An Illustrator’s Illustrious Award
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The Ezra Jack Keats Award encourages early talent and promotes the creation of outstanding diverse literature for children. The winning author and illustrator each receive the EJK medallion suspended in lucite and shiny medallion book seals are affixed on the cover of all winning books. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Gonzales)
The story takes place in an apartment building where families of different ethnicities reside, all making the bread of their heritage. The reader engages with the pages to guess what kind of bread is being made based on the ingredients and tools laid out on the table – challah, focaccia, or arepas, perhaps? The techniques may differ, but what is common is that the whole family is involved. In the end, there is a potluck where everyone gets to break bread and taste the handiwork of their neighbors.
Filipino Canadian illustrator Sarah Gonzales is the winner of the 2024 Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Gonzales)
The Only Way to Make Bread is written by Colombian Canadian Cristina Quintero, who says, “I was looking for a way to bring people of different perspectives to the ‘table,’ and bread was the perfect medium since literally almost every culture has one. I hope readers remember that building respectful communities are key to our mutual success. If we are ever only looking at our neighbors to ensure they have enough, and if we all do that, we could pretty much solve every major issue we're facing as a society.”
The Ezra Jack Keats Award nurtures early career illustrators and writers who create books that mirror our diverse population, the universal experience of childhood, and the strength of family and community.
Just as Cristina was delighted with Sarah’s illustrations, she was equally pleased with the honor the book has received. “Sarah just won one of the most prestigious awards for a North American illustrator for this book! She and I had a shared understanding of culture, community, and the bonds of familial love, and she very clearly conveyed that to the reader.”
An Immigration Story
Sarah Gonzales was born in Saudi Arabia, grew up in Alberta, Canada, and is now based in Montreal, Quebec. She recalls, “My parents lived and worked in Riyadh for about 15 years. That’s where they met, had four kids, and it provided greater financial opportunity compared to the Philippines. Our application took years to process because it was submitted during the Gulf War and shuffled between Kuwait and Egypt.”
The Gonzales Family at home in Edmonton, Canada. From top left to right: Ginny, mom Virginia, and dad Jerry. From bottom left to right: Sarah, Abegail, and Joseph. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Gonzales)
When she talks to her parents about the experience, “It’s all a matter of fact, but to me it sounded stressful: juggling four kids, their jobs, sending money to the Philippines, all while navigating a different country. They went through a lot, but they did it because they wanted a better life for us. Thankfully an uncle based in Toronto petitioned for us. When our papers were approved, we packed our belongings and immigrated to Canada.”
Now that she’s away from her family who are in Calgary, she stays connected with them over the phone. “Hearing Tagalog and their voices puts me at peace. When I’m in their presence, I feel a sense of belonging and nostalgia. Another link is through food! When I’m able to cook Filipino food, I love making nilaga (boiled beef soup) and bistek (Filipino-style beef steak). I’ve also connected with the Filipino community here,” Sarah continues
Since immigrating to Canada, she has visited the Philippines twice with her parents. “When we went this past February, I enjoyed walking through the palengkes (markets). There was a guy selling fresh puto bumbong (purple rice cake) and it was so good! Although my Tagalog is super rough, it was fun bargaining for deals on various handicrafts like the parol (Christmas lantern) and batik (wax dyed fabric).”
Art Is in the Heart
Sarah took to art naturally but felt conflicted with societal expectations. When she was a kid, she wanted to be an artist but didn’t know how she could pursue a career in art. One of the roadblocks was family expectations and income security. “Most of my family worked in healthcare. My dad was a nurse, and my mom was a medical lab technician. My siblings were studying nursing, dentistry, and optometry. In the back of my head, I sort of felt an expectation,” she recounts.
Illustrator Sarah Gonzales' work space in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by AC Tagubar)
At family gatherings, her relatives would ask what she was going to do after high school. Her default answer was, “I was thinking of an undergrad in Bio Sciences.” At the time, she felt a little embarrassed saying she was considering art as a career path.
“Nobody in my family fully understood art as a career. Their advice was, “Go into a career that’s more financially stable and do art as a hobby.” They were focused on having a respectable job that provided enough for their families. “There were times I felt selfish for it, even to this day. In retrospect, I think my biggest obstacle was myself. My mind was so lost, I felt a deep uncertainty about the future.”
Despite all of this, she continued to create. A pencil in hand with blank paper in front of her was her “happy place.”
The initial sketches for "The Only Way to Make Bread” illustrated by Sarah Gonzales. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Gonzales)
Her high school art teachers Mademoiselle Rath and Mr. Barth nurtured her love for painting and drawing. Her friend Jordan Baylon encouraged her to attend art-related events. They helped her see that there could be a bright pathway in the arts if she searched for it. Near the end of her last semester, Mr. Barth told her about the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) student competition. With only three days before the deadline, she did a quick concept sketch.
“I remember the moment of losing track of time and being in the zone. It’s one of the best feelings! This was the first time I stayed up until two in the morning during a school night. I finished the piece and submitted on time.”
On the day of the exhibition, there were about 50 artworks selected from all over Alberta. “When they announced my name as one of the winners, I couldn’t believe it! The prize was a first-year full tuition scholarship, plus matching funding for my high school arts program. My family was by my side and my shackles were finally off. It was a magical day and I felt like I was on the right path. My parents were starting to think so, too. Through the years, they continued to trust and support me no matter what.”
Sarah went to university at ACAD with a degree in Visual Communication Design. While there, she did a project with the student-run Marion Nicoll Gallery. She had always wanted to do a gallery show. “The concept was based on what I was super into at the time – eating ramen. In a matter of months, I created 12 pieces for the show.”
