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Table of ContentsEzra Jack Keats
1916-1983
In 1963 Keats won the Caldecott Medal
Ezra Jack Keats was born Jacob Ezra Katz on March 30th, 1916, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the third child of Polish immigrants. In 1948 he legally changed his name due to anti-semetic prejudices of the time.
Ezra expressed interest in art as a young child. His favorite place to draw was at the kitchen table.
During his senior year of high school, Keats won the senior class medal for excellence in art. He declined an art scholarship and chose to work in order to help support his family during the great depression. He attended art classes at night.
WORK HISTORY
1937- Muralist for the Works Progress Adminstration (WPA).
1940- Comic book illustrator for 5 Star Comics.
1942- Worked on Captain Marvels Adventures comic book.
1943- Joined the US Air Corps where he designed camouflage patterns.
1947- Instructor at the School for Visual Art in NYC.
1955- Instructor at the Workshop School in NYC.
Keats illustrated nearly 70 books written by other authors. His first children's book was titled Jubilant.
Keats wrote and illustrated 22 books during his career. Many of his books portray family life and simple pleasure in a child's daily routine. He is best known for introducing multiculturalism into mainstream American children's literature.
Keats established The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation in 1964. The foundation became active following his death in 1983. The foundation was dedicated to preserving the quality of Keats books and art works, promoting children's literature and creativity, and maintaining quality and diversity in children's literature. http://www.ezra-jack-keats.org/
In 2012, National Public Radio (NPR) published a radio show celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Snowy Day written by Ezra Jack Keats.
http://www.npr.org/2012/01/28/145052896/the-snowy-day-breaking-color-barriers-quietlyBack Next