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Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring
Burgess describes Haring discovering Robert Henri's The Art Spirit in college ("He felt as if the book was speaking directly to him"), encountering the large paintings of Pierre Alechinsky (he was "blown away"), and recognizing a common impulse in dancers at the West Village's Paradise Garage ("For Keith, drawing and painting were like dancing. He called it 'mind-to-hand flow'"). Cochran uses a thick black line to suggest Haring's creations, and renders figures in a Haring-esque style without seeming gimmicky. Of interest to young readers are Haring's frequent efforts to involve children in mural-making projects. The story, including a respectful acknowledgement of Haring's death from AIDS, makes the subject seem immediate and real--and presents a compelling vision of answering the call to create. --Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
I would love to be a teacher because I love children and I think that not enough people respect children or understand how important they are. I have done many projects with children of all ages. --Keith Haring
Truly devoted to the idea of public art, Haring created murals wherever he went.
From Matthew Burgess, the much-acclaimed author of Enormous Smallness, comes Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring. Often seen drawing in white chalk on the matte black paper of unused advertising space in the subway, Haring's iconic pop art and graffiti-like style transformed the New York City underground in the 1980s. A member of the LGBTQ community, Haring died at the age of thirty-one from AIDS-related complications. Illustrated in paint by Josh Cochran, himself a specialist in bright, dense, conceptual drawings, this honest, celebratory book honors Haring's life and art, along with his very special connection with kids.
I would love to be a teacher because I love children and I think that not enough people respect children or understand how important they are. I have done many projects with children of all ages. --Keith Haring
Truly devoted to the idea of public art, Haring created murals wherever he went.
From Matthew Burgess, the much-acclaimed author of Enormous Smallness, comes Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring. Often seen drawing in white chalk on the matte black paper of unused advertising space in the subway, Haring's iconic pop art and graffiti-like style transformed the New York City underground in the 1980s. A member of the LGBTQ community, Haring died at the age of thirty-one from AIDS-related complications. Illustrated in paint by Josh Cochran, himself a specialist in bright, dense, conceptual drawings, this honest, celebratory book honors Haring's life and art, along with his very special connection with kids.
64 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2020
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August 20, 2020
There lives, within me, a horrible child. A real little monster. A useful little monster, actually, since it guides my reads on children’s books. Except that this interior devil child has a real thing with picture biographies. Put simply, it doesn’t care for them. Now I, mature 42-year-old librarian me, love picture book biographies and appreciate them in large part because they were fairly rote back when I was a kid. Unfortunately, the monster child that resides in my gray matter loathes most of them. For example, the other day I was reading a lovely picture book bio of Mr. Rogers and the child kept asking why it should care. A nice guy had a TV show but so what? What about the book would appeal to a 8-year-old today? I have a hard time answering some of these questions, so I pay extra close attention when a picture book bio soothes these concerns with every turn of the page. Like other bios of artists written for children, Burgess and Cochran’s consideration of Keith Haring could easily have explained with hoity-toity words why all good little children should know the man’s work. Instead they tell you the facts, and in doing so show you why the man deserves to be remembered. Never taking its eye off of what matters (that kids should find picture book bios interesting and not just something their parent/guardian/teacher/librarian makes them listen to) Drawing On Walls justifies its very existence by justifying the very existence of its subject. And my inner child critic is appeased.
When Keith Haring was a kid he’d draw with his dad, do art with his sisters, and eventually create a studio in a friend’s garage. Art was always a part of Keith, but he needed to find his own style. Art school was a bust (commercial art just didn’t suit him) so off he went to NYC. There, Keith worked odd jobs until he was offered his own one-man show in Soho. Yet through it all, he mentored and taught and worked with kids and their creativity. For example, with high school students he created a 488-foot mural. And when he was diagnosed with AIDS? Well, he kept working as long as he could. A biographical note, notes from the author and illustrator, and list of sources is included in the back of the book.