This passion project created ripple effects of opportunities. It led her to showcasing it through the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition Program and her first job as a concept artist at Square Enix Montreal (a video game developer). It helped launch her into picture book projects.
“After graduating, I left my parents’ nest and moved to Montreal. Although I didn’t expect to be working in video games after art school, I learned so much about creating concept art and working with a team. This part of my life was an important process to become who I am today as an artist. Even though I regularly question everything, there was something about living and working in Montreal that felt like home and that I chose correctly.”
While working for an indie game studio, an editor from HarperCollins Publishers sent her an e-mail. Back then, her online portfolio was a mix of editorial and personal illustrations, so she was surprised when she was offered a potential children’s book project. That book happened to be about a Filipino American immigration experience (Maribel’s Year by Michelle Sterling) and one that Sarah could closely relate to.
"Maribel’s Year," written by Filipino American Michelle Sterling, was the very first book Sarah Gonzales illustrated. "The story is about a Filipino American immigration experience and one that I could closely relate to,” exclaims Sarah. (Photo by Claire Mercado-Obias)
“It was a dream story to illustrate, and it was a dream to illustrate picture books. I’m beyond grateful they took a chance on me. Around that time, my now agent, Alexandra Levick, reached out to represent me and has steadily guided me through all my questions and contracts. I will forever be thankful for all the people that believed in my work from the beginning.”
An Award for the Artist
Winning the 2024 Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award was a surprise to Sarah. She wasn’t aware that her publisher (Penguin Random House) submitted The Only Way to Make Bread as an entry.
2024 Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award Winner Sarah Gonzales receiving her trophy at The Kaigler Children’s Book Festival in Mississippi last April. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Gonzales)
“I had no idea! I was in complete shock,” she exclaims. “I called my parents and they were so proud. During the awards ceremony at the Kaigler Book Festival in Mississippi last April, they were by my side, and we were welcomed with such kind and loving hands. It was an honor to meet everyone and celebrate together! Those are memories I’ll cherish in my heart forever. I’m at a loss for words whenever I think about it.”
Alexandra Levick, Sarah’s agent, says, “This award is a huge deal not only because it honors an author and illustrator early in their career, which can be pivotal in helping to break them out, but because it honors diverse representation in our picture books. It is vital that we support books that are true to our communities, that allow kids of color, and disabled children, and queer children to be the hero of their own story, but it is also vital that we celebrate their creators — the artists of color, the disabled artists, the queer artists – and give them a platform so they may continue to create and share their work with the world.”
By taking chances, having a solid support team, and following the creative pull from within, Sarah Gonzales is validation that one can make a living, and a life, with art.
Levick only has praises for Sarah, exclaiming, “You could immediately tell she was an artist who had something to say, but more than that she had something she wanted to make you feel. Sarah’s use of color and texture, her choice of lighting, along with her depictions of the most vivid settings caught my attention right away. It’s been a true privilege to work with Sarah and I firmly believe this is only the beginning for her!”
By taking chances, having a solid support team, and following the creative pull from within, Sarah Gonzales is validation that one can make a living, and a life, with art.
HOW TO MAKE PANDESAL
The Only Way to Make Bread is a children’s book by Colombian Canadian Cristina Quintero. It is a peek into how different cultures make bread. The method and ingredients may vary but what matters is that it’s made with a respect for tradition and kneaded with lots of love.
The book was illustrated by Filipino Canadian Sarah Gonzales, whose prowess with her colored pencils yielded lively images like golden brown bread rolls that you can almost smell and taste. It’s no surprise that she is the recipient of the 2024 Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award.
The book contains a recipe for Pandesal or Pan de Sal, a beloved Filipino bread roll. They are soft, fluffy, and are often eaten for breakfast. The Filipino family scenes in the book were inspired by Sarah’s titas (aunties) who loved making fresh Pandesal at family parties. Her Tita Paz likes to add her own fillings like cheese, ube (purple yam), and yema (a soft candy made of sugar, egg yolk and milk).
Sarah recounts, “The first time I ever made Pandesal was after completing the art for this book. My Ate Abby (older sister) and I made it together. It was so fun to make, but it was a lot of work and waiting time. In the end they turned out like dense rocks. Surprisingly my niece and nephew loved it! But maybe because they ate it with lots of peanut butter and jam.”
Adapted from kawalingpinoy.com and printed with permission from Tundra Books/Penguin Random House.
"The Only Way to Make Bread” written by Cristina Quintero and illustrated by Sarah Gonzales includes some bread recipes like Pandesal. (Photo by Claire Mercado-Obias)
Ingredients:
¼ cup warm water
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
1 cup mixture of ½ warm water and ½ warm milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 eggs, beaten
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 ¼ cups flour
¼ cup flour for kneading (or as needed)
Breadcrumbs, for coating
Procedure:
In a big bowl, mix the yeast together with ¼ cup warm water. Let stand for 10 minutes or until the mixture has bubbles on top.
In another bowl, combine the water and milk mixture, butter, eggs, sugar, and salt, stirring it all together.
Add this combination and 2 cups flour to the yeast mixture. Using a wooden spoon or electric mixer, combine until smooth. Gradually stir in 2 ¼ cups flour.
Transfer dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough, adding the ¼ cup flour gradually, if needed, until it’s smooth, elastic and no longer sticky (about 10 minutes).
Place dough in a large, lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until it has doubled in size, about 1-2 hours.
Once it has risen, place dough on a lightly floured surface and divide into 24 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball, coat in breadcrumbs and place on a lightly greased baking tray.
Cover with a damp cloth and let the buns rise again until double in size, about 1-1 ½ hours.
In an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius), bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and enjoy your Pandesal warm.
Claire Mercado-Obias is a writer, food stylist and pastry chef based in New Jersey.
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