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Roberto Walks Home
Roberto is thrilled that his older brother Miguel is going to walk him home from school. But when Miguel forgets and shoots hoops with his friends instead, Roberto is mad and has to walk alone. How will Miguel make it up to Roberto? Inspired by the works of Ezra Jack Keats and featuring Roberto, a classic character from Dreams, Louie, and Pet Show! , this moving story by award-winning author Janice N. Harrington?with gorgeous Keatsian illustrations by Jody Wheeler?is sure to win the hearts of Ezra Jack Keats fans.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2008
67 people want to read
About the author
Ezra Jack Keats
125 books378 followersEzra Jack Keats was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He won the 1963 Caldecott Medal for illustrating The Snowy Day, which he also wrote. Many of Ezra’s stories are about a group of friends growing up in the city. The neighborhood they live in looks like the streets where Ezra grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
He was born Jacob Ezra Katz, the third child of Polish-Jewish immigrants Benjamin Katz and Augusta Podgainy. The family was very poor. Jack, as he was known, was artistic from an early age, and joyfully made pictures out of whatever scraps of wood, cloth and paper that he could collect. Benjamin Katz, who worked as a waiter, tried to discourage his son, insisting that artists lived terrible, impoverished lives. Nevertheless, he sometimes brought home tubes of paint, claiming, "A starving artist swapped this for a bowl of soup."
With little encouragement at home, Keats sought validation for his skills at school and learned about art at the public library. He received a medal for drawing on graduating from Junior High School 149. Although unimpressive-looking, the medal meant a great deal to him, and he kept it his entire life. Keats attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where he won a national contest run by Scholastic for an oil painting depicting hobos warming themselves around a fire. At his graduation, in January 1935, he was to receive the senior class medal for excellence in art. Two days before the ceremony, Benjamin Katz died in the street of a heart attack. When Keats identified his father's body, he later wrote, "I found myself staring deep into his secret feelings. There in his wallet were worn and tattered newspaper clippings of the notices of the awards I had won. My silent admirer and supplier, he had been torn between his dread of my leading a life of hardship and his real pride in my work."
His father's death curtailed his dream of attending art school. For the remainder of the Great Depression until he was drafted for military service in World War II, Keats took art classes when he could and worked at a number of jobs, most notably as a mural painter under the New Deal program the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and as a comic book illustrator. At Fawcett Publications, he illustrated backgrounds for the Captain Marvel comic strip. He spent his military service (1943-45) designing camouflage patterns for the U.S. Army Air Force. In 1947, he petitioned to legally change his name to Ezra Jack Keats, in reaction to the anti-Semitic prejudice of the time.
Keats spent most of 1949 painting and studying in Paris, realizing a long-deferred dream of working as an artist. After returning to New York, he focused on earning a living as a commercial artist, undoubtedly influenced by his father's anxieties. His illustrations began to appear in Reader's Digest, The New York Times Book Review, Collier's and Playboy, and on the jackets of popular books. His work was displayed in Fifth Avenue store windows, and the Associated American Artists Gallery, in New York City, gave him exhibitions in 1950 and 1954.
In his unpublished autobiography, Keats wrote, "I didn't even ask to get into children's books." In fact, he was asked to do so by Elizabeth Riley of Crowell, which brought out his first children's title, Jubilant for Sure, written by Elisabeth Hubbard Lansing, in 1954. To prepare for the assignment, Keats went to rural Kentucky, where the story takes place, to sketch. Many children's books followed, including the Danny Dunn adventure series, by Jay Williams and Raymond Abrashkin, and an ethnographic series by Tillie S. Pine and Joseph Levine, beginning with The Indians Knew. All told, Keats illustrated nearly 70 books written by other authors.
In 1983, Keats died at the age of 67 following a heart attack. His last projects included designing the sets for a musical version of his book The Trip (which would later become the stage production Captain Louie), designing
He was born Jacob Ezra Katz, the third child of Polish-Jewish immigrants Benjamin Katz and Augusta Podgainy. The family was very poor. Jack, as he was known, was artistic from an early age, and joyfully made pictures out of whatever scraps of wood, cloth and paper that he could collect. Benjamin Katz, who worked as a waiter, tried to discourage his son, insisting that artists lived terrible, impoverished lives. Nevertheless, he sometimes brought home tubes of paint, claiming, "A starving artist swapped this for a bowl of soup."
With little encouragement at home, Keats sought validation for his skills at school and learned about art at the public library. He received a medal for drawing on graduating from Junior High School 149. Although unimpressive-looking, the medal meant a great deal to him, and he kept it his entire life. Keats attended Thomas Jefferson High School, where he won a national contest run by Scholastic for an oil painting depicting hobos warming themselves around a fire. At his graduation, in January 1935, he was to receive the senior class medal for excellence in art. Two days before the ceremony, Benjamin Katz died in the street of a heart attack. When Keats identified his father's body, he later wrote, "I found myself staring deep into his secret feelings. There in his wallet were worn and tattered newspaper clippings of the notices of the awards I had won. My silent admirer and supplier, he had been torn between his dread of my leading a life of hardship and his real pride in my work."
