The Trip as with many of Keat's other children's books is very visually rich, portraying with rough paint strokes and grungy colors the feel of New York Cities poorest districts. Obviously this portrail is of a past rather then a present New York, yet the work is still a wonderful way to show how children will still play happily without as much concern for their surroundings as some might think. Of course Keat's walls are covered with childlike graffity rather then other forms, however as this is a children's book an exact representation would actually detract from the overall importance of the book. The story Keats provides us in this books is one which has played out many times in the past, one which because of its commonality has become somewhat of a sterio type in so far as books for children are concerned. Keats however as a master story teller is able to give this theme a fresh look. In the story a boy has just moved to a new neighborhood, one in which his appartment doesn't even have steps for him to sit on. Louie (the main character) is unhappy about this and feels lonley and bored within this new place. Its intersting to notice that its not so much that Louie does not wish to do thing, it is more related to the fact that Louie is unable to do what he normally did in his old neighborhood to meet people, so he has to just go inside.
Once inside his house he puts together a box with a scene painted on the inside of it, and a small plane dangling from the top of the box, so that it appears to be flying through the landscape Louie has created. In many ways this helps connect adults with this character, for we tend to like creative children. Thus this theme of the creative lonley child is fairly well repeated. Ezra Jack Keats makes this same story unique by allowing this child the oppertunity to return home in his imagination in a strange sort of way. For as the boy stares at the plane he has made he imagines that he flys in it back to his old neighborhood. There he is chased by people in masks. In the end these people turn out to be his friends trick or treating, and so he has the oppertunity to play with his old friends in his imagination. What makes this unique is that by putting the boy in the position where he meet his old friends in masks and was afraid of them Keats, is allowing the Louie the oppertunity to see how what is scarry is the unknown. And given the oppertunity to take of their masks many people can be friendly. This then allows for the lead up to Louie going outside to trick or treat, safe behind his own mask he joins masked children.
A Letter to Amy is a picture book about childhood friendship and simple concerns. Flatter and brighter then most of Keats's other city based works with the exception perhaps of "Snowy Day" it tells the story of Peter who wishes to write a letter to his friend Amy, in order invite her to his birthday. One can see the concern and thought on this subject on petters face and his body in the first picture, from his pose and his crossed feet. His mother frames in the the picture with a dark green shirt and a bright yellow pattern which she is showing. This foreground framing elements shows the tightness and the warmth of Peters life, even as he sits at the desk with this basic concern. As Peter goes outside to mail the letter he enters the stormy wind, where he looses hold of his letter and watches it blow away. Peter then chases the letter trying to catch it with his foot, running after it as it skips across a hopscotch game and more. The flatness of Peter and his bright yellow rain coat over the multi colored city scapes gives energy and purpose to his actions. Then in a single double spread the focus shifts from Peter to Amy as she enters the story, outside for some unknown reason she sees the letter blowing in the wind and goes to catch it. Backed by a bright yellow window, the color of the outdoor action in this book Amy becomes the dominant concern of the story. And Peter worries that she will see her letter before he can send it and so will ruin the surprise. In his haste to stop this potential tragedy Peter runs int Amy knocking her to the ground, in one of Keats's most dynamic illustrations. With the bright yellow figures of Peter and Amy poping out of the dark slate colored sky and street. One should notice how this and a few pictures down when Peter is concerned the background is grey or earth toned, indeed the only time it turns blue is as Peter puts the letter in the mailbox. Back at home Peter is surrounded by yellow walls and his moms needle point which is now the curtains to the window which he stairs out of. Again Peter is surrounded by warmth and happiness yet he stands pensively, concerned. By surrounding him with such warmth in this picture Keats is letting us know that Peters only concern is for the impact his action had on Amy. At Peter's birthday party this becomes more apperent for despite all the friends that arrive, Peter looks downtroden in his mothers arms for Amy has not shown up yet. But then she shows up, in a painting of Peter framed happily between her and his friends, not caring what they think of a girl showing up tot he party anymore.
Ty Hulse has sinced written about articles on various topics from Antwerp Travel, Home and E Books. Ty Hulse has degree’s in art and psychology with both with a children’s and a cross-cultural focus. He is currently working to create the site which discusses. Ty Hulse's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.