THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM: THE STORY OF JUNETEENTH AND HOUSTON’S EMANCIPATION PARK was named a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) 2025 Crystal Kite Honor book!

“These awards are especially meaningful because they’re chosen by fellow creatives-people who truly understand the heart and craft of making children’s books,” said Sarah Baker, Executive Director of SCBWI. “The Crystal Kite Awards spotlight the incredible talent in our community and the powerful stories that inspire young readers globally.”

I’m honored that my debut book, illustrated by fabulous artist Jenin Mohammed, was recognized by my peers. Books in fifteen regions/districts from around the world were voted on in two rounds by children’s writers and creators. 

Here is the complete list of winners: 

Atlantic

Tricky Chopsticks by Sylvia Chen, illustrated by Fanny Liem

(Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

Honor Winner: 

Wind Is a Dance by Debra Shumaker, illustrated by Josée Bisaillon 

(Kids Can Press)

California & Hawaii

The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by LeUyen Pham

(Clarion Books)

Honor Winner:

The Night Market by Seina Wedlick, illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu

(Random House Studios)

Midwest

A Little Like Magic written and illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel

(Rocky Pond Books)

Honor Winner:

Seeker of Truth: Kailash Satyarthi’s Fight to End Child Labor by Srividhya Venkat, illustrated by Danica da Silva Pereira

(little bee books) 

Midsouth

The Last Day Julian was My Best Friend by Jody Jensen Shaffer

(Two Lions)

Honor Winner:

Stronger at the Seams by Shannon Stocker

(Blink, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus)

New England

Small Things Mended by Casey W. Robinson, illustrated by Nancy Whitesides

(Rocky Pond Books)

Honor Winner:

The Tree of Life: How a Holocaust Sapling Inspired the World by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Alianna Rozentsveig

(Rocky Pond Books)

New York

Five Stories written and illustrated by Ellen Weinstein

(Holiday House)

Honor Winner:

Building a Beak: How a Toucan’s Rescue Inspired the World by Becca McMurdie

(Page Street Publishing)

Southeast

Abuelita’s Gift: A Día de Muertos Story by Mariana Ríos Ramírez, illustrated by Sara Palacios

(Knopf Books for Young Readers)

Honor Winner:

Trunk Goes Thunk! by Heather Morris, illustrated by Chantelle Thorne and Burgen Thorne

(Gnome Road Publishing)

Southwest

The Ofrenda That We Built by Jolene Gutiérrez & Shaian Gutiérrez, illustrated by Gabby Zapata

(Chronicle Books)

Honor Winner:

Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park by Lori Alexander, illustrated by Jenn Ely

(Astra Young Readers)

Texas & Oklahoma

Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers by Steena Hernandez, illustrated by Melissa Castillo

(Beaming Books)

Honor Winner: 

They Built Me for Freedom: The Story of Juneteenth and Houston’s Emancipation Park by Tonya Duncan Ellis, illustrated by Jenin Mohammed

(Balzer + Bray)

West

One Day This Tree Will Fall by Leslie Barnard Booth, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

(Margaret K. McElderry Books)

Honor Winner:

A Voice of Hope by Nadia Salomon, illustrated by London Ladd

(Penguin Random House)

Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania

Happy All Over written and illustrated by Emma Quay

(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

Honor Winner:

Glow by Ross Morgan

(Walker Books)

Canada & North America

Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita Yasuda, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu

(Clarion Books)

Honor Winner:

Making Sense of Dog Senses: How Our Furry Friends Experience the World by Stephanie Gibeault, illustrated by Raz Latif

(Owlkids)

Europe & Central, South and Latin America & Africa

Bear’s Big Idea by Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Il Sung Na

(Carolrhoda Books)

Honor Winner:

HaiCuba / HaiKuba by Lawrence Schimel & Carlos Pintado, illustrated by Juan José Colsa

(NorthSouth Books)

Middle and East Asia

Listening to Trees by Holly Thompson, illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura

(Neal Porter Books)

Honor Winner:

Good Old Days Grandpa by Shirley Waisman

(Tal-May)

United Kingdom and Ireland

East Asian Folktales, Myths and Legends by Eva Wong Nava

(Scholastic)

Honor Winner:

12 Ways to Get a Ticket to Space by Kate Peridot, illustrated by Terri Po

(Quarto Children’s Books Ltd.)

Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the 2025 SCBWI Crystal Kite Honor Book THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM: THE STORY OF JUNETEENTH AND HOUSTON’S EMANCIPATION PARK (HarperCollins 2024), COOKOUT CHEMISTRY (Charlesbridge 2027) and the SOPHIE WASHINGTON chapter book series. She is based in Houston, Texas.
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
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