The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats

Peter in The Snowy Day

Written and Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats

1962

The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats is the first major exhibition in this country to pay homage to Award Winning Author and Illustrator, Ezra Jack Keats. Coincidentally, The Snowy Day featured the first modern African-American protagonist to be illustrated in a full-color picture book. At the date of it's publication, in 1962, America was experiencing the height of the Civil Rights Movement and the book was a catalyst for change in the Children's Picture Book Industry. Needless to say, Peter has become an inspiration for generations of readers, The Boog being one of them.

The inspiration for Peter goes much deeper than the writer/illustrator is credited for. The Ethnicity of Peter takes a back seat as Keats literally paints a modern community right before your eyes. Growing up in the inner city myself, I have always related to the work of Keats in a very visceral way. His books touch upon life through the eyes of a child; a child that lives in uncertainty, but views their surroundings with conviction. His use of urban settings is not surprising, as he himself grew up in Brooklyn.

Being one of our favorites, I have written about Peter before (here). Gladly, he remains a constant bedtime staple in our story book circulation.

The Exhibit, curated by The Jewish Museum, is currently at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, MA. and runs June 26 - October 14th 2012.

The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats Preview here.

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A love story and love song by Eric Carle

The Very Quiet Cricket
Written & Illustrated by Eric Carle
1990

Hey kiddos! Happy Valentine’s Day! I was inspired by this book yesterday while viewing my niece’s art work, which is lovingly displayed in my sister’s kitchen. The similarity of her work to Eric Carle’s was surprising. It just proves that Carle’s work truly corresponds with the mind of a child. When you’re an adult, you seem to lose that whimsy that characterizes seeing the world for the first time. All the impressions that we hold on to and shape our lives are remarkably simple in adolescence.


Then, Eric Carle himself posted this book on his blog today in honor of Valentine’s Day; being that this book is one of The Boog’s favorites is quite a happy coincidence.


As the book explains:

“There are four thousand different kinds of crickets.
Some live underground, others live above.
Some live in shrubs or trees, and some even live in water.
Both male and female crickets can hear,
but only the male can make a sound.
By rubbing his wings together he chirps.
Some people say that it sounds like a song!”

Isn’t that sweet?! A true love story, complete with a serenade at the end. (The book chirps when you turn the last page.) It’s important to never lose your whimsy kiddos, and if you do, high tail it to the nearest little one and beg them to color with you. I’m certain it won’t take much convincing :)


Happy Valentine’s Day, all!

P.S
Here is the youtube version. Enjoy!



Also By:
Brown Bear Brown Bear


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Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Bill Martin Jr. ~ Illustrated by Eric Carle1967

The BOOG is lucky enough to have older cousins which means sometimes she is awarded gratuitous hand me downs. Case in point, this super awesome board book copy of Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? The book was designed, very simply, to help toddlers relate colors to objects, which it accomplishes beautifully, but it also gave The BOOG the confidence to read to her mommy for a change! Since she knows all the words and animals she, very matter-of-factly, relays the entire story, and I don’t even have to utter a word.

To my astonishment, there is an actual back story involved with Brown Bear.

THEN......

NOW!

“Eventually, I started painting my own papers to achieve even greater texture and I began using archival quality materials. You can see these changes in the art work from these selected illustrations from Brown Bear where a history of how my style has evolved is evident.”

Carle reveals that there are actually 4 complete sets of art work for Brown Bear. Even further, he points out the technical process by which he creates his illustrations and how they have evolved throughout the years. He initially would use commercially available tissue papers in various shades of colors and add crayon and paint for texture but over time these papers faded and the rubber cement he was using discolored the papers and did not last very long. In short, he would have then redo art work for numerous other titles because the original work had faded and needed to be recreated for reprints. Fortunately, using archival materials made for more long-lasting art work and a more consistent design.

See, You learn something new everyday! ;)