Similar to the haiku poetry in which he found inspiration, Keats applied simple and straightforward text to "The Snowy Day." Words were chosen to capture a mood and were further enhanced by colorful settings. Asian art influences are seen throughout the story, giving readers a wintry theatrical backdrop across the width of two book pages. "The Snowy Day"'s illustrations rely on a combination of collaged decorative paper, fabric and cloth. Keats created a homemade snowflake stamp and spattered India ink with a toothbrush to add embellishments. While he was not trying to make a statement about race, "The Snowy Day" was one of the first books to feature a non-caricatured African American protagonist. His groundbreaking illustrations and simple story earned him the Caldecott Medal in 1963. His character, Peter, went on to appear in "Whistle for Willie" (1964), "Peter's Chair" (1967), "A Letter to Amy" (1968), "Goggles!" (1969), Caldecott Honor Medal book, "Hi, Cat!" (1970)"," and "Pet Show!" (1972).