A Poem for Peter

Starred review from October 10, 2016
This formidable biographical poem pays homage to Ezra Jack Keats while speaking to Peter, the fictional African-American hero of The Snowy Day, the story of a black boy playing in the snow, remarkable among 1960s children’s stories in which “the delight/ was all white.” Pinkney (Rhythm Ride) goes deeply into Keats’s motivations, describing how “Jacob (Jack) Ezra Katz,” a child of struggling Polish immigrants, progressed from grocery store sign painter in Brooklyn to WPA muralist to comic book artist. After his service as a draftsman in the WWII Air Force, “Ezra did something many Jews did/ when the want ads said:/ ‘No Jews Need Apply’ ” and changed his name to one that “had a nicer ring to it—for some.” Pinkney emphasizes that “Discrimination had formed Ezra’s/ understanding of what it meant to be/ different./ This also led to you, brown-sugar boy.” The character of Peter, warmly addressed as a “cocoa sprite”
who is “filled with brown-sugar whimsy,” developed from a series of photos of a child that Keats clipped from a 1930s Life magazine. Pinkney describes the snow of Peter’s day as “nature’s we-all blanket,” an inclusive force (“When Snow spreads her sheet, we all glisten”), while Fancher and Johnson (Shh! Bears Sleeping) mime Keats’s collages, creating a gentle ambience for Pinkney’s wordplay and confident voice. Though an established classic, The Snowy Day has received renewed attention from the We Need Diverse Books movement, and Pinkney’s poem sheds fascinating light on Keats’s long-lived achievement. Ages 7–10. Author’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

Starred review from September 15, 2016
A love letter to the man who gave readers the beautiful and enduring image of a black boy in a red hooded snowsuit.Pinkney, an African-American Brooklynite and a child of the 1960s, uses free verse to tell the story of the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland who settled in Brooklyn. Jacob Ezra Katz attended local schools, served in the Army during World War II, and loved to draw. He famously saw a series of photographs in Life magazine of a little black child and saved them for many years until the creation of A Snowy Day, which was awarded the Caldecott Medal in 1963. Katz, who changed his name to Keats to avoid anti-Semitism, went on to feature Peter, that "brown-sugar boy in a blanket of white," in several more ever popular stories. Fancher and Johnson's collage art is a homage to Keats', re-creating images from his books and fashioning scenes of Keats' own Brooklyn neighborhood. Those who love Peter (and who does not?) will relish the illustrations, particularly that of Keats holding hands with Peter under a snow-dappled tree. More to the point, Pinkney lets readers know what Peter meant and still means as a milestone in inclusive children's literature. "He brought a world of white / suddenly alive with color." A loving and forceful reminder that Keats' Peter is our Peter--always. (author's notes, Keats bibliography, resources, photographs) (Picture book/poetry/biography. 6-10)

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October 1, 2016

Gr 2-4-Pinkney dives into the life and work of Ezra Jack Keats, specifically focusing on The Snowy Day and his creation of the main character, Peter. Using poetry (what the author refers to as "collage verse"), mainly addressed to Peter, Pinkney pieces together Keats's biography, tracing spots where early versions or hints of Peter can be found, and reflects on what a monumental event the publication of the picture book was and still is. Students will learn about Keats's early life, his tireless dedication to provide for his immigrant family, his love and pursuit of art, and how he changed his name from Jacob (Jack) Ezra Katz to Ezra Jack Keats to avoid anti-Semitism in the United States after World War II. Pinkney's verse seamlessly weaves together story and fact to craft an intimate conversation about the artist's history and impact. ("Brown-sugar child, /when you and your hue/burst onto the scene, /all of us came out to play.") Readers familiar with Keats will notice allusions to his other works throughout. The illustrations complement the text, and Keats's own style, by using mixed-media collages of prints, fabrics, photos, and paint, all of which capture the liveliness of the urban setting and historical points. This uplifting telling ends with a discussion of the cultural importance of Peter and how Keats's vision paved the way for authors and artists to look for and include children of color in their work. VERDICT This celebration of a visionary children's book author and illustrator is a lovely addition for most collections.-Briana Moore, Elmont Memorial Library, NY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 1, 2016
Grades 2-5 *Starred Review* This tribute poem to picture-book creator Ezra Jack Keats begins with The Snowy Day's Peter, Brown-sugar boy in a blanket of white. / Bright as the day you came onto the page. / From the hand of a man who saw you for you. Pinkney recounts Jacob (Jack) Ezra Katz's early years in Brooklyn as the son of struggling Polish Jews; details how his parents, teachers, and librarians encouraged his talent; and explains how he honed his illustration skills working for the WPA and the air force when he could not afford art school. She emphasizes how Keats' personal experiences with discrimination (after the war, he modified his name to sound less Jewish in order to find work) helped him to identify with Peter, leading to a snowstorm of dreams. / A blizzard of imagination. / Flurries of fun! Fancher and Johnson's acrylic, collage, and pencil illustrations seamlessly integrate images from Keats' books into their own art, which employs a style complementary to the originals. Equally important, they skillfully represent Pinkney's lyrical text, which sometimes requires historical accuracy, magic realism, and nods to future possibilities, all within one spread. With rich back matter on Keats' legacy and his art, including a list of sources, this is an important book that belongs in any library where Peter is loved.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)