Whistle for Willie

They don't make kids' books any better than this Ezra Jack Keats' classic that celebrates childhood and play, and continues to charm new generations of readers. When Whistle for Willie was first published in 1964, few books featured African-American characters. Keats himself was born to struggling immigrant white Jewish parents, grew up poor in tenement Brooklyn, and is able to peer through Peter's eyes to show us an urban neighborhood full of found wonder. A curious cat peers out a barbershop window. Two girls -- one black, one white -- share a jump rope. Graffiti's pictured as stenciled stars, arrows, numbers, and letters spelling out the simple words "cat" and "me." If play's the work of the child, Peter's an expert, spinning till he's dizzy, hiding in boxes from his dog, and drawing a chalk line everywhere he walks. There's also touching sweetness when he tries on his dad's hat and pretends to be his dad while his mom plays along.

Keats' art was also innovative, using colorful mixed-media collage with patterned, marbled, and textured papers. When Peter triumphantly shows his parents he can whistle, Keats fills the page with Peter's proud, joyful face. Young readers will see themselves in this playful and persistent protagonist, and enjoy this timeless story.