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2024 EZRA JACK KEATS BOOKMAKING PROJECT WINNERS

The Contemporary Jewish Museum (The CJM), the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), and the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) are pleased to announce the winners of the twelfth annual Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Project! The project promotes the art and craft of bookmaking in the classroom, inviting students in grades K–12 in SFUSD to write, illustrate, and assemble their own books.  

This year, we were thrilled to receive 44 book submissions from 17 schools across SFUSD. We would like to thank our panel of expert judges, including Tamra Marshall, retired teacher librarian, SFUSD; Emily Byrne, Senior Visitor Experience Manager, The CJM; Julie Grigoryan, Senior Education Manager, The CJM; Lyn Davidson, Adult Services Manager, Richmond/Senator Milton Marks Library, SFPL; and Deborah Krant, former developer and organizer of Kidquake. The project would not have been possible without the support of SFUSD teacher librarians Susan Stroman, Lawton Alternative School, and Lauren Sidle, Lakeshore Elementary School. Thank you as well to Jen Woo, Family Engagement Coordinator, SFPL, for liaising with local San Francisco library branches, where student books will be on view from late March to early May.

All participating students, families, and teachers are invited to The CJM for a Bookmaking Celebration and Family Day on Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 11am–2pm. All book submissions will be on display in the lobby; winners and participants should visit the lobby for prizes and recognition.  

Books on View at SFPL

All participating books will be exhibited at SFPL branches around the city from late March to early May. View the books from participating schools at the following library branches:  

March 25–May 1

  • Chinatown Branch: Spring Valley Science; S.F. Public Montessori; Sherman 
  • Main Branch: New Traditions Creative Arts Elementary; Tenderloin Community School; Robert Louis Stevenson; Peabody

March 25–May 3

  • Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch: Grattan; West Portal; Ruth Asawa School of the Arts 
  • Portola Branch: Phillip and Sala Burton Academic High School; Mission High School; El Dorado   

March 25–May 9:  

  • Ingleside Branch: Guadalupe; Jefferson; Rooftop; Lowell
Collaborative Elementary Winners

First Place

Los Maravillosos Niños de Salón 3 (The Wonderful Children of Room 3), Second Grade, Spring Valley

Second Place

Walking, Walking, Second Grade, Guadalupe

Third Place

San Francisco ABC’s… A Journey Through the City, Third Grade, Robert Louis Stevenson

Special Recognition for Descriptive Language

The Rainbow Book, Kindergarten, New Traditions Creative Arts

Special Recognition for Poetry

A Map of Our Hearts, Kindergarten, El Dorado 

Special Recognition for Collage

The Octopus and the Squid Poem, First Grade, Tenderloin Community

Individual Elementary Winners

First Place

The Adventures of Mr. Paws, by Addison Chivvis, Fifth Grade, Rooftop 

Second Place

There Once was a Cow, by Zoe Burton, Fifth Grade, Jefferson

Third Place

Moonlight Piano, by Paulina Makaranka, Third Grade, S.F. Public Montessori

Special Recognition for Innovative Media

Guess Who I Am!, by Julia Becker and Adele Thibodeau, Fourth and Fifth Grade, Grattan

Special Recognition for Book Arts

All About Me, by Ella Huang, Mandy Liang, and Carey Zhu, Third Grade, West Portal 

Special Recognition for Craft

Eight Blessings for the Chinese New Year, by Olivia Huang, Fifth Grade, West Portal

Special Recognition for Comedy

The Cooers and the Missing Loaves, by Ajax Baker and Grace Setter, Fifth Grade, S.F. Public Montessori  

Best Modern Fairytale

May I Have This Dance?, by Elle Fairbanks, Fifth Grade, Jefferson

Judges' Choice

Fierce, by Elliette Chivvis, Second Grade, Rooftop

High School Winners

First Place

Buns and Baguettes, by William Chivvis, Ninth Grade, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts

Second Place

The Pebble, by Benjamin Isbister, Eleventh Grade, Mission High School

Third Place

4 Seasons of Korea, by Wryan Lucky, Ninth Grade, Lowell

Special Recognition for Poetry

Book of Poems, by Serena Tu, Elena Barkl, Yichen Deng, Ashlee Faina, Nisha Halfen, Sean Lee, Janice Chan, Kimberly Hwang, Ninth Grade, Lowell 

Special Recognition for Motivational Writing

You Can Be Anything, by Marilin Flores, Eleventh Grade, Burton