Ezra- Jack-Keats Newsletter

Keats Film Festival

Take Ten

THE TRIP

Fifth-graders' eloquent 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.

View Film Festival Page

Fun Fact: THE TRIP

Did you know that THE TRIP is also a musical play? It's called "Captain Louie," and the music and lyrics are by Stephen Schwartz, the composer of "Wicked"! It was first produced in 2004 and is still performed today.

Keats Film Festival

Take Nine

LOUIE

Visit our Film Festival page to watch the video and have some fun with puppets.

View Film Festival page

Fun Fact: LOUIE

Ezra often used details from his childhood in his books. Gussie is not just the name of Louie's beloved puppet. Ezra's mother, Augusta, was often called Gussie.

UP NEXT

Take Eleven

LOUIE'S SEARCH

Louie is trying to find a new father. When he picks up a music box that fell off a truck, the driver yells at him for stealing and chases him home. Then the music box begins to play, and the driver, a junk dealer, realizes it should be Louie's. Could Louie's search be over?

Fun Fact: LOUIE'S SEARCH

Ezra sometimes used models when he sketched, to give his characters just the right movement or expression. He used himself as a model for Barney, but for a real self-portrait, look for the truck driver on the last page.

For information on

how you can participate in the

Keats Film Festival

ezrajackkeats@gmail.com

Dear Friends,

The wonderful exhibit at the Jewish Museum focuses on the artistry of the Keats illustrations, and they are beautiful. But here I'd like to talk about the world of Ezra's characters. This month we are featuring LOUIE'S SEARCH, the third book of four based on the adventures of Louie. I call this quartet the "LOUIE books."

When we first meet Louie in the book of the same name, he is silent; none of the other kids have ever heard him speak. We witness, along with the kids, the touching moment when he breaks out of his shell, and feel their empathy as well as our own. In the next book, THE TRIP, Louie has made friends but then moves out of the old neighborhood. Through a dream, Louie finds the courage to make new friends while holding on to old ones.
In LOUIE'S SEARCH, he has become capable of moving into the world, to explore its richness and face its challenges. Now, standing up to a false accusation, Louie finds that his strength brings great rewards. In the final book, REGARDS TO THE MAN IN THE MOON, Louie is encouraged by his new dad to confront the taunts of other kids. Having learned to speak, make friends and stand up for himself, Louie learns to lead others, to teach them something about the world.

The LOUIE books are a rare series in illustrated children's literature, and the story they tell together is often overlooked because each book works so well on its own. These books should be read as a series, in schools, in libraries and before bedtime. It is my pleasure to be able to discuss Ezra's books in this way. And I'd love to hear your thoughts if you'd like to share them.

Sincerely,

Deborah Pope

Executive Director

Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

Wanna Play?

New! "The Snowy Day Game" debuts on our

Fun & Games page. Plus, a selection of

read-aloud stories.