Great American Author and Illustrator Ezra Jack Keats.

Great American Author and Illustrator Ezra Jack Keats

Unique Facts Jacob Ezra Katz born on March 11, 1916 He began to sell his artwork at the age of eight when he was paid 25 cents for a picture advertisement. In high school one of his paintings won a national Scholastic art contest. After high school, Keats was awarded several art scholarships. His family was very poor. Ezra moved on to work as a comic book illustrator.

Unique Facts Keats entered the army on April 13, 1943. The Army trained him to design camouflage patterns. He worked as an illustrator for the covers of publications, such as The Readers Digest. He legally changed his name to Ezra Jack Keats due to the fact that some people were discriminating against him due to his culture. In 1960, he attempted to write his first children's book entitled My Dog is Lost.

Unique Facts For the next two years, Keats worked on the book that was to follow that depicted a young African American boy named Peter. He was inspired to create this character by a picture clipping from Life Magazine. The book entitled The Snowy Day received the renowned Caldecott Award. Keats was determined to write a book that depicted an African American child as the hero. His style for illustration came from the innovative technique of blending gouache with collage. The characters in his story came from real people in the neighborhoods where he lived as a child.

Web Address o www.ezra-jack-keats.org www.ezra-jack-keats.org

Keats's Books In Dreams, Keats describes the sleepless night of a little boy by the name of Roberto. Roberto looks out his window and see Archies cat trapped by a big dog! He does not know what to do. His paper mouse that he made that day in school falls from his window and casts a giant shadow onto a wall scaring the dog away. Archies cat makes his way safely home.

Keats books. In Jeannies Hat, Keats describes a young girl by the name of Jeannie who is looking forward to a present from her aunt, a new hat. When the hat arrives, Jeannie is very disappointed because the hat is plain and nothing as she had hoped it would be. Jeannie feeds the birds in the park every Saturday, and the birds overhear her speaking of her hat. They follow her to church the next day and decorate her hat for her with beautiful flowers and ribbon.

Keats's Books. In Goggles!, Peter and his best friend Archie find a pair of old motorcycle glasses. They are very excited until a group of older boys try to bully them into giving them the shades. Peter, Archie and Peters dog Willie use their heads to outsmart the bullies and keep the goggles for themselves.

Keats's Books. In My Dog Is Lost, Keats tells the story of a little boy named Juanito. In the story, Juanito had just moved to the city from Puerto Rico. He has no friends and cannot speak English. He is very sad because he recently lost his dog. He sets out determined to find him and stumbles upon different groups of people in his neighborhood that take up the cause to help him. In the end Juanito is reunited with his dog. Keats includes several simple Spanish words in the book.

Keats's Books. In PetersChair, Keats describes a young boy named Peter dealing with feelings of jealousy over his new little sister, Susie. His parents are taking all his old things and painting them pink in order to make them right for Susie. Peter draws the line at his favorite chair, he decides to run away and he takes his chair, his dog, his toy alligator, and a picture of himself as a baby. After a little while, his mother sees traces of his return home. In the end he helps his father paint the chair for Susie after he discovers that he can no longer fit into the chair.

Keats's Books. In The Snowy Day, Keats describes the adventures of Peter on a snowy day. Peter plays in the snow. He places a snowball in his pocket to save for later. After he is ready for bed, he discovers that the snowball has melted and is very sad. He awakens to more snow the next morning. This book received the renowned Caldecott Award in 1963

Keats's Books. In Whistle For Willie, Keats tells yet another story of his beloved Peter. Peter Tries to learn to whistle in order to be able to call his dog Willie. He tries and tries to no avail, but he doesnt give up. In the end he learns to whistle.

Keats's Books. In A Letter to Amy, Keats describes Peter as he deals with the awkwardness of a first crush. Peter is having a birthday party and he invited all his friends-the boys. He wants to invite Amy, but after he runs into her with the invitation and accidentally knocks her down, he is worried that she will not come.

Keats's Books. In Apt 3, Keats describes the story of two brothers, Sam and Ben, who are inspired to explore their apartment building in search of the source of the beautiful music they hear. They find a blind man who becomes their new friend.

Keats's Books. In The Trip, Keats tells the story of Louie, a little boy so sad about moving that he creates a diorama of his old friends and neighborhood. This brings him comfort and helps him to cope with his feelings until he begins to make new friends in his new neighborhood on Halloween night.

Complete Listing of Keats's Books

Keats's Books

Keats Lesson Plans Part of the Ezra Jack Keats Author StudyEzra Jack Keats Author Study Peter vividly expresses the wonder children feel for the world around them. Whether it's snow falling, a squirrel scampering up a tree, or the sun shining, children are curious about what they see outside their windows and have a natural desire to know more. Use the following questions to guide children in a brief discussion about Peter, the world outside his window, and the world outside their windows. Where do you think the story takes place? What are some clues? What are some ways you are like Peter? Do you remember waking up to a snowy world outside your window? What was it like? What did you do? Why do you think the snowball in Peter's pocket wasn't there when he checked before bed? Can you think of a way to save a snowball? What do you wonder about the world outside your window?

