Snowfall is usually an exciting time for children. While looking out their windows, they see the snow drifting down out of the heavens. If this happens on the night before a school day, they eagerly hope that school might be cancelled due to the weather. If that happy event occurs, children begin thinking of many exciting games to play in the cold, crisp air. These include sled riding, ice skating and snow ball fights. As long as the temperature is somewhat moderate, the day will be filled with adventures. The famous author, Ezra Jack Keats, has written a classic account of one such day. This delightful story recounts the enjoyable winter activities of a young boy named Peter. The name of this award winning book is "The Snowy Day."
Young Peter wakes up and looks outside his window. Much to his delight, the entire neighborhood is covered in a thick snow. The boy is attracted by the wonder of this white blanket and quickly decides to play in the winter wonderland. After breakfast, Peter dresses for the weather and hurries out his front door. The snow has piled up all around the house. His mind fills with the many adventures he can have in this frosty world. He begins by dragging his feet and making various designs in the snow. So pleased is Peter with the patterns that he throws himself into a snowdrift and rotates his arms to make a snow angel. Looking up ahead, he sees an inviting hill and decides to slide all the way to the bottom. This is an exhilarating feeling for the young boy. But the day is getting late and it is time to go home. When he arrives safe and sound, his mother is waiting for him. Peter tells his mother of his many adventures and she runs a hot bath for him. That night Peter dreams that the sun has melted all the snow, but when he wakes up he looks out and sees that the snow is still falling. Happily he jumps up, goes across the hall and asks his friend to join him for another winter adventure. They head out.
Have you ever had adventures like Peter on a snowy day? Did you have as much fun as he did? Do you like sled riding? Have you ever thrown a snowball? To find out all the things that Peter did on his snowy adventures, go to the library and check out "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats.
This classic title still brings joy to young children. Though it will not seem unusual today, in 1962 it was one of the first children’s books to use an African American child as a protagonist. In this sense, Ezra Jack Keats created a new world for minority characters in picture books. Besides being a delightful book to read to children, this new world of positive minority characters was an important contribution to American culture by Keats. I hope you get a chance to read this lovely title to a child you love. It is a beautiful story. Enjoy!
