Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Ezra Jack Keats' birth by checking out one of the books in the Stanford University Libraries collections that feature his writing and/or art.  The son of Polish-Jewish immgrants, Keats sought to bring diversity to the portrayal of children in his books and to be supportive of all children.

"My purpose in creating books for children is to share my experiences with them, ranging from the real world and feeling to fantasy.  I hope children, whoever they may be, will discover that they are important, resourceful, and that they can have hope and self-esteem." (1978 quote from St. James guide to children's writers)