Keats, Ezra Jack

The Snowy Day

The Snowy Day, a 1963 Caldecott Medal winner, is the simple tale of a boy waking up to discover that snow has fallen during the night. Keats's illustrations, using cut-outs, watercolors, and collage, are strikingly beautiful in their understated color and composition. The tranquil story mirrors the calm presence of the paintings, and both exude the silence of a freshly snow-covered landscape. The little boy celebrates the snow-draped city with a day of humble adventures--experimenting with footprints, knocking snow from a tree, creating snow angels, and trying to save a snowball for the next day. Awakening to a winter wonderland is an ageless, ever-magical experience, and one made nearly visceral by Keats's gentle tribute.

The book is notable not only for its lovely artwork and tone, but also for its importance as a trailblazer. According to Horn Book magazine, The Snowy Day was "the very first full-color picture book to feature a small black hero"--yet another reason to add this classic to your shelves. It's as unique and special as a snowflake.

No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favorite of millions, as it reveals a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever.

Peter's Chair

Generations of children have read, re-read, and loved Ezra Jack Keats's award-winning, classic stories about Peter and his neighborhood friends. Now, for the first time, Peter's Chair, A Letter to Amy, and Goggles! are available in paperback exclusively from Puffin.
"A more charming or contemporary child than Peter...is hard to bring to mind." -- Library Journal

Pet Show! (Picture Puffins)

Everyone is talking about the neighborhood pet show, and Archie can't wait. His friends are bringing dogs and birds, and he is going to enter the cat who lives near by. But when it's time to go, the cat is nowhere to be found. The contest is about to start. What can Archie do?

"The succinct, satisfying story is illustrated with vibrant, brilliantly colored paintings." (Booklist)

A Letter to Amy (Picture Puffin)

Generations of children have read, re-read, and loved Ezra Jack Keats's award-winning, classic stories about Peter and his neighborhood friends. Now, for the first time, Peter's Chair, A Letter to Amy, and Goggles! are available in paperback exclusively from Puffin. "A master of ingenious collages, [Keats] has made brilliant variegated pictures..." -- The Horn Book Ezra Jack Keats (1916-1983) was the beloved author and/or illustrator of over eighty-five books for children.

Over in the Meadow (Picture Books)

Welcome to a lush meadow bustling with activity, where one turtle digs, two fish swim, three bluebirds sing, and so on to ten fireflies that shine in the night. Keats's collage-style illustrations perfectly complement this classic Appalachian counting rhyme, which is also a popular song for toddlers.

Whistle for Willie

When Whistle for Willie was first published in 1964, The New York Times wrote Mr. Keats' illustrations boldly, colorfully capture the child, his city world. and the shimmering heat of a summer's day. Now the story of Peter, who longs to whistle for his dog, is accessible to even the youngest child in a durable board book edition, with reinforced pages, a handy trim size, and safe, rounded corners. Ezra Jack Keats, who died in 1983, was the award-winning author of such children's favorites as The Snowy Day, which won the Caldecott Medal, and Goggles, a Caldecott Honor Book.

Goggles (Picture Puffin)

Generations of children have read, re-read, and loved Ezra Jack Keats's award-winning, classic stories about Peter and his neighborhood friends. Now, for the first time, Peter's Chair, A Letter to Amy, and Goggles! are available in paperback exclusively from Puffin. A well-loved character, a familiar childhood situation, and an urban setting are the components of this winning picture book, one of Keats's best. -- Booklist Ezra Jack Keats (19161983) was the beloved author and/or illustrator of over eighty-five books for children.

Jennie's Hat (Picture Puffins)

Jennie's favorite aunt is sending her a new hat, and Jennie is sure it will be beautiful. But when the box arrives, the hat inside is very plain. She had imagined a wonderful hat with big colorful flowers and even tries to make her own hat from a straw basket! Jennie is almost ready to give up on her dream when she receives a fanciful surprise from some very special friends. Ezra Jack Keats's timelessly charming illustrations will leave readers wishing for a dream hat of their own.

Dreams

Roberto is excited about the paper mouse he made in school, until Amy asks, "Does it do anything?" Roberto isn't sure, so he leaves the mouse on his window sill and goes to bed. Before long his apartment building is quiet, but Roberto can't fall asleep. So he gets up to look out the window and sees Archie's cat being chased by a big, snarling dog! Roberto doesn't know what to do, but fate steps in and an unlikely hero comes to the cat's rescue.

"...a combination of acrylic painting and collage has never been more effectively employed than in this quiet tale." -The Horn Book

Regards To The Man In The Moon (Reading Rainbow Book)

Louie's unhappy because the other kids call his father "the junkman." But his father knows that it's not just junk: "All a person needs is some imagination! And a little of that stuff can take you right out of this world!"

So Louie builds the Imagination I, a spaceship fueled entirely by imagination -- and blasts off into an adventure that will dazzle children and adults alike.