AWARDS

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 Vivian Kirkfield’s  50 Precious Words Contest

Freda Lewkowicz 2025 Prize Winner

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THE PEACEMAKERS by Freda Lewkowicz

Today
Why are you here, War?” the children wept.
“Help me retire!” War begged.  
 
“But what can we do?” they wondered.
They thought. And thought.
And then…
 
They organized.
They marched. 
They protested.
They questioned. 
The air was clogged with hope while the weary world waited.
 

Tomorrow 
“What’s war, Grandma? 

 

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2021 Astra International Publishing

Picture Book Writing Contest

Silver Prize Winner

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ASTRA INTERNATIONAL PICTURE BOOK WRITING CONTEST 2021

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Freda won the 2021 Astra International Picture Book Writing Contest for her manuscript titled Songs of the Refugee.

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"Astra designed this unique writing competition to encourage, discover, and honor talented writers of texts for picture books for children ages 3–8 from around the world. Chosen from nearly 1,700 manuscripts submitted by writers from 68 countries working in one of the contest’s five official languages (Chinese, English, French, Spanish, and German), the following 24 winners have been selected:

Yun Dai, from China, is the Gold Prize winner with the manuscript titled “Sherjahaan” and will receive $10,000 (US) and the opportunity to sign a publishing contract for publication of the manuscript in one or more languages.

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The 3 Silver Prize winners—Freda Lewkowicz, Canada; Sandra Markle, US; and Teresa M. Robeson, US—will receive $5,000 (US) each; and the 20 Finalist Prize winners, listed on the contest website are to receive $1,000 (US) each.” Astra Publishing House

 

Silver Prize (3 winners)

Author: Freda Lewkowicz
Title: Songs of the refugee

Statement of the Jury (by Leonard S. Marcus):
"Sometimes small things are magical": these are the opening words of a beguiling historical-fiction narrative set in Europe before and during the Second World War. A mother takes a sewing needle found in the street as a sign from heaven that her son Marek should become a tailor. A wild sequence of events later, Marek's skill with a needle and thread actually does prove to be the thing that saves his life. From this artful story, readers will see for themselves that history is made not only by great heroes and monumental events but also by ordinary people taking chances that sometimes have life-and-death consequences for themselves and others.

 

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2005 Anne Greenup Award

Citizenship Award for Work Against Racism, Prejudice and Hate