Happy birthday Ezra Jack Keats! A Picture Book Exploration
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Ezra Jack Keats has charmed families for the last 63 years! When his book The Snowy Day was published, he became a household name. But who was the man behind the story and why has the story achieved such heights of popularity?
I first encountered Ezra Jack Keats when my children were very little and we were using Five in a Row curriculum. Right away I loved the decoupage style of the illustrations and the rhythm of the words. Every winter since, Ezra Jack Keats has charmed our winter days.
A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of the Snowy Day
This is one of my very favorite picture books about an author! It is a delight to read and I could linger on each page if I was not pressed to know what comes next! Andrea Davis Pinkney has outdone herself in writing this book. She beautifully weaves the story of Peter, the hero of The Snowy Day, into the life of its creator, Ezra Jack Keats, making this story a literary treasure. Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson have crafted a masterpiece in illustrations. Using their own styles while including Ezra Jack Keats’ decoupage techniques created enchanting artwork. Again, The Snowy Day and Peter are woven throughout the pictures, intertwining the creator and his creation.
Ezra Jack Keats
Born of Polish immigrant parents in Brooklyn in 1916, Ezra Jack Keats’ childhood was not an easy one. He knew what poverty, oppression and wants were. But art was in his blood, and it would not be denied. Encouraged by his father as well as his teachers, he started painting for a living in third grade! Don’t ask me how, read the book. Through life’s hardship, the loss of his father, the Great Depression, Ezra Keats fought on and hung on to his dream. And it paid off! He painted murals, he painted shop signs, he painted posters, but nowhere could his imagination soar until… Peter. His entire life burst into a poem through his first picture book. Creating a picture book like no other with a colorful hero in the city, Ezra Jack Keats brough to literature a new breath of fresh air that revolutionized the industry. Find out more and see pictures of Ezra Jack Keats here.
A revolution
Along with Gyo Fujikawa (November 2024 Booklover Booklist), Ezra Jack Keats was the very first author/illustrator to publish a children’s picture book with an African American character. This came in the midst of the Civil Rights movement and the growing demand for equality. In the midst of race riots, protests, marches and the abolition of Jim Crow Laws, The Snowy Day and Babies were a welcome sign of reconciliation. They were a bridge to a common ground and a common understanding. Keats and Fujikawa introduced equality in the picture book industry. This opened the door to many more authors and illustrators to rapidly follow suit. They paved the way for a major shift in children’s literature.
Read Aloud
I would highly recommend reading aloud The Snowy Day first if your family is not familiar with it. This will help understand A Poem for Peter much better. As I have said both picture books are wholly intertwined and it is a little difficult to read A Poem for Peter if you have never read The Snowy Day. Peter, the hero of The Snowy Day, is really the second character in A Poem for Peter, almost on equal level as Ezra Jack Keats.
Adages
On the second page, Andrea Davis Pinkney makes a reference to the saying: “If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb”. She refers to Ezra Jack Keats’ birthday in the middle of the month of March. Adages are sayings that set forth general truths and that have gained credits through long usage. You can find many of them in Mother Goose nursery rhymes and Farmer’s Almanacs. Knowing adages is part of our culture, especially when you know their origins and when to use them appropriately. “If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb” refers to the month of March’s fickle weather. March usually starts fully in winter with storms and snow (like a lion) but often ends in beautiful spring weather (like a lamb). What are some edges that you use in your family?
Narrative Style
Andrea Davis Pinkney’s narrative style in this book is so playful! I love it! There are many mysterious “he” and “you” that take us on a chase to discover who is “he” and who is “you”. This is why being familiar with The Snowy Day is a crucial part of reading A Poem for Peter. The delicate intricacies of both books resonate through this narrative style and bring the whole story to an all new level. I personally really enjoyed keeping the children guessing until the end.
Art
I love, love the fact that the art of Ezra Jack Keats is explained so simply and so clearly at the end of the book! I wish more picture books did that! How fun! Take some time to be creative with your children following the directions on page 47. This might be your last chance at a snowy landscape this year or it might already be too late. Regardless, enjoy creating an Ezra Jack Keats-type of art piece, setting it in a familiar surrounding.
Potato Knishes
This traditional New York Jewish delicious side is not as complicated as it may seem. The creativity of its fillings is also endless. A wonderful recipe to work on with children. The little dough purses and the easy filings make it a sure winner. I recommend a nice pot roast to accompany it with delicious gravy. Bon appetit!
I hope your family enjoys this picture book exploration as much as mine did! What a wonderful way to learn about an author/illustrator who changed the face of the picture book industry? All past picture book explorations are still available for free in the shop! Go and download them today!
Happy birthday Ezra Jack Keats!
Love,
Mattie
