What’s Happening Archive
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2012
April
Read All About It
What’s the connection between Ezra and The Hunger Games? The answer might surprise you. Plus, more media coverage on the 50th anniversary of The Snowy Day, and the case for multicultural children’s books.
Click here for previous press clips.
My Snowy Day
As an advocate for children, Mario Batali has high praise for Keats and The Snowy Day. Find out how he and Books for Kids head Shawna Hamilton Doster use Ezra’s classic as a “tool for change.”
If You Love The Snowy Day…
You might want to discover other books that Ezra wrote about Peter. Have you read A Letter to Amy? Its plot involves a secret letter, a birthday party and a talking parrot! And enjoy a fun video, great links and more.
The Results Are In!
The evidence doesn’t lie: Ezra’s public keeps on growing. The Jewish Museum reports that “The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats” exceeded attendance goals by nearly 30 percent—bringing in 45,000 visitors, including a record 300+ group tours. What’s more, the show set off a massive growth spurt for the Museum: membership increased by 11 percent, Facebook fans by more than 40 percent, and Twitter followers by a whopping 81 percent!
Take a virtual tour of the exhibition
Press Release: 26th Annual Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Award Winners Announced
NEW YORK, March 6, 2012—The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries announced today the winners of the 26th Annual Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Awards.
• Read interviews with the winners, and more
March
On the Radio
Tune in to NPR as the EJK Foundation celebrates the winners of New Writer and New Illustrator Awards on select stations! Listen for our sponsored spots, running from March 26 to April 8, in New York (WNYC – 93.9 FM), Chicago (WBEZ – 91.5 FM), Los Angeles (KCRW – 89.9 FM) and Atlanta (WABE – 90.1 FM).
My Snowy Day
Actor-writer Ben Stiller grew up in New York City, where schools don’t often close due to bad weather—so he recalls no-school snow days as a very special treat. Ben is one of the prominent Keats fans we’ve asked to share their childhood memories of The Snowy Day. See how Ben’s compares with yours.
Children of the Book
It didn’t snow everywhere on March 7, but The Snowy Day was front and center for World Read-Aloud Day. Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella, and children’s author Katherine Paterson gave readings of the Keats classic to a rapt audience of New York City schoolkids—among the 20 classes hosted by the literacy organization LitWorld. On the West Coast, LeVar Burton read The Snowy Day for Google+. Both events were livestreamed around the world. And later that evening, how many parents read aloud their childhood favorite because The Snowy Day was their children’s favorite too?
Left: Clifford the Big Red Dog assists Miss USA (at right).
Right: Bridget, a student in Madina, Ghana, is a Girls LitClub member and a Keats fan.
New Minigrant Deadline
It has come to our attention that we may not have received some Minigrant applications. If you sent an application and did not receive an immediate email confirmation, it’s very likely that your application did not go through. If that is the case, please reapply. We recommend using a different browser, and if possible a different computer. The Minigrant deadline for 2012 has been extended to 11:59 p.m., March 31, from March 15.
Let It Snow!
Tune in to our new animated, syncopated video of The Snowy Day, the latest read-aloud on our Fun & Games page. It’s the perfect way to unwind after playing a few exhilarating rounds of The Snowy Day Game.
Read All About It
Updating the media coverage on The Snowy Day—the impact it made a half-century ago and its enduring influence on children’s literature.
Click here for previous press clips.
February
If You Love The Snowy Day…
You’ll want to discover other delightful Keats stories. Each month we’ll recommend one, plus fun videos, links and more! Have you read Whistle for Willie? Find out why this tale of Peter and his dog is one of Ezra’s most popular titles.
January
Press Release: EJK Book Award Moves to the De Grummond
NEW YORK, December 14, 2011–The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation proudly announced today that the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Book Awards have moved to the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries from the New York Public Library.
Press Release:
EJK Foundation Minigrant Program Puts Funding in the Hands of Teachers and Librarians
NEW YORK, January 11, 2012—This year marks the 24th annual call for minigrant proposals by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, with approximately 70 $500 grants to be given to qualifying teachers and librarians at public schools and libraries across the United States.
2011
December
EJK Film Festival Take 12 ‒ Regards to the Man in the Moon
Third-graders Jasper and Helena join Louie and his friends on a trip to outer space. Visit our Film Festival page to blast off with interplanetary crafts and projects.
November
A Gallery of Outstanding Minigrant Programs
We’re proud of our Minigrants, which support consistently creative projects at public schools and libraries around the country. We want to share some of the truly outstanding examples we see each year, and honor the educators and students who bring them to life. Take a look at our Gallery to see why we’re looking forward to this year’s proposals.
EJK Film Festival Take 11 ‒ Louie’s Search
A pair of third-graders have a lively and thoughtful discussion about Louie’s Search, and observe that things—and especially people—aren’t always what they seem.
Keats Programs at the Jewish Museum
“The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats” continues its amazing run at the Jewish Museum, with fun family activities all month long.
October
EJK Film Festival Take 10 ‒ The Trip
Fifth-graders eloquently take on Louie, and life, in The Trip. Visit our Film Festival page to watch the video, enter a world of dioramas, plus Halloween art and educational ideas.
Let the Games Begin!
New! The Snowy Day Game debuts on our Fun & Games page. Plus, a selection of read-aloud stories.
Keats Programs at the Jewish Museum
“The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats” opened last month at the Jewish Museum, to rave reviews. This month there are Keats-related programs for educators, children’s literature fans and kids.
