Ezra Jack Keats (March 11, 1916 – May 6, 1983) (born Jacob Ezra Katz), Caldecott-winning author of The Snowy Day, was one of the most important children's literature authors and illustrators of the 20th Century. Keats is best known for introducing multiculturalism into mainstream American children's literature. He was one of the first children’s book authors to use an urban setting for his stories and he developed the use of collage as a medium for illustration.