Toronto, ON (January 10, 2025): Ripple Foundation – Canada’s national youth education charity nurturing the next generation’s creativity – has revealed the 12 people who will pick the winner of the 2025 Kids Write 4 Kids creative writing challenge.

The competition, open to those in grades four to eight, provides winners the opportunity to become a published author, with book sale proceeds donated to a charity of their choice. Aspiring authors must submit their original creative writing work by March 31, 2025.

Joining last year’s winners, Alina Xiao and Myah Rathi Litteljohn, the judges this year include:

• Jerry Levy: 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 and has taught creative writing at The Life Institute.
• Tony Weaver, Jr: Award-winning writer, educator, and influencer with an audience of over half a million on TikTok. He founded Weird Enough, a social impact organization using graphic novels to promote self-awareness, social responsibility, and agency in students.
• Nicki Paupreto: Award-winning and internationally bestselling author living just outside of Toronto. Author of the Crown of Feathers trilogy, the House of the Dead duology, and The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents
• Anne Uebbing: Owner of Kinder Books, an independent children’s bookstore in New Westminster, BC.
• Sarena and Sasha Nanua: 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.
• Jed Churcher: Co-founder of Library Collective – a Los Angeles based advertising agency focused on telling real people’s stories – with a 25-year career in advertising in both the US and Canada.

Ivy Wong, Founder of Ripple Foundation said: “I’m delighted that this incredible line-up of creative minds will be selecting the winner of Kids Write 4 Kids this year. This group of experts will read through the wealth of stories from the next generation of writing talent across Canada so it’s a fantastic opportunity for any aspiring authors. With only a couple of months left to enter, we really encourage all young writers to put themselves forward for a chance to become published and make a difference to life-changing philanthropic causes.”

Alina and Myah donated their book sale proceeds to Childhood Cancer Canada.

Winners’ works will be published in paperback and ebook editions and available on Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBookstore and Overdrive in summer 2025.Full details on the judges can be found here: Judging Panel – Ripple Foundation

To learn more about Kids Write 4 Kids, please visit: ripplefoundation.ca/contest/