2/15/2017 0 Comments The Snowy Day1962, Written & Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats Caldecott Medal (1963) The Snowy Day is about the magic and possibilities of an overnight snowfall in the city. Written in 1962, it was the first picturebook to feature a black boy (named Peter) as the main character. Peter's various winter adventures (snow angel, sliding down a hill, making tracks in the snow, building a snowman, etc) make it a great book to read when teaching young children about winter. The plot-point of the disappearing snowball is a good tool to discuss the concept of melting. I also like the element of self-reflection when Peter thinks about his day in the bathtub. The Snowy Day an essential read for every Early Childhood classroom. The simple concept and prose makes it accessible to a variety of student levels. And as one of the few picturebooks featuring a black boy, it serves as a mirror for a population that does not often get one. I personally have witnessed one of my black male four year old students expressing his happiness that we were reading The Snowy Day in class because, as he said, "Peter looks like me." The Snowy Day is a classic for a reason, and I think would have universal appeal. Resources:
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