September
Keats at the Jewish Museum
“The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats,” the artist’s first major retrospective in the U.S., kicks off the 50th anniversary celebration of The Snowy Day. After the show’s New York dates, it will travel to museums around the country.
September 9, 2011–January 29, 2012
Plus, a workshop for librarians on the author and illustrator
Friday, September 23, 10 a.m.-Noon
Forever Young
Rediscover the joy of reading The Snowy Day, in a special 50th anniversary edition from Penguin. The adventure of Peter in a winter wonderland is as fresh and delightful as ever.
EJK Film Festival Take 9 ‒ Louie
This month our featured book is Louie. Visit our Film Festival page for a video conversation, plus fun facts about puppetry and great craft ideas for home or school. Your kids will love puppets as much as Louie does!
August
10 Recommended Sites for Multicultural Children’s Books
EJK Foundation Executive Director Deborah Pope, who discussed diversity in children’s books with NY1’s Shelley Goldberg this week, shares some of the best resources on the web for multicultural picture books. Click through for Dr. Pope’s survey of sites where parents and teachers can go to find both popular and little-known titles that may not appear on every bookstore’s shelves.
EJK Film Festival Take 8 ‒ Maggie and the Pirate
For our featured book, Maggie and the Pirate, a teacher, a librarian and a parent meet at the library to talk about how the art enlivens the drama in this unusual tale, which revolves around a pet cricket. Plus, cricket crafts, fun facts and a video on how you can learn to chirp, too!
Saturday in the Park with Ezra: Highlights from the EJK Family Concert
The joint was jumping with Dan Zanes, the Brooklyn Youth Orchestra and Bed Stuy Veterans on Saturday, July 16.
Coming Up in the Fall
Keats at the Jewish Museum
“The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats,” the artist’s first major retrospective in the U.S., kicks off the 50th anniversary celebration of The Snowy Day. After the show’s New York dates, it will travel to museums around the country.
September 9, 2011–January 29, 2012
July
Join in the Summer Fun
Saturday in the Park with Ezra: Highlights from the EJK Family Concert
Featuring Dan Zanes with the Brooklyn Youth Orchestra and Bed Stuy Veterans.
Tammy + Kids + Keats = A Super Story Hour!
Gather around the Peter statue at the Imagination Playground in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
Every Saturday in July and August, at 2 p.m.
Bedtime Stories at the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library
Kids are invited to wear PJs!
Thursdays, August 25, September 22, at 7:30 p.m.
EJK Film Festival Take 7 ‒ Pet Show!
Our featured book this month is Pet Show! Enjoy the video, riddle, art and education projects, all around our germ Al, the quietest pet in the show.
June
Educators News
New EJK Minigrant Application Online NOW
Our Minigrant application is now ELECTRONIC ONLY! All the information you need is a click away: instructions, FAQs, the application, even a video tutorial hosted by Dr. Deborah Pope.
A Must See–Winners of the EJK Bookmaking Competition
Beracah and Jodi wrote: “We wrote a book about dim sum because it is a part of the Chinese culture we wanted to share. We decided to make a pop-up book to make our illustrations look more realistic. We wanted you to feel like you were really in a dim sum restaurant, [so] we imagined ourselves in the restaurant…[and used] different colored and designed papers for our collage to make tables, chairs and chandeliers. We had to make the pop-ups collapsible so the book could close. We had to work together and agree on ideas for the book. It took a lot of work to make a great book.”
Check Out the Winners of the 2011 EJK New Writer and New Illustrator Awards
Keeping Ezra’s spirit alive involves more than celebrating his books…it is celebrating contemporary authors and illustrators whose work inspires a sense of inclusion, wonder and delight in children, families and educators.
EJK Film Festival Take 6 ‒ Hi, Cat!
Saying “Hi, Cat!,” the name of this month’s featured book, is all it takes for Archie to get a feisty neighborhood feline into the Keats menagerie.
May
EJK Film Festival Take 5 ‒ Jenny’s Hat
The millinery masterpiece in Jenny’s Hat has a group of children enthralled. See the parade of princesses in their awesome hats—and some preschoolers, too!
April
EJK Film Festival Take 4 ‒ Peter’s Chair
This month’s featured book is Peter’s Chair. It’s not easy to make room for a baby, but Peter learns that it’s part of growing up, and not so bad after all.
March
EJK Film Festival Take 3 ‒ A Letter to Amy
A boy, a girl—and a parrot? What a birthday! You’re invited to Peter’s party in this month’s featured book, A Letter to Amy.
February
EJK Film Festival Take 2 ‒ Dreams
Late one night, Roberto saves the day: was it all a dream? Majka, Milo and their mom investigate in this month’s featured book, Dreams.
January
EJK Film Festival Take 1 ‒ The Snowy Day
Two dads bond with their daughters while reading our first featured book, The Snowy Day.
2010
December
News Flash!
The importance of children’s picture books, Executive Director Deborah Pope on the CBS news blog. And announcing the beginning of the Film Festival Celebration.
November
News Flash!
Happy holidays, plus gift ideas.
October
News Flash!
A new world record set with over 2,057,000 registered participants in Jumpstart’s Read for the Record. The event was featured on NBC’s Today show, with highlights from around the country and celebrities Patti LaBelle and Amanda Peet.
September
News Flash!
The Snowy Day is the Jumpstart Read for the Record Book this year. Join in as over 2 million children read The Snowy Day on October 7, 2010.