His father's death curtailed his dream of attending art school. For the remainder of the Great Depression until he was drafted for military service in World War II, Keats took art classes when he could and worked at a number of jobs, most notably as a mural painter under the New Deal program the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and as a comic book illustrator. At Fawcett Publications, he illustrated backgrounds for the Captain Marvel comic strip. He spent his military service (1943-45) designing camouflage patterns for the U.S. Army Air Force. In 1947, he petitioned to legally change his name to Ezra Jack Keats, in reaction to the anti-Semitic prejudice of the time.
Keats spent most of 1949 painting and studying in Paris, realizing a long-deferred dream of working as an artist. After returning to New York, he focused on earning a living as a commercial artist, undoubtedly influenced by his father's anxieties. His illustrations began to appear in Reader's Digest, The New York Times Book Review, Collier's and Playboy, and on the jackets of popular books. His work was displayed in Fifth Avenue store windows, and the Associated American Artists Gallery, in New York City, gave him exhibitions in 1950 and 1954.
In his unpublished autobiography, Keats wrote, "I didn't even ask to get into children's books." In fact, he was asked to do so by Elizabeth Riley of Crowell, which brought out his first children's title, Jubilant for Sure, written by Elisabeth Hubbard Lansing, in 1954. To prepare for the assignment, Keats went to rural Kentucky, where the story takes place, to sketch. Many children's books followed, including the Danny Dunn adventure series, by Jay Williams and Raymond Abrashkin, and an ethnographic series by Tillie S. Pine and Joseph Levine, beginning with The Indians Knew. All told, Keats illustrated nearly 70 books written by other authors.
In 1983, Keats died at the age of 67 following a heart attack. His last projects included designing the sets for a musical version of his book The Trip (which would later become the stage production Captain Louie), designing
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 30, 2021
Honestly, I think it would have worked better as an original. I think it's wonderful that Harrington, who is OwnVoices African-American, pays homage to Keats, a white man who did his best to portray kids who weren't Dick and Jane.
But this doesn't read like a Keats book to me. Or maybe I haven't read the right Keats' books. But one thing Harrington does is make it plain how gritty and unsavory the neighborhood is... Keats left that to show in the pictures without telling.
On the third hand, Harrington may have made a good choice. Apparently some readers are still overlooking the setting, especially the one who criticizes 'the parents' who let the boys play ball at night. Um, first of all, it's clear that the boys live with their abuelo, and probably only with him. He surely can't helicopter parent them. And even if he could, would it serve them well to grow up pampered and restricted from a healthy activity like playing basketball together? I think not.
In any case, I do like the book very much, and will continue to read more by Harrington (as well as more by Keats) whenever I can find them.
I will not, however, look for more by the illustrator.
But this doesn't read like a Keats book to me. Or maybe I haven't read the right Keats' books. But one thing Harrington does is make it plain how gritty and unsavory the neighborhood is... Keats left that to show in the pictures without telling.
On the third hand, Harrington may have made a good choice. Apparently some readers are still overlooking the setting, especially the one who criticizes 'the parents' who let the boys play ball at night. Um, first of all, it's clear that the boys live with their abuelo, and probably only with him. He surely can't helicopter parent them. And even if he could, would it serve them well to grow up pampered and restricted from a healthy activity like playing basketball together? I think not.
In any case, I do like the book very much, and will continue to read more by Harrington (as well as more by Keats) whenever I can find them.
I will not, however, look for more by the illustrator.
October 4, 2009
Roberto's brother Miguel forgets to pick him up from school b/c he is having so much fun playing basketball with his friends. Roberto is really hurt and gets very angry. He imagines getting revenge. When Miguel comes home and tries to apologize Roberto refuses to accept his apology. Then Miguel leaves his basketball for Roberto-- his favorite thing. Roberto knows this is a big gesture and knows that his brother feels bad. In the end they head out to play basektball together.
Avail. Blackstone
Avail. Blackstone
March 5, 2010
My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book together. There were many aspects of it that we both found interesting and could relate to the emotions involved in this story. I think that there are many wonderful lessons presented here.
