City Winners
It’s Okay to Bee Unique, by Coco Lee and Demi Lee (Grade 5), P.S. 362K, Hellenic Classical Charter School, Brooklyn; Teacher: Julia Molloy; Principal: Natasha Caban
Hana Matsuri, by Hailey Li (Grade 8), I.S. 098K, The Bay Academy for the Arts & Sciences, Brooklyn; Teacher: Mandi Bracho; Librarian: Karen Goldberg; Principal: Maria Timo
Delilah Loves Her, by Arna Asad (Grade 10), H.S. 293M, City College Academy of the Arts, Manhattan; Teacher: Gloria Adams; Principal: Burnedette Drysdale
Borough Winners
Grades (3-5)
Carter and the Colorful Crystal, by Carter Dawson (Grade 3), P.S. 160X, The Walt Disney Magnet STEAM School, Bronx; Teacher: Veronica Doherty; Principal: Lori Baker
The Princess Vs. The Dragon, by Kyler McKnight (Grade 3), P.S. / I. S. 184K, The Newport School, Brooklyn, Librarian: Noemi Alers; Principal: Andy John-Duncan
The Undercover Cookie, by Julia Balatsko (Grade 5), P.S. 019X, The Judith K. Weiss Woodlawn School, Bronx; Teacher: Michelle Quinn; Principal: Ellen O’Brien
Grades (6-8)
Baggy the Bag, by Alice Numeroff and Scarlett Done (Grade 6), I.S. 497K, The Boerum Hill School for International Studies, Brooklyn; Librarian: Amy Rathgeb; Principal: Samantha Schmoeger
Finding a Story, by Elise Kosacolsky (Grade 8), I.S. 239K, Mark Twain for the Gifted and Talented, Brooklyn; Teacher: Michele Wallach; Principal: Karen Ditolla
Grades (9-12)
In the Stars, by Kyra Wong (Grade 10), H.S. 299Q, Bard High School Early College Queens, Queens; Teacher: Mary Jo Lombardo; Principal: Laura Hymson
The Little Things, by Kylie Chiang (Grade 12), H.S. 525Q, Townsend Harris High School, Queens; Teacher: Melissa Nakos; Principal: Brian Condon
Milky in the Wyre Forest, by Kelly Ojeda-Quizhpi (Grade 12), H.S. 585Q, Maspeth High School, Queens; Teacher: Janet Carleton; Principal: Selin Alicanoglu
Monsters, by Uki Tripathy (Grade 12), H.S. 430K, Brooklyn Technical High School, Brooklyn; Teachers: Elisabeth Filippelli, Rati Mukhuradze; Librarian: Joanna Drusin; Principal: David Newman
Welcome to Jonason Island Summer Camp, by Justin Ceballos (Grade 12), P.S. 077K, District 75, Brooklyn; Teacher: Amie Robinson; Principal: Ebony Russell
Honorable Mentions
Grades (3-5)
Empowering Other Cultures
Diary of a 12 Year Old Who Happens to be an Immigrant: The First 14 Days, by Ava Nicholson and Hans Shervey (Grade 3), P.S. 156K, The Waverly School of the Arts, Brooklyn; Teachers: Leanne Anderson, Ryan Nicholson; Principal: Nayima Moore
Stylistic Consistency
Different but the Same, by Isla Heasley (Grade 5), P.S. 008K, The Emily Warren Roebling School, Brooklyn; Teacher: Melissa Browning; Principal: Patricia Peterson
Engaging Story
Konstantina’s Journal, by Konstantina Kouros (Grade 5), P.S. 070Q, Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino School, Queens; Librarian: Mary Karalekas; Principal: Izette Thomas
Impactful Artwork
My Big Bright Bulb, by William Zhang and Ryan Lu (Grade 5), P.S. 105K, The Blythebourne School, Brooklyn; Teachers: Catherine Debes, Joy Li; Principal: Shirley Chen
Effective Use of Color
My Dad’s Birthday, by Melissa Morales (Grade 3), P.S. 199K, Frederic Wachtel, Brooklyn; Teacher: Stacey Hymowitz; Librarian: Meredith Cusumano; Principal: Rosalia Bacarella
Skilled Use of Medium
Our Friendship Story, by Saywa Chuma and Nadia Islam (Grade 4), P.S. 195X, Bronx; Teachers: Mary O’Sullivan, Elizabeth Vargas; Principal: Richard Webster
Impressive Depiction of Emotions
Pink Energy, by Leora Slott (Grade 5), P.S. / I.S. 099K, Isaac Asimov School, Brooklyn; Librarian: Ann Preis; Principal: Hrysoula Niarhos
Effective Use of Color
Scrumptious Scent, by Aryana Singh (Grade 5), P.S. / I.S. 268Q, Queens; Teacher: Kaylonda Marin; Principal: Wilburn Smith
Stylistic Consistency
Summer Break, by Aria Vassell (Grade 4), P.S. 015Q, Jackie Robinson, Queens; Teacher: Serrena Hospedales-Brown; Principal: Anthony Pignataro
