Ode to "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats

"One winter morning Peter woke up and looked out the window. Snow had fallen during the night. It covered everything as far as he could see."
Ezra Jack Keats

Did you know Ezra Jack Keats was instrumental in introducing multiculturalism into mainstream American children's literature? Did you also know he was one of the first authors of children's books in America to use an urban setting in his stories? And he was born to Polish/Jewish parents. (Thank you, Wikipedia.) If I haven't already mentioned it before, this is one of my favorite children's books. It is one I remember vividly from my childhood, and I thoroughly enjoy passing it on to my children. I think, like most children, I love the illustrations most. That is why it won the Caldecott Medal. After four decades children still love the story of Peter!!! If you have children in any capacity, please read them this story. You can tell them it is from me :)

So on to the real reason for this post........it has been really, really cold here in Jersey. The wind chills have been down in the single digits some. But we have also had some sunny days, even though it doesn't warm up enough to melt the layer of snow on the ground. We haven't had alot of snow, but we have had enough to play in, so that's just what the kids and I did the other day, right out our back door.





Jordan's snow angel.
Jaron's snow angel.

Riding down the slope in our Tonka truck.........

Jaron only wanted to push it down............


Jaron just gave Jordan a little push, even though she told him 10 times she could do it herself!!!!