Picture Books: The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day

By Ezra Jack Keats

Keats, Ezra Jack. The Snowy Day. New York, NY: Puffin Books, 1976. ISBN 9780613925013

Plot Summary

One winter morning, Peter wakes up to find that snow has covered the city as far as he can see. He dons his snowsuit and rushes outside to explore. His feet make a crunching sound as he walks, dragging a stick through the snow. He watches the older boys have a snowball fight, builds a snowman and snow angels, and climbs a huge mountain of snow before sliding down again. As he walks home, he grabs a handful of snow to put in his pocket so that he can play with it tomorrow. At home, he tells his mother about all of his adventures as he gets ready for bed. Before he goes to sleep, he checks his pocket to find his snowball is missing! He dreams that the sun melts all of the snow away, but when he wakes he finds that the snow is still there and continues to fall. He goes across the hall to get his friend and they go out exploring together.

Analysis

Ezra Jack Keats, who wrote and illustrated this book, blends the story with the illustrations by formatting the text to match what is happening in the story. For example, when Peter drags his feet slowly through the snow, Keats draws out the word "slowly". When Peter is seen dragging something else through the snow, readers do not find out what this is until they turn the page and see that it is a stick that he found. Keats uses a stark contrast between the colors of the city and the snow that Peter sees. Peter's snowsuit is a bright red, making it easy for readers to follow his adventures. Peter and the city are drawn using sharp lines while the snow is full of curves and dips. With a book about snow, readers might expect to feel cold when reading, but that is not the case with this story. Keats has created a story that is warm and comforting, and reminds older readers of when they were children playing in the snow. Younger readers who may not have had the opportunity to do so are presented with illustrations that demonstrate the experience. This book was the first children's picture book with an African American protagonist to win a major book award, and it continues to be a timeless classic full of nostalgic wonder.

Awards

Caldecott Medal - 1963

New York Public Library - Books of the Century

Connections

There are seven total books that follow Peter as he grows older. These books show how Peter deals with having pets, a new baby sister, inviting a girl named Amy to his birthday party, and adventures with his friends.