11 Picture Books for Fans of
The Snowy Day

by Dena McMurdie

The Snowy Day was a first in many ways. It was the first book Ezra Jack Keats both wrote and illustrated. It was the first time he used cut paper collage in his art. And it was the first time an African American child starred as the hero in a full-color picture book.

The Snowy Day has been both praised and criticized since its publication in 1962, but through it all, it has been overwhelmingly loved by its readers.

My grandmother read this book to my mother, who read it to me. Now I’m reading it to my own children. The story of Peter’s day in the snow has been a wintertime staple in my family for generations, and I hope that tradition will continue.

These 11 books will appeal to lifelong fans of The Snowy Day.

This article was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2020.