The Snowy Day

Author/illustrator: Ezra Jack Keats

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Grade level: K-3

Awards: Caldecott Medal

One day a little boy named Peter woke up and looked out the window to see snow covering everything that he could see. After breakfast he put on his snowsuit and went outside to play in the snow. He walked along the snow making different types of tracks. He found a stick to make a new track. He thought it would be fun to join the big kids in their snowball fight but he knew he wasn't old enough yet. He made snow angels and snowmen and used his imagination to pretend he was a mountain lion instead. He saved a snowball in his pocket to save for tomorrow. Before bed he checked his pocket for the snowball but it wasn't there. He was very sad and he dreamed that the sun had melted all the sun away. When he woke up the snow was still there and he went outside with his friend to play. 

This book can be used in the classroom to discuss weather. It can be used to illustrate what happens in the winter time and as well as what happens when cold things become hot or when things melt. 

The illustrations are very intriguing. They are so colorful for a book about white snow. It is different things cut and pasted together. It showcases emotion and ties in well with the storyline. It is a Caldecott Medal award winning book.