The Snowy Day

Keats, E. J. (1962). The Snowy Day. Penguin Young Readers Group. ISBN 0670654000

The Snowy Day follows a young boy, Peter, who wakes up to a world of snow. His adventures lead him through a day filled with adventure and discovery. That evening, when he is ready for bed, he finds that the snowball he had kept in his pocket was gone. He dreams that night that all the snow has melted away. To his delight, when he wakes in the morning the ground is covered in white and there is new snow falling.

This book was Keats first book that he both wrote and illustrated. The young boy he depicts was inspired by a photo from Life magazine. He wanted to capture the wonder and surprise that children tend to be open to. The writing is sweet and clear. At one point in the story, Peter wants to join in a snowball fight, but realizes that he’s not big enough yet to play with the big boys. It doesn’t stop him as he continues to enjoy and discover the snow on his own. This is a story of independence and joy.

The illustrations for this story are colorful and add to the innocence the book portrays. I especially enjoy the unique shape of Peter’s hood and the impression it leaves in the snow when he makes a snow angel.

I would recommend this book for any age, but especially young children just spreading their wings for outside adventures.

Book Review Excerpts:

“The journey of Peter through a snowbound New York City made for a milestone: as a successful children's story focused on a black protagonist, it broke down barriers many white editors may have never noticed. But Ezra Jack Keats' book is memorable too for the sheer beauty of its collage illustrations.”
Top 10: Children. By: D'addario, Daniel, TIME Magazine, 1/19/2015, Vol. 185, Issue 1

“The Snowy Day paints a picture of a Black kid immersed in his enjoyment of the outdoors long before other white writers and illustrators of Keats's time saw a need for this portrayal.”
Black Kids Camp, Too...Don't They? By: Martin, Michelle H., Horn Book Magazine, 00185078, Sep/Oct2019, Vol. 95, Issue 5

Connections:

-This book could be part of a larger study of race in children’s books. Peter is an unusual main character considering the publication date in 1962.

-Peter’s sense of adventure and discovery is a great model for children. This could be part of a young child’s learning to explore and entertain themselves in nature.

Awards:

Caldecott Medal, 1963

This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5360.