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Book Review: A Poem for Peter

Author: Andrea David Pinkney; Illustrated by: Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson

By Kayla Rochelle July 30, 2024

Recommended Ages: 7 - 10 years

The book, ‘The Snowy Day’ by Ezra Jack Keats is one of those books I believe all families should have on their shelves. Considered an American Classic, the book tells a story of a young African American boy, Peter, who explores his neighborhood after a snowstorm. Being one of the first children’s books that featured a child of color made this book stand out on shelves, and made literary history in a very big way. Today’s review is not on Keats book though, and instead on the life of this extraordinary author. 

In the book, ‘A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the creation of The Snowy Day’, author Andrea David Pinkney tells the biographical story of Keats in the form of a poem. Living in New York City through The Great Depression and World War II, Keats saw and experienced how the disenfranchised were treated and it became a driving force for him in creating children’s books. Pinkney does an amazing job telling the story of Keats and covering so much of his life while providing a long-form poem that is fun to read. My daughter loved the pictures by Lou Francher & Steve Johnson and I loved how much we learned while reading a beautiful book. 


Kayla is a wife, mother and beach-loving book reader. She's a family photographer over at Kayla Rochelle Photography, and organizer of the Facebook group, Little One’s Literary Review. Her love of good books started as a child and only grew with the birth of her own daughters. Kayla's got an undying love of children's books with gorgeous illustrations and moral lessons. 


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