Finally Found Peter

Peter's Chair book and doll, book is a board book reprint of the original 1967 title; the doll has a copyright of 1995.

Ezra Jack Keats' character in cloth-doll form from the book Peter's Chair is the Peter I found.  After reading Sherry Howard's post about the $5, still-in-box, 1995 Peter's Chair doll and book packaged set found at an antiques and collectibles extravaganza, I wanted one, too.  I did find a set identical to Sherry's but the seller was asking over $300 for it! 

Before Peter's Chair Peter arrived, I was able to purchase two other Peter dolls from different Keats' stories where Peter is the main character:  Snowy Day Peter and Whistle for Willie. 

In February, fellow collector, DS shared a link to an eBay listing for "African American Stuffed 9" Boy," and identified the doll as Peter from Peter's Chair.  I followed the link, and although the seller did not know the doll's name, after examining the photos, I knew it was Peter!  I added the auction to my eBay watch list and on the last day of the listing, placed my maximum bid.  I even went back and outbid myself (by increasing my bid).  No one else was interested, so Peter is now home with me.  After winning the auction, I ordered a hard copy of Peter's Chair from Amazon.com.  The doll and book, which will be incorporated into my Dolls with Books exhibit, arrived on the same day.

My like-new Peter close-up

In Peter's Chair, Peter has a new sister, and everything's changing!  All his old baby furniture is being painted pink--all, that is, except his little blue chair.  Peter will do anything to save his chair, even run away.  But not for long... (This description is from the back of the book.)

Peter's Chair is a very cute story that illustrates the feelings of abandonment a young child might experience after the birth of a sibling.  

Click/tap the play arrow to listen to the story.



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Whistle for Willie Another Ezra Jack Keats Doll-Book Combo

Peter, from the book, Whistle for Willie

After purchasing The Snowy Day doll-book combination, I saw another Peter doll on eBay fashioned after the character from Ezra Jack Keats' book, Whistle for Willie (1964).  I dismissed the purchase initially but eventually gave in and purchased the doll.  Subsequently, the book was purchased to add both to my dolls with books collection and next exhibit.

Peter arrived in mint condition and is more adorable than I had imagined.  His book was a used 0.1 cents board book that looks well read.  I entered Peter's description into my Excel doll inventory workbook as follows:

14-inch all-cloth boy doll with screen printed facial features represents Peter from the book, Whistle for Willie, by Ezra Jack Keats (1964).  Wears a gray felt floppy hat with black band, removable pink and white print shirt and blue shorts, sewn-on pink socks and fabric blue shoes.  Distributed by Weston Woods, designed and manufactured by Determined productions, Inc.  ©1992 Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.

In Whistle for Willie, Peter is a little older than he is in The Snowy Day.  He now wants to learn to whistle to call his dog, Willie.  A cloth Willie is available, but Willie will not be part of my dolls with books collection.

Click the play arrow to watch a video of Whistle for Willie.



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Snowy Day Peter

Peter's Chair book and doll (1995), photo courtesy of Sherry Howard, Myauctionfinds.com

After reading To Buy or Not to Buy Ezra Jack Keats' Peter's Chair, I searched online for this mini book-doll combination and discovered the price of $5 that Sherry Howard paid was a pure steal!  This led to a search for additional books written by Ezra Jack Keats featuring Peter (and hopefully accompanying dolls).

Keats' The Snowy Day (1962) is one such book.  It also happens to be the first children's picture book to feature an African American protagonist.  Learning this left me wondering why I had not read The Snowy Day as a child and why I had not read it to my own children or grandsons.  I searched the Internet to locate the plush Snowy Day doll, Peter, and the book to add to my dolls with books collection and next exhibit of the same title.

Shortly thereafter, based upon the auction title and description:  SNOWY DAY DOLL - EZRA JACK KEATS (HARDCOVER) NEW, I purchased what I was misled to believe was a doll-book combination from an eBay seller who sent only the plush doll.   After communicating with the seller about my displeasure, I was forced to open an eBay case in order to receive a full refund to include a reimbursement for return shipping.  Yes, I still wanted the doll, but I did not want it from a seller who took his or her time to address my issues with the purchase nor from one whose description was less than honest.  Before this issue was resolved with that seller, I found another Peter doll on Amazon.com for a little less than the other.  What was described as a first edition The Snowy Day book by Keats with a copyright of 1962, was purchased from Abe Books for under $4. (The book is not actually a first edition; it is described on the title page as first printed in 1962; but I'm okay with that since I purchased the book for the content and condition.)

Plush Peter and book are finally here, together.  

Listen to and see the animated The Snowy Day story here.
View episode 1 of The Snowy Day here.
Read about the author, Ezra Jack Keats, and see a photo of the little lad who inspired him to write The Snowy Day and six additional books featuring Peter here.

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Although Keats wrote a total of seven books featuring his Peter character, to my knowledge, only three dolls have been fashioned after Peter's appearance in these books: The Snowy Day (1962), Peter's Chair (1967), and Whistle for Willie (1964). 

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