Keats Lessons The Snowy Day Science Lesson Peter awakens to a world of snow. He makes tracks and snow angels, goes sliding, and packs snowballs - saving one in his pocket for the next day. Keats' simple story and collage illustrations capture a child's natural wonder for the world in a book that charms readers of all ages. Materials: Snow Pans or dishes Pens/paper If you've got snow on hand, let students scoop some up to make some snowballs. See how long they last in your classroom under different conditions. Have students measure the amount of snow that they use so each snowball is the same size. Set each snowball in a pan or dish to catch the drips and then place them in different places around the room - a sunny windowsill, under a cover, in the closet, or in a pocket - like Peter did in the story! Place paper and pen beside each snowball and ask students to record observations every 30 minutes. Which snowball do they think will last longest? Which will melt first? Why? Adapted from: Using Caldecotts Across the Curriculum by Joan Novelli

Keats's Lessons Letter to Amy Lesson Plan By Jeremy BrunaccioniJeremy Brunaccioni OBJECTIVE: Students will "use a variety of forms or genres when writing for different audiences."--Massachusetts English/Language Arts Curriculum Framework MATERIALS A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats writing pencils writing paper, one sheet per student envelopes, one per student colored markers chart paper SET UP AND PREPARE Come up with an event that your students can share with another class. (You will need a class list from that class.) You might choose to have an art show, a science themed party, or a poetry jam.

Keatss Lessons DIRECTIONS Use the chart paper to model an invitation. Give your students the name of a peer from the class list, and have them write an invitation. They can use the colored markers to illustrate or decorate the invitation. When they are done, use the chart paper to show them how to address the envelope. Have your students deliver the invitations, so that they may enjoy their peer's reactions. SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS Talk to the teacher whose class is being invited to your event. Ask her to talk up the event with her students so that they have a positive response when they receive their invitations. LESSON EXTENSION Put an R.S.V.P. card into the invitation. Turn your dramatic play area into a post office. Visit your local post office. Related Resources The Official Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Web site www.ezra-jack-keats.org The Official Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Web site www.ezra-jack-keats.org

Keatss Lessons My Dog is Lost! Lesson Plan By Jeremy BrunaccioniJeremy Brunaccioni OBJECTIVE Students will "tell or show what a map is..." --Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework MATERIALS My Dog is Lost! by Ezra Jack Keats graph paper (one sheet per student) writing pencils colored pencils DIRECTIONS Talk about the places Juanito visits in his search for Pepito. Explain that students will be creating maps showing Juanito's apartment, grocery store, playground, movie theater, butcher shop, laundromat, subway entrance, and bank. Students should use the writing pencils to create roads and buildings on their graph paper, labeling the different places. They can then use the colored pencils to color their map.

Keatss Lessons SUPPORTING ALL LEARNERS If you want to modify this activity for kindergarten, print out mailing labels with the names of the places Juanito searched. Have students create their maps, one building at a time, and attach the labels as they go. LESSON EXTENSION Use the maps to create three-dimensional models.Look at a map of New York and locate China Town, Little Italy, Park Avenue, and Harlem. Related Resources

Keats Lessons Over in the Meadow Lesson Plan By Jeremy BrunaccioniJeremy Brunaccioni OBJECTIVE Students will "retell or dramatize traditional literature." --Massachusetts English/Language Arts Curriculum Framework MATERIALS Over in the Meadow by Ezra Jack Keats SET UP AND PREPARE Tell students to pay attention to the creatures featured in the book, as they will be acting out some movements during a second reading. The text of this book is based on a rhyme written by Olive A. Wadsworth. Before teaching the movements, you may want to remind students to be safe with their bodies. It's easy for them to get out of control during the frog jumping movement.

Keatss Lessons DIRECTIONS Read through the book slowly, teaching students the following movements. "Dig!" said the mother. (Use your hands to make a scooping/digging motion, as if you had flippers.) "Swim!" said the mother. (Put your hands together in front of you and sway them back and forth to simulate a fish swimming.) "Sing!" said the mother. (Place a hand on your chest, and reach the other hand out in to the air, as if you're singing.) "Dive!" said the mother. (Put both hands together and point down as you bow your head, as if you're going to plunge into the water.) "Buzz!" said the mother. (Put your hands to your sides and quickly flap your fingers to simulate a buzzing bee's wings.)

Great American Author and Illustrator Ezra Jack Keats.

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