Roberto, a young Hispanic boy, sadly walks home when his brother, Miguel, stands him up when promising to walk him home from school and play basketball with him. Instead, Roberto sees Miguel playing basketball with his friends. Upon returning to his house, Roberto displays his anger towards Miguel by jumping on his bed and stomping on it so much that he eventually falls asleep. While asleep, he has a dream where he is flying above Miguel while his brother plays with his friends, and Roberto snatches the beloved basketball away. Upon waking, Roberto is greeted my Miguel, who is sincerely apologetic and wanting to make things up with his brother. Still angry, Roberto rebuffs Miguel, but he also notices that Miguel leaves behind his precious basketball for him. Roberto decides to forgive Miguel, and the two brothers go out and play.
There were so many emotional aspects of this book that are important for children to understand. It is okay to feel angry at betrayal, and it is also alright to act out on it in a nonviolent way. Then, when confronted with a sincere apology, it is alright to forgive and forget. These are important lessons for any person to learn.
In a classroom, I would use this book in a possible lesson on emotions, and how to better handle and understand them. I think that these are vital aspects to learn both as a child and as an adult.
Roberto, a young Hispanic boy, sadly walks home when his brother, Miguel, stands him up when promising to walk him home from school and play basketball with him. Instead, Roberto sees Miguel playing basketball with his friends. Upon returning to his house, Roberto displays his anger towards Miguel by jumping on his bed and stomping on it so much that he eventually falls asleep. While asleep, he has a dream where he is flying above Miguel while his brother plays with his friends, and Roberto snatches the beloved basketball away. Upon waking, Roberto is greeted my Miguel, who is sincerely apologetic and wanting to make things up with his brother. Still angry, Roberto rebuffs Miguel, but he also notices that Miguel leaves behind his precious basketball for him. Roberto decides to forgive Miguel, and the two brothers go out and play.
There were so many emotional aspects of this book that are important for children to understand. It is okay to feel angry at betrayal, and it is also alright to act out on it in a nonviolent way. Then, when confronted with a sincere apology, it is alright to forgive and forget. These are important lessons for any person to learn.
In a classroom, I would use this book in a possible lesson on emotions, and how to better handle and understand them. I think that these are vital aspects to learn both as a child and as an adult.
January 4, 2016
Inspired by Keats' legendary characters like Amy and Susie and his captivating illustrations of a cityscape, _Roberto Walks Home_ tells the story of Roberto as he deals with the frustration of being forgotten by his older brother after school. Even though Roberto stomps around and draws an unflattering picture of his brother, he forgives him after Miguel plays basketball with him. Harrington's writing is good, but it's not reminiscent of Keats.
August 16, 2011
As a book based on the characters of Ezra Jack Keats, Harrington and Wheeler do a convincing job of telling a plausible story in the Roberto series of books. I liked it a lot. It was very well told and the illustrations really convey the style of Keats well. Highly recommended to Ezra Jack Keats fans.
June 6, 2016
A young boy eagerly waits for his older brother to pick him up so they can walk home together and play some basketball along the way. When Miguel doesn't come, Roberto must walk home alone and deal with his feelings of anger, disappointment and being left out. Readers get a first hand view of two brothers learning to apologize, forgive and make things right.
December 10, 2016
add to Media Collection!
January 9, 2019
Pretty good little story of two brothers and a basketball game. 🏀
April 3, 2019
The warm illustrations were pleasing to flip through, however, the writing was ok. The ending was really cute though.
April 9, 2023
How intruiging and moving to read a book dedicated to the memory of Ezra Jack Keats: According to his bio on the inside back cover flap, Keats was one of the first people to create a realistic, friendly, multi-ethnic urban setting in picture books for young children. (Keats passed on in 1983.)
* Now Janice N. Harrington has developed this book, based on Keats's character, Roberto.
* And artist Jody Wheeler has brought the images to life with her illustrations.
The story is gritty, with at-age pain and disappointment. Being a little brother can be so hard!
Especially I appreciate the poignant ending. Thank you, Janice N. Harrington and Jody Wheeler and that very contemporary communicator, Ezra Jack Keats.
* Now Janice N. Harrington has developed this book, based on Keats's character, Roberto.
* And artist Jody Wheeler has brought the images to life with her illustrations.
The story is gritty, with at-age pain and disappointment. Being a little brother can be so hard!
Especially I appreciate the poignant ending. Thank you, Janice N. Harrington and Jody Wheeler and that very contemporary communicator, Ezra Jack Keats.
December 16, 2020
Siblings, man. Maddie related hard.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2021
Meh. The kids' parents let them go out and play basketball at night?
The illustrations are great, so I bumped up to three stars.
The illustrations are great, so I bumped up to three stars.
July 13, 2022
A story of brotherhood. Wild imagery during Roberto’s dream. Multicultural.
March 21, 2023
Good story
May 20, 2023
I love Ezra Jack Keats!!
Read
March 4, 2024Also read this one to my class. Will read again, the students enjoyed looking at all the different buildings and relating the book to other Keats books.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews