New Releases by Ezra Jack Keats

Celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Caldecott Medalist Ezra Jack Keats’s vibrant retelling of the popular African American folk ballad in this beautiful hardcover edition. Have you heard the tale? John Henry was born with a hammer in his hand. He was taller and stronger than anyone around. When men started talking about laying railroad tracks across the prairies and deserts, and right through the mountains, John Henry knew he and his hammer had to be a part of it. And drive those spikes he did! Then came the day when a challenge was announced: Who could dig a tunnel through a mountain faster—John Henry and his hammer? Or a steam drill?

The magic and wonder of winter’s first snowfall is perfectly captured in Ezra Jack Keat’s Caldecott Medal-winning picture book. Young readers can enjoy this celebrated classic as a full-sized board book, perfect for read-alouds of all kinds and a great gift for the holiday season. In 1962, a little boy named Peter put on his snowsuit and stepped out of his house and into the hearts of millions of readers. Universal in its appeal, this story beautifully depicts a child''s wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. This big, sturdy edition will bring even more young readers to the story of Peter and his adventures in the snow. Ezra Jack Keats was also the creator of such classics as Goggles, A Letter to Amy, Pet Show!, Peter’s Chair, and A Whistle for Willie. (This book is also available in Spanish, as Un dia de nieve.) Praise for The Snowy Day: “Keats made Peter’s world so inviting that it beckons us. Perhaps the busyness of daily life in the 21st century makes us appreciate Peter even more—a kid who has the luxury of a whole day to just be outside, surrounded by snow that’s begging to be enjoyed.” —The Atlantic "Ezra Jack Keats''s classic The Snowy Day, winner of the 1963 Caldecott Medal, pays homage to the wonder and pure pleasure a child experiences when the world is blanketed in snow."—Publisher''s Weekly

When the other kids make fun of Louie and call his father "the junkman," his dad explains that the so-called junk he loves "can take you right out of this world" with a little imagination. So Louie builds the spaceship Imagination I and blasts off into his own space odyssey. Reissued just in time for the fortieth anniversary of the first lunar landing, this fantastical Keats adventure celebrates the power of imagination.

When his family moves to a new neighborhood, Louie has to leave his friends behind. Sad and lonely, Louie creates a city scene inside a shoe box. The tiny diorama has a magical effect, sending his imagination back to old friends and old times. Then the spell ends, and a real-life adventure begins as Louie joins some new friends for Halloween night.

Jennie''s favorite aunt is sending her a new hat, and Jennie is sure it will be beautiful. But when the box arrives, the hat inside is very plain. She had imagined a wonderful hat with big colorful flowers and even tries to make her own hat from a straw basket! Jennie is almost ready to give up on her dream when she receives a fanciful surprise from some very special friends. Ezra Jack Keats''s timelessly charming illustrations will leave readers wishing for a dream hat of their own.

Peter can''t decide if he wants his loose tooth to fall out because if it falls out, he will have a gap in his smile for the school pictures, but money from the tooth fairy will help him buy a new basketball.

Can a puppy be a kitten? This puppy thinks he is. As he plays with four kittens, he tumbles and stumbles, thumps and slurps, spills and falls. Then his mother arrives. Will the five new friends be able to play again? Award-winning author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats''s appealing illustrations will have readers purring with contentment. "A visually delightful book." (The Horn Book)

When Peter takes the class hamster out of his cage, the hamster escapes. Peter and his friends search the classroom, but every time they come close, Mikey the hamster runs away again! How will Peter and his friends ever get Mikey back into his cage?

How can you enter a pet show when your pet runs away? That''s the question Archie faces when he can''t find his cat to enter in the neighborhood pet show. Fortunately, he does some fast thinking to win a prize in this beloved classic from award-winning author-illustrator Ezra Jack Keats.

When Louie goes looking for a father, he meets Barney. Barney accuses Louie of stealing a music box from his truck, but Louie says he didn''t do it. It''s up to Louie''s mother to settle the conflict and reveal that meeting Barney may be the beginning of the end of Louie''s search. This heartwarming tale features the same collage art and colorful urban setting that are featured in Keats'' popular books A Letter to Amy and Peter''s Chair.

