ABSTRACT
Established in 1985 and now given to both new picture book authors and illustrators, the Ezra Jack Keats (EJK) Book Award1 honors “picture books written [and illustrated] in the tradition of Keats-that is, with original, well-told stories that reect the universal qualities of childhood and the multicultural nature of our world” (“FAQ” n.p.). While “the tradition of Keats” evokes his many lauded picture books (“FAQ” n.p.), it is the image of Peter from The Snowy Day (1962) that graces the EJK Book Award’s seal. The Snowy Day is a milestone in multicultural children’s literature, sparking both praise and criticism for its portrayal of an African-American child enjoying the commonplace wonder of a new snowfall. It is also the rst book that Keats both wrote and illustrated on his own, so it is even more tting that Peter appears on an award seal that recognizes the work of emerging picture book authors and illustrators.
