The Snowy Day
Ezra Jack Keats Β· 1962
Age 4-5F&P J
π Caldecott Medal (1963)π ALA Notable Children's Bookπ The Atlantic 65 Essential (2025)
View on Open Library βAbout This Book
Peter wakes up to find snow covering everything outside. He spends the day making tracks, knocking snow off trees, and trying to save a snowball in his pocket. Keats' collage illustrations are iconic.
Why This Age
First Caldecott Medal for an African American protagonist. The quiet, sensory-rich narrative matches how 4-5 year olds experience the world β through touch, sound, and wonder.
How to Use
- After a snowfall, reenact Peter's activities: making tracks, snow angels
- Talk about what happened to the snowball in Peter's pocket (melting = science!)
- Notice the collage technique in the illustrations