Roberto is excited about the paper mouse he made in school, until Amy asks, "Does it do anything?" Roberto isn''t sure, so he leaves the mouse on his window sill and goes to bed. Before long his apartment building is quiet, but Roberto can''t fall asleep. So he gets up to look out the window and sees Archie''s cat being chased by a big, snarling dog! Roberto doesn''t know what to do, but fate steps in and an unlikely hero comes to the cat''s rescue. "The artist''s skillful use of a combination of acrylic painting and collage has never been more effectively employed than in this quiet tale." -The Horn Book

Peter longs to be able to whistle for his dog and makes many ingenious attempts.

Welcome to a lush meadow bustling with activity, where one turtle digs, two fish swim, three bluebirds sing, and so on to ten fireflies that shine in the night. Keats''s collage-style illustrations perfectly complement this classic Appalachian counting rhyme, which is also a popular song for toddlers.

On his way to hang out with the neighborhood kids, Archie very innocently greets a stray cat who follows him and gets in the way. The cat ruins everything - Archie''s street show is a mess and his audience drifts away. But things aren''t all bad: when Archie goes, the cat follows him all the way home, too!

Keats departs from his traditional style for his one and only wordless picture book, Clementina''s Cactus. Clementina and her father are out for a walk in the desert when Clementina discovers a lone cactus, all shriveled and prickly. But Clementina discovers there is something beautiful hiding inside that thick skin.

In his apartment in the city, Sam hears voices, barking dogs, snoring, and all kinds of other noises. One rainy day he also hears the sad sounds of a harmonica, and wonders who''s playing. Sam''s search leads him to Apt. 3, where he finds not only the source of the music--but a new friend.

One of the first books Keats ever wrote, "My Dog Is Lost!" is an appealing story about a Spanish-speaking boy on his second day in New York City, struggling to find his lost dog. Effortlessly mixing Spanish phrases with their English counterparts, this bilingual book is just as relevant today as it was when it was first published more than 30 years ago. "The Spanish phrases included are introduced naturally and are easily remembered.

A counting book of colorful collages features such objects as red suns, white snowflakes, and playful pooches.

Generations of children have read, re-read, and loved Ezra Jack Keats''s award-winning, classic stories about Peter and his neighborhood friends. Now, for the first time, Peter''s Chair, A Letter to Amy, and Goggles! are available in paperback exclusively from Puffin. "A well-loved character, a familiar childhood situation, and an urban setting are the components of this winning picture book, one of Keats''s best." -- Booklist Ezra Jack Keats (1916-1983) was the beloved author and/or illustrator of over eighty-five books for children.

Generations of children have read, re-read, and loved Ezra Jack Keats''s award-winning, classic stories about Peter and his neighborhood friends. Now, for the first time, Peter''s Chair, A Letter to Amy, and Goggles! are available in paperback exclusively from Puffin. "A master of ingenious collages, Keats has made brilliant variegated pictures."—The Horn Book Ezra Jack Keats (1916-1983) was the beloved author and/or illustrator of more than eighty-five books for children.

From the Caldecott Medal-winning author of The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats, Peter''s Chair is a picture book classic about a sibling rivalry. Peter, the hero of many of Ezra Jack Keats'' award-winning books, has a new baby sister. When she arrives, his parents paint his old baby furniture pink for the new baby. There''s only one thing they haven''t painted yet, though: his little blue chair. He''ll do whatever it takes to save it—even run away! This is a gentle and reassuring story about sibling rivalry and a perfect gift for any family expecting a new baby.

The Spanish translation of Whistle for Willie, a classic picture book by Caldecott Award-winning author Ezra Jack Keats! Desde su publicación original en 1964, Sílbale a Willie ha deleitado a millones de jóvenes lectores con su texto breve y poético y sus maravillosas ilustraciones que narran la historia de Peter y sus ansies de poder silbar para llamar a su perro. Otros libros en español de Ezra Jack Keats Un día de nieve "Las ilustraciones del Sr. Keats captan de manera sagaz y colorida al niño, su mundo urbano y el radiante calor de un día de verano."—The New York Times

When Maggie''s pet cricket is stolen, she and her friends embark on a search for the "pirate" thief which ensues in a small tragedy, but the making of a new friend.

CHILDREN''S BOOKS/BABY-PRESCHOOL

Since it was first published in 1964, Whistle for Willie has delighted millions of young readers with its nearly wordless text and its striking collage artwork depicting the story of Peter, who longs to whistle for his dog. The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Keats'' illustrations boldly, colorfully capture the child, his city world, and the shimmering heat of a summer''s day."

Two friends almost give up their efforts to learn to roller skate until they have an opportunity to help someone.