The Snowy Day. Written and Illustrated by: Ezra Jack Keats. Published by: Viking Press
Summary: One day, Peter wakes up to discover it snowed (a lot!) overnight. He goes outside and has fun in the snow. He makes a snowball and puts it in his pocket, but later discovers that it melts. The next day the snow has not melted, it is still there, so Peter makes plans to enjoy another snowy day with a neighbour friend.
Why it’s worth repeating: Peter lives in an urban area and still has fun in the snow, he is generally playing by himself so he has to be creative to come up with fun things to play. Each time you read this story you can focus on a different thing you can do with snow or a different trait of snow: it makes a crunch sound, it shows your foot prints, it melts….
Things to talk about while reading:
- Peter did a lot of things in the snow, what do you think was the most fun?
- Have you ever made tracks in the snow? Made a snow angel? Made a snowball?
- The big boys are having a snowball fight, but Peter knows he is too little to join in. Have you ever felt too little to join in?
- Peter lives in a city and still has fun playing outside. Do you like to play outside where you live?
- Peter dreamed the snow melted before he could enjoy another snowy day. How do you think that dream made him feel? How do you think he felt when he saw the snow was still there and new snow was falling?
Activities:
- recreate Peter’s snowy day and do the different things he did in the snow.
- Go to the beach/seaside and see if you can do the same things with the sand or pebbles. Why or why not?
- For more ideas see the Erza Keats Foundation Page for this book.
If you are unfamiliar with this book, you can read about it’s historical significance here. and watch a reading of it here.