The Friends of Johnson County Library are celebrating National Friends of Libraries Week (October 16-22, 2022) by presenting the winners of the annual Contest to the Library’s Board of Directors and to our community.
“They’re so creative,” exclaims Friends president Chris Meier, “and the best way to keep your place in your favorite book. I enjoy seeing all of the submissions each year, it is so hard to select the winners. We love giving creative people of all ages a chance to engage with our excellent Library system through this unique opportunity.”
This year, the Friends are pleased to announce two creative families among our winners! Zac Brooks and his son Xander, of Westwood, and siblings Paisley and Sailor Buller of Overland Park, were selected in our random, name-free jurying process. This is an exciting coincidence new to the 30+ year history of the contest!
The annual competition is generously supported by the Friends of Johnson County Library. This year, the contest accepted more than 200 original illustrations in seven age categories from Preschool to Grown Up.
Jurors for the event included Friends of Johnson County Library board members and Johnson County Library Youth Service librarians. The winning 20 illustrations will be printed as bookmarks and distributed during the year at the 14 branches of the Johnson County Library and at the Friends Pop-Up book sales. More than 6000 bookmarks will find homes between pages by this time next year.
Kindergarten and Pre-K
Ella Cillessen, Our Lady’s Montessori School
Miles Haddix, Monarch Montessori School
Dom Kirkland, Village on Mission Preschool
Grades 1 + 2
Xander Brooks, Westwood View Elementary School
Nichole Lambert, Oak Hill Elementary School
Zoie Mota, John Paul II Catholic School
Grades 3 + 4
Finley Aulbur, Valley Park Elementary School
Paisley Buller, Timber Creek Elementary School
Anna Burris, Curé of Ars Catholic School
Grades 5 + 6
Lyla Everett, Homeschool
Natalie Johnson, Homeschool
Grades 7 + 8
Joanna Behrens, Hocker Grove Middle School
Sailor Buller, Aubry Bend Middle School
Isa Huckins, John Paul II Catholic School
Siena Roper, North Star Academy
Grades 9 – 12
Madeline Wiser, Homeschool
Grown Ups
Zac Brooks, Westwood, KS
Kelly Downs, Olathe, KS
Kevin Gritzke, Overland Park, KS
Liz Vargas, Overland Park, KS