In a year marked by record participation and remarkable talent, the Ripple Foundation’s 2025 Kids Write 4 Kids (KW4K) contest has proudly named two outstanding winners: Firdaus El-Darymli, a Grade 8 student from Ottawa, Ontario, and Isabel Roscoe, a Grade 8 student from Edmonton, Alberta. Their imaginative works – The Legend of the Paper Cranes and Memoirs of a Tree Lord, respectively – will now be published both in print and digital formats, joining a celebrated tradition of young Canadian authors who have launched their literary journeys through KW4K.

Chosen from a pool of 648 submissions from 354 schools across nine provinces and one territory, the 2025 contest was one of the most competitive to date. A seasoned panel of judges, including professional authors, editors, publishers, and past winners, narrowed the field to ten exceptional finalists. Each entry was assessed based on creativity, originality, story structure, and writing quality – criteria that Firdaus and Isabel met with impressive mastery.

Beyond the personal achievement of being published, both winners have chosen to make a meaningful impact by donating 100% of their book sale proceeds to First Book Canada, a nonprofit dedicated to removing barriers to equitable education for children in low-income communities. This choice underscores the broader ethos behind the KW4K initiative: fostering not only literary talent but also compassion, civic awareness, and social responsibility.

The winning books will be available for purchase on major platforms such as Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks, and Overdrive. All links and updates can be accessed through the program’s official website at kidswrite4kids.ripplefoundation.ca/book. In a special collaboration, Ali Brew, a 2025 graduate of the Sheridan College Illustrator Program, has volunteered her artistic talents to create the cover illustrations for the books. Her distinctive visual style promises to enhance the storytelling experience and bring an additional layer of creativity to the works.

Ripple Foundation founder Ivy Wong expressed immense pride in this year’s turnout and talent:

“Each entry we received was a testament to the fantastic imagination and creativity of young writers across Canada. We were delighted with the amount of talent we saw from students this year. Congratulations to Firdaus and Isabel for winning this year’s contest – this achievement is undoubtedly just the beginning of many more to come!”

Launched in 2012, the Kids Write 4 Kids contest has become a powerful platform for young voices, discovering over 25 published authors and receiving more than 4,944 submissions to date. It remains a vibrant and inspiring space for youth in Grades 4 through 8 to explore storytelling, develop confidence, and share their perspectives with the world.

The 2025 winners reaffirm that Canada’s literary future is in capable and imaginative hands. As Firdaus and Isabel take their first steps into the world of publishing, they also lead by example – demonstrating how creativity, generosity, and purpose can come together to make stories that matter.