The Snowy Day

It is a snowy day and the kids do snowy day things. How excited you feel about that will presumably directly correlate with your level of childhood snowy day nostalgia. Also, I hate that I need to mention that the main kid is black like that's a big showy point in this book's favour, but it is because the kids' book world is whiter than a snowy day man.

Waking up one wintry morning to a world covered in snow, young Peter puts on his red snowsuit in this iconic picture book from 1962, heading out to spend a day playing in a city transformed. Crunching through the snow and making various tracks, hitting a tree with a stick to dislodge the snow, making a snowman and snow angels, sliding down snowy hills—there were many things he did before heading home...

A childhood favorite of many friends, The Snowy Day is one of those books I have always known about—it won the Caldecott Medal in 1963, and is considered a ground-breaking title for its depiction of a young African American boy and his day of fun—but never actually read as a child. I suspect that, had I done so, it would have been a show more favorite. I too loved to play outside in the snow, and could spend hours amusing myself. I thought the artwork here, unsurprisingly, given the accolades it won, was lovely: simple but charming, with wonderful use of color and form. I loved the pinkish-blueish snowflakes! All in all, a wonderful book, one deserving of its status as a classic, that I would recommend to all picture book audiences looking for wintry tales. show less

A young boy in the city wakes to a world covered in snow. He grabs his snowsuit and heads outside, where he is continually delighted by what he sees and feels.

Ezra Jack Keats noticed a lack of children’s books that depicted the kids of his Brooklyn neighborhood, and so began the “Peter” series, featuring this delightful little boy. When the book was first published in 1962, there weren’t many (or any?) children’s picture books depicting African American families. But this is a universal story. All children delight in that first snowfall, in making different tracks in the snow, poking at a tree with a stick, making a snowman, “saving” a snowball, making snow angels, etc.

I was completely caught up in Peter’s adventures. show more How even a change in the way he walks to produce different footprint patterns intrigues him and captures his imagination. I get the sense of wonder and the desire to be “bigger” so he can get into a snowball fight like the older kids. I also love the tender scene with his mother when she helps him off with his wet clothes and gets him into a warm bath (complete with sailboat and rubber duckie).

The illustrations earned Keats a Caldecott Medal. They are bright and cheerful, and Peter’s red snowsuit stands out in each frame. show less

The Snowy Day is a soft and simple picture book about a little boy named Peter, who wakes up to find his city covered in fresh snow. Peter explores by making footprints, sliding down hills, building a snowman, and sneaking a snowball into his pocket but like snow does when its inside, it melts overnight. This surprised him the next morning. The writing is simple and it allows readers to slow down and see what Peter experiences through the pictures. The illustrations are simple as well with splashes of color, and some expressive details. What’s really interesting is how Peter finds joy in small things like crunching snow and quiet moments. I feel like these are all good lessons. Perfect for young readers who love exploring and helping show more encourage young children to enjoy the little things around them. show less

Ezra Jack Keats’ "The Snowy Day" is a beautifully simple yet a meaningful picture book that captures the wonder of childhood and the magic of a fresh snowfall. The story follows Peter, a young boy experiencing the snow-covered ground with joy and curiosity by making footprints, smacking snow off trees, and attempting to save a snowball in his pocket. The use of limited text allows readers to fully immerse themselves in Peter's adventure. The first-person limited perspective keeps the story intimate, helping readers connect with Peter’s excitement and small disappointments. Similar to the limited text the illustrations also are minimalistic so that the focus stays on Peter. Personally, I was not a huge fan of the illustrations in show more this book I think the muted colors in some places, and then bright and bold in others was throwing me off, but just personal preference. However, I did like how Keats' depicted Peter as an African American boy. Instead of showcasing him in a story about racism and making the focus around that, he is in a peaceful environment enjoying a snowy day just like any other kid would, and I really enjoyed that aspect. show less

The Snowy Day is a story about a boy named Peter who explores his neighborhood after a snowfall. This Caldecott Medal-winning picture book highlights the joy and wonders of childhood, making it great for younger readers. Although it is more suited for younger elementary students, themes such as curiosity and adventure can still resonate with middle school students when discussing the importance of observation and awareness. The book’s illustrations and limited text encourage readers to use their imagination. This is great to use for close reading and observing how an author uses simple text and illustrations to convey emotions. It could also be a start to inspire journal writing based on nature and childhood experiences.

This Caldecott medal winner perfectly captures a child's wonder as he sees the world anew under a blanket of snow. The simplicity of the illustrations and the accompanying text transport me back to my own childhood and the exhiliration of a solitary walk through unbroken snow. The timelessness of this story ensures its appeal to generation after generation of children.