Ezra Jack Keats Author Study

Ezra Jack Keats was a Caldecott Medal-winning picture book author and illustrator. He was born on March 11, 1916, to Polish-Jewish parents living in Brooklyn, N.Y. Keats first worked as an illustrator and was published in various magazines. He also illustrated children's book covers. In 1960, he coauthored My Dog Is Lost! with Pat Cherr, and began writing and illustrating his own books shortly after. In total, Ezra Jack Keats wrote and illustrated 22 children's books, including Peter's Chair, Whistle for Willy, and the timeless classic The Snowy Day, for which he won the Caldecott Medal.

Start your author study by reading a short biography of Ezra Jack Keats. Then use the activities and lessons below to introduce students to Keats's timeless classics. Continue the fun by visiting the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation website, which has lists of teaching resources and free activities for kids.