In Andrea Davis Pinkney’s new book, A Poem for Peter, the author beautifully depicts in verse the life of Ezra Jack Keats and the creation of his most famous character, Peter.

Peter, a red hooded “brown-sugar boy,” makes his first appearance in The Snowy Day. Published in 1962, The Snowy Day is the story of a young, curious boy exploring the snowy streets of his city. Appearing at a pivotal time in our nation’s history, Keats created a character that represented the children he saw in his urban neighborhood. In 1963, The Snowy Day received the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations.

Keats went on to write and illustrate many children’s books with diverse characters set in an urban landscape–something that was not a common practice at the time. The following list is just a small portion of the author’s total works, but include those adventures starring Peter and his friends. Celebrate the legacy of Ezra Jack Keats with your young child by checking out these enduring classics.