The Snowy Day

Keats, E. (1962). The Snowy Day. New York: Viking Press.

Readability lexile: AD500L

Adult Directed - Picture books often get an AD or "Adult Directed" code. They're usually read to a child, rather than a child reading them independently. Although seemingly easy reading, some picture books actually have pretty high Lexile measures, and could present a challenging independent reading experience to an age-appropriate reader. Initially, an adult may want to read the book along with the child. 

Summary:

Wake up with Peter to a snow-covered day where adventure awaits. In simple words and beautiful pictures, this Caldecott-winning book conveys the silent wonder of a city snowfall and a small boy's solitary delight in it. 

Evaluation of the text based on Donna Norton's characteristics of high quality literature (Norton, D. (2011):

This book could be used as high quality literature, because it serves for multiple avenues of learning. For example, this Caldecott-winner is a classic for representing a character that is unmistakably black. Peter's features were by no means that of a European American child, but that of a African American child.

In the Ten Steps for Reviewing Children's Literature by Norton, I think this book addresses illustrations the best. The illustrations are very simplistic, but make the story line inviting. Peter's relationship with his mother is represented very positively, too. 

Literary Elements:

1. Theme: Winter activities and recreation.

2. Conflict: Peter solves conflict when he realizes that the older boys are too wild and rough.

3. Illustrations: They paint vivid pictures to help young readers who are just being to read.

Mini-Lesson:

The lesson I would teach would definitely be about cause and effect. Peter puts a snowball in his pocket and comes back inside the house, and hangs up his jacket. He later checks on it and finds out that his pocket is all wet. I would ask my students to think about what happened to Peter's snowball. Is it that his mother took it out? Is it that because the temperature is warmer than it was outside, did it melt?

Target Audience: K-2

My personal reaction to this story was that I thought it taught a good cause and effect lesson. It is not your typical cause and effect that you most often read about in children's literature. I also liked the fact that Keats portrayed Peter as a young, African American boy, rather than a young, European American boy or girl for that matter.