We bring together a diverse 12-member judging panel each year, featuring past KW4K winners, award-winning authors, educators, and dedicated book lovers. Meet the 2024-2025 panel and explore the contest rules and regulations!
Myah Rathi Litteljohn
Myah Rathi is a Grade 8 student from Southern Ontario. She loves to read and write and is a big fan of her little brother Damian. Myah’s writing is inspired by her family and her real and imagined experiences. This is reflected in Myah’s winning short story from the 2023-2024 Kids Write 4 Kids contest, Path of Thorns, which follows a young heroine’s journey to self-discovery. Myah is thrilled to be a part of this year’s judging panel and looks forward to reading the amazing stories and poetry collections!
Alina Xiao
Alina Xiao has a love for reading which inspired most of her writing. Though most of her writing pieces are works in progress, A Piece of Me, her entry for the 2023-2024 Kids Write 4 Kids contest, was one of two winning selections. Now, she has moved on to write bigger and better things, but this poetry collection will always have a place in her heart. Alina loves to crochet, loves cats, friends and family. She is excited to join the judging panel this year to see more creativity in others’ writings.
Jerry Levy
Jerry Levy is the Toronto-based author of the short story collections, Urban Legend, The Quantum Theory of Love & Madness, and The Philosopher Stories. He is a regular contributor of book reviews to The Ottawa Review of Books, has taught creative writing at The Life Institute (affiliated with Metropolitan University), and has also served as a judge of the Writer’s Union of Canada’s annual short prose contest.
Sarena and Sasha Nanua
Sarena Nanua & Sasha Nanua are twin sisters and authors of the YA fantasy novels Sisters of the Snake and Daughters of the Dawn, and the forthcoming middle grade debut Spirit Service. Born on Diwali ten minutes apart, they began writing books together when they were nine years old. They are graduates of the English and professional writing programs at the University of Toronto.
Nicki Paupreto
Nicki Pau Preto is an award-winning and internationally bestselling author living just outside of Toronto—though her dislike of hockey, snow, and geese makes her the worst Canadian in the country. She studied art and art history at university and worked as a graphic designer before becoming a writer full-time. She is the author of the Crown of Feathers trilogy, the House of the Dead duology, and The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents series.
Tony Weaver, Jr.
Tony Weaver, Jr. is an award-winning writer, educator, and influencer. He founded Weird Enough, a social impact organization using graphic novels to promote self-awareness, social responsibility, and agency in students. Creator of the WEBTOON Original series The UnCommons and author of Weirdo, Tony has built an audience of over half a million on TikTok, where he uses his influence in the nerd community to combat harmful media narratives and uplift young people.
Jennifer Borkowski
Jennifer is a children’s librarian who has worked for the SickKids Family Centre, Toronto Public Library, and TD Summer Reading Club. She found a magical career teaching ukulele, crafting hobbit houses and fairy gardens, selecting the best books for kids nationwide, and tearing through tons of kidlit herself. Whether listening to her four-year-old’s creative versions of events or keeping up with children’s book trends, Jennifer loves all stories. She feels lucky to join this year’s panel.
Anne Uebbing
Anne Uebbing is owner of Kinder Books, an independent children’s bookstore in New Westminster, BC. Her love for children’s literature began in her childhood in Germany, where you could always find her hanging out in the local bookstore or library after school. Now, as the proud owner of Kinder Books, Anne’s mission is to discover and share the best children’s books—she’s read every picture book in the store at least once!
Rabia Khokhar
Rabia Khokhar is an elementary teacher, a doctoral student and an education and equity consultant. She is interested in helping young people build a love for reading and writing. Rabia is passionate about issues of representation in children’s literature and believes books are powerful tools to build equity and inclusion. Rabia has served on book selection committees like The Blue Spruce Reading Program and Best Books for Kids & Teens. Inspired by young voices, she supports initiatives empowering them to write and share their stories.
Amanda Bauhofer
“Take me on an adventure.” That’s what Amanda used to say to her mother, and so her mother would do just that. Every Saturday morning, they would head off to the library and bring home a stack of books. Here Amanda would find her glorious adventures, see things she never imagined, and have her mind open to new experiences. It’s a love of words that create the stories that captivates her even now. While time does not permit Amanda to be the avid reader she once was, every time she opens a book, she still loves to be enticed into a world the storyteller has created.
Jed Churcher
Creativity and storytelling have been at the core of Jed’s 25-year career in Advertising, working in both Canada and the US. As a writer and creative director who has seen his ideas brought to life for global audiences, he truly knows that words have the power to move people. Today, as co-founder of Library Collective – a Los Angeles based advertising agency focused on telling real people stories, Jed nurtures the next generation of storytellers by co-authoring innovative marketing campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands.
Chantel Tsvetu
Chantel is a lover of all things arts based in Vancouver, BC. Growing up loving “library time,” she strongly believes in the power of words to change lives. Chantel gravitates towards roles and projects that positively shape narratives, building better connections between people and communities. She studied broadcasting and online journalism at British Columbia Institute of Technology. When not consuming media reflecting society and culture, she enjoys staying active and taking in BC’s beautiful nature.