Ezra Jack Keats, Author
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Keats, Ezra Jack. 1962. THE SNOWY DAY. Ill. by Ezra Jack Keats. New York: Viking Press. ISBN 9780670654000.
2. PLOT SUMMARY
Peter wakes up to find that snow has fallen overnight in his neighborhood. In excitement, he puts on his red snowsuit and ventures outside to explore the fallen snow. He makes tracks in different directions and finds a stick that helps him knock snow off the tree. As he continues on his journey, he watches the older children have a snowball fight and decides to build a snowman, make snow angels, and save some snow for the next day in his pocket. When he returns home, he tells his mom about his adventure, ponders, and checks his pocket for the snow. To his sad surprise, the snow has melted, and he dreams that the sun has melted all the snow outside. However, when morning breaks, he finds that more snow has fallen and enjoys a new day of adventures with a friend.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Snowy Day is a gentle recount of a child’s experience with a snow day. Peter goes about his day enjoying the small discoveries such as footprints, snow angels, the disappointment of melting snow, and the excitement of waking up to a world of white and cold. It is a quiet book that does not overwhelm the reader, but rather allows them to enjoy the simplicity of seeing life through a child’s eyes.
The illustrators are the main characters as they communicate the beauty and coldness of snow, but also the warmth of the sun as it melts the ice. Peter stands out in his beautiful red snow suit amongst the white blankets of snow. The author also uses words to imitate the crunch of snow or the plopping of the snow that fell on Peter.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Winner of the 1963 Caldecott Medal
The Horn Book: “In this book sparkling with atmosphere, a small boy experiences the joys of a snowy day. The brief, vividly expressed text points out his new awareness”
Publisher’s Weekly: “pays homage to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow.”
5. CONNECTIONS
Books on Snow:
Glaser, Linda & Swan, Susan. It’s Winter! ISBN 0761316809
Fleming, Denise. The First Day of Winter. ISBN 0312371388
Branley, Franklyn M. & Keller, Holly. Snow is Falling. ISBN 0064451864
The Literary Compass 