.

Ezra Jack Keats Honor (2021)
32 pages· 742 words· Est. 6 min read-aloud
5.7/7 Bookroo·3.5/5 Goodreads · 136 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In Central Park, a cyclops discovers one of his sheep, Eugene, is missing. Despite his fears of the city's sharp grass and twirly carousels, he embarks on a daring quest through New York. With the help of his fluffy friends, he must navigate the city's 'dangers' to bring Eugene home. Will he find courage in the chaos and discover that new experiences can brighten his world?
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