Important, Timely, Content
The Computer “Switch”, by Avery Woo (Grade 5), P.S. 023R, The Richmondtown School, Staten Island; Teacher: Laurie Berlinger; Principal: Paul Proscia
Important, Timely, Content
The Gnome’s Forest, by Joan Potts (Grade 5), P.S. 075M, Emily Dickinson School, Manhattan; Teacher: Kelly Martin; Librarian: Alexis Gordon; Principal: George Georgilakis
Creative Illustrations
The 3 Best Buds, by Evelyn Zhang (Grade 4), P.S. 058R, Space Shuttle Columbia School, Staten Island; Librarian: Staci Balice; Principal: Michael LaMorte
Distinctive, Humorous Voice
The Savior, by Alec Fridman and Garry Tauzhnyanskiy (Grade 5), P.S. 195K, Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn; Teacher: Cara Bianchi; Principal: Bernadette Toomey
Skilled Use of Medium
The Starfish and The Squid, by Kayla Tan (Grade 4), P.S. 098Q, The Douglaston School, Queens; Teachers: Aizhen Li, Amy Kuchynsky, Kristin Roma; Principal: Kristy Chan
Skilled Use of Medium
Why the Ocean is So Deep, by Jailene Marie Felix (Grade 4), P.S. 555X, Mount Eden Children’s Academy, Bronx; Teachers: Fatima Darlington, Kathryn Linden; Principal: Jaqueline Radoslovich
Grades (6-8)
Impressive Depiction of Emotions
In My Own World, by Iffat Tisha (Grade 8), P.S. / I.S. 268Q, Queens; Teacher: Kaylonda Marin, Principal: Wilburn Smith
Creative Illustrations
Kiwi’s Hidden Talent, by Beila Hu and Akshayan Kuruparanantha (Grade 7), I.S. 072R, The Police Officer Rocco Laurie School, Staten Island; Teacher: Eileen McLoughlin; Principal:Jessica Jackson
Impactful Artwork
Magical World, by Elena Davletshina (Grade 7), J.H.S. 014K, Shell Bank, Brooklyn; Teacher: Michelle Wiener; Principal: Teri Ahearn
Great Attention to Detail
Swine Search, by Bella Zhang (Grade 6), I.S. 201K, Madeleine Brennan School, Brooklyn; Teacher: Dina Pizzarello; Principal: Robert Ciulla
Thought Provoking Story
The Eyes of Our City, by Mariam Nila (Grade 7), I.S. 187K, The Christa McAuliffe School, Brooklyn; Teacher: Melina Badia; Principal: Mina Sadiki
Distinctive, Humorous Voice
The Foundation, by Daniela Avila and Emmanuel Opoku (Grade 8), P.S. 141X, Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy, Bronx; Teacher: Isa Almonte; Librarian: Julia Loving; Principal:Lori O’Mara
Distinctive, Humorous Voice
The Red Goose, by Michael Osei-Tutu (Grade 6), P.S. 002K, Parkside Preparatory Academy, Brooklyn; Librarian: Katherine Dinerman; Principal: Arlene Burnett
Skilled Integration of Text & Image
The Two Hungry Caterpillars, by Nabeeha Ahmad and Shabnam Karshieva (Grade 8), P.S. / I.S. 099K, Isaac Asimov School, Brooklyn; Teacher: Kathryn Azhar; Principal: Hrysoula Niarhos
Impressive Depiction of Emotions
Unlock the Star, by Tho Nguyen (Grade 6), P.S. / I.S. 206K, Brooklyn; Teacher: Laura Bronzini; Librarian: Catherine Inniss; Principal: Ellen Quigley
Grades (9-12)
Skilled Use of Medium
Gotham, by Jean Carlos Grullon (Grade 10), H.S. 544X, High School for Contemporary Arts, Bronx; Teacher: Elizabeth Fidoten; Principal: Melissa Peters
Impressive Depiction of Emotions
Is It Okay?, by Ariel Torres (Grade 11), H.S. 419M, Landmark High School, Manhattan; Teacher: Amanda During; Principal: Susanna Tenny
Skilled Use of Medium
Metal N’ Flesh, by Romy Bae Kocher (Grade 12), H.S. 501Q, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School, Queens; Teacher: Laura Blau; Principal: Gideon Frankel
Skilled Integration of Text & Image
The Story of Harriet, by Savior Calo (Grade 9), H.S. 695K, Passages Academy – Belmont, Brooklyn; Teacher: Nelli Bespalova-Carter; Librarian: Jessica Fenster-Sparber; Principal: Ronald Carter
Impressive Depiction of Emotions
We Are Not Expendable, by Hailey Rodriguez (Grade 10), H.S. 690Q, High School for Law Enforcement and Public Safety, Queens; Teacher: Stefanie Abbey; Librarian: Eve Davis; Principal: Laura Van Deren