It was embraced by parents, teachers and children of all colors - and eventually the criticism subsided. It won the Caldecott Medal, given to outstanding picture books.

'But was he trying to make a cause book, was he trying to make a point? No.'īut The Snowy Day became a huge hit. 'He said, well, all the books he had ever illustrated, there had never been a child of color, and they're out there - they should be in the books, too,' Pope says. But Pope says Keats - who was white - wasn't necessarily trying to make a statement about race when he created Peter. Peter was among the first non-caricatured African-Americans to be featured in a major children's book. 'The point is that this is a beautiful book about a child's encounter with snow, and the wonder of it,' Pope says. Pope is the executive director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. It wasn't the point,' Deborah Pope tells weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz. And, though this is never mentioned in the text, Peter is African-American. Peter has a red snowsuit, a stick just right for knocking snow off of trees, and a snowball in his pocket. Peter is the hero of the classic children's book by Ezra Jack Keats, The Snowy Day, which turns 50 this year. One morning many years ago, a little boy in Brooklyn named Peter woke up to an amazing sight: fresh snow. Your purchase helps support NPR programming. 'Ezra Jack Keats's classic The Snowy Day, winner of the 1963 Caldecott Medal, pays homage to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow.Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title The Snowy Day Subtitle 50th Anniversary Edition Author Ezra Jack Keats Perhaps the busyness of daily life in the 21st century makes us appreciate Peter even more-a kid who has the luxury of a whole day to just be outside, surrounded by snow that’s begging to be enjoyed.” - The Atlantic

“Keats made Peter’s world so inviting that it beckons us. (This book is also available in Spanish, as Un dia de nieve.) The quiet fun and sweetness of Peter’s small adventures in the deep, deep snow is perfect for reading together on a cozy winter day.Įzra Jack Keats was also the creator of such classics as Goggles, A Letter to Amy, Pet Show!, Peter’s Chair, and A Whistle for Willie. Universal in its appeal, this story beautifully depicts a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. In 1962, a little boy named Peter put on his snowsuit and stepped out of his house and into the hearts of millions of readers. New York Public Library's #1 book on the list of “Top Check Outs of All Time” This celebrated classic has been shared by generations of readers and listeners, a must-have for every child’s bookshelf and a perfect gift for the holiday season. The magic and wonder of winter’s first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat’s Caldecott Medal-winning picture book.

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