In honor of my upcoming Blogoversary, here is my very first post. Again. I’m so proud!
One of my earliest recollections of books is The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats. I’m sure I’ve read it a million and half times since. How delightful it was (and still is) to read a book and see a child who resembles me! Back then I don’t recall there being too many books with children any color other than white. Currently, the situation has improved but still can make more improvements. Not only is The Snowy Day a wonderful book because it features a child of color, it is also a wonderful book because the story is gently told, easy to read, and visually appealing. The story appeals to children of all ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds because any child can find something about the story to relate to. Perhaps the child is preschool age and they can relate to young Peter’s discoveries outside by himself because he’s a big boy. Older children can relate to the story because the words are easy enough for them to read for themselves. Other children might be able to relate because they’ve made snow angels or because they live in an apartment like Peter or because their mother’s make them take a bath after playing outside. I believe the possibilities of comparison are limitless.
The story appeals to children of all ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds because any child can find something about the story to relate to. Perhaps the child is preschool age and they can relate to young Peter’s discoveries outside by himself because he’s a big boy. Older children can relate to the story because the words are easy enough for them to read for themselves. Other children might be able to relate because they’ve made snow angels or because they live in an apartment like Peter or because their mother’s make them take a bath after playing outside. I believe the possibilities of comparison are limitless.
How shocked I am to discover that Ezra Jack Keats was not African American! I never bothered to check the author’s ethnicity because I just assumed he was African American given the multicultural nature of his books. Keats, in fact, is of Jewish descent and grew up in Depression Era New York City. It is perhaps this upbringing that helped Keats understand the plight of the non-mainstream child.
If it’s been a while since you’ve looked at this book, pull it out and enjoy it, I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.
