Ripple Foundation Announces Winners of the 2024 Kids Write 4 Kids Contest

TORONTO - Aug. 15, 2024 - PRLog -- Ripple Foundation, a national youth education charity dedicated to nurturing the creative literacy skills of the next generation, formally announced the winners of its annual flagship event, the Kids Write 4 Kids (KW4K) creative writing challenge. Grade seven student, Myah Rathi Litteljohn from East York, ON and grade eight student, Alina Xiao from Oakville, ON will become published authors and donate 100% of 2024 book sales to Childhood Cancer Canada.

A strong judging panel, comprised of authors, avid readers, previous winners, and editors, selected the winning titles for this year. The panel included award-winning children's book author Jessica Kerrin, acclaimed author and playwright Marty Chan, and bestselling picture book author Josh Funk.

"As a judge for the Ripple Foundation's Kids Write 4 Kids contest, I am truly amazed by the extraordinary storytelling talents these young authors possess," said Marty Chan. "The powerful and unblinking poems of A Piece of Me contrast the reality of cancer treatments with the emotional toll it takes on a person's faith. Path of Thorns is a masterclass in world-building. Each detail lends itself to shaping the setting, characters, and story."

With 448 participants from 293 schools across eight provinces and two territories, the diversity and ingenuity of submissions were remarkable. "Every year, we are continuously astounded by the incredible talent of young Canadians. This competition provides an invaluable platform for our next generation to express their voices," said Ivy Wong, Founder of Ripple Foundation. "We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Myah and Alina for winning this year's contest; this achievement is undoubtedly just the beginning of many more to come!"

Kids Write 4 Kids emerges as a vibrant annual event designed to ignite creativity among students spanning grades 4 to 8. Encouraged to cultivate and submit their imaginative narratives, participants can witness their creations in both print and digital mediums. 25 authors have been discovered, and over 4,250 literary creations have been submitted to KW4K since its launch in 2012. The next contest will open on October 1, 2024, for Canadians in grades four to eight to enter, free of charge.

Flora Zou, a recent graduate from OCAD University, illustrated the covers for this year's winning titles. Her unique artistic style and intercultural perspective make her an exceptional fit for the Kids Write 4 Kids series. Her creative approach brings a fresh and engaging visual dimension to the stories, perfectly complementing the imaginative narratives within the books.

The books are available in paperback and ebook formats on Amazon, Apple iBookstore, Google Play and Overdrive for libraries. kidswrite4kids.ripplefoundation.ca/books