It must be kind of fun to write a picture book biography. Imagine all the different ways there are to tackle the subject matter. You could take a representative moment out of the subject’s life, or, better yet, childhood, and use it to explain why they were so important to the world. You could try to sum them up from childhood to adulthood. You could show them as adults, double back to childhood, then rush to their most important historical moments. The possibilities abound! In Burgess’s case, he gives you a brief glimpse of adult Keith at the start then pulls back into his childhood. Parts of the story are almost suspiciously perfect, like when you learn that Keith’s siblings were Kay, Karen, and Kristen (and they lived in Kutztown). It seems like a pretty standard way to begin, but take a look at what the author’s doing here. With Keith’s early life you see him showing his younger siblings how to make art, an act mirrored in Keith’s later life. Then, perpetually, throughout the book, Burgess takes time to bring the book back to Keith’s connection to kids. The best part of this isn’t merely the fact that it gives the book a strong theme, but also that it entices the child reader to be a part of the story. Kids reading this book are reading about a real artist, a great artist, who involved children in his public art. Keith acted like a child sometimes himself, like when he drew on the black subway panels with white chalk. But ultimately, this dedication to a through line or overarching theme also makes the book something a kid would not only want to read but also return to. Oh. And the book is poofy. You can squeeze the covers and they have a little bounce. I feel like it's important for me to mention that fact.
In his Author’s Note, Matthew Burgess mentions that when he was shopping this book around, some publishers weren’t entirely on board with his approach. “I met some skeptical responses as I began to share the idea, primarily around Keith’s homosexuality and illness. Fortunately, my publisher Claudia Bedrick, and I saw eye-to-eye about the need for greater openness in children’s books.” I read this and felt a little stunned. I mean, it’s 2020 and book publishing is always coming out with titles with LGBTQIA+ content, right? Yeah, but then I thought about it and realized something. There’s a moment in this book when Keith is riding the subway with his partner. The text reads, “A few years later, when Keith was 23, he fell in love with a deejay named Juan DuBose.” The accompanying picture shows the two men cuddling together on the subway seat. Juan’s arms are around Keith and Keith’s head is resting on Juan’s shoulder. And I stared at that image, shocked to realize that I have almost never ever seen an image with that level of tenderness between two gay people in a picture book, nonfiction or fiction, in my life. We have strong bios of gay rights activists, yes! We have books on Stonewall and collected biographies of activists. We have stories of folks like Harvey Milk and Gertrude Stein and all that stuff, absolutely. But do we ever see a single cuddle? A snuggle? A small private moment that shows that two people really and truly do care about one another? It says something about our publishing industry when love of this sort is this rare.
Picture book biographies of artists face difficulties that pic bk bios of, say, marine biologists do not. To completely imitate the style of the artist feel hackneyed. Like a low-rent version of the very person you’re attempting to celebrate. That said, nothing makes my blood boil more than a book that lauds the artistic achievements of someone without ever showing the reader the art, or at the very least the style, that made them great. What you need is a kind of odd compromise between these two extremes. Ideally, you need someone who can invoke a general feel of the original artist without looking as though they are imitating them. To choose Josh Cochran for this particular project was nothing short of inspired. The man has created a whole swath of different murals over the years, a talent he shares with Haring. As for his style, it manages to invoke Haring without replicating him. Thick black lines and busyness don’t scare him off. Heck, he relishes them! Page through this book and you see this amazing balance between the subject and the subject’s passion. In his “Illustrator’s Note”, Cochran says that when he was a student at the Art Center College of Design there was a Haring mural across the hall from the library that he’d admire. “Every time I stopped to admire the piece, I would have the same two thoughts: this is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen, and how did he make it?” It seems to me that an artist that appreciates the mastery of Haring is the ONLY kind of artist you can have illustrating this bio.
As I read through this book a couple times, I really came to admire what Cochran is able to pull off here. First and foremost, he zeroes in on a very clever way to draw your eye to Keith on every page. When Keith is present, his glasses are always prominent, and the white lenses pop out at you. For all that the pages are busy, as when he goes to NYC for the first time, Cochran has managed to avoid the inevitable Where’s Waldo-esque search that could come from trying to locate Keith on each and every spread. Now take a look at how the book is laid out. The endpapers are a mishmash of pink lines on a maroon background. Kinda Basquiat-ish, if I’m going to be honest. Turn the page and you find a pure white page of dedications facing a pure orange page of quotes. Turn the page again and now we’re on the title page and at the top is a line of children, walking to a destination. Where? Turn the page and now you, dear reader, are the canvass. Or maybe, to be more precise, you’re a wall. Keith is painting thick black lines on you while, behind him, those children we saw before are holding paintbrushes, prepping to fill in his work. So Cochran has both literally and metaphorically put you into the center of the story right from the start! And while the colors pop and the lines are big and black and thick, it’s almost as much fun to watch the design at work (scribbles spilling over a book’s gutter to start to fill the other side) as the art itself.
Any time we decide to pluck out a human from the morass of humanity and declare, “This person is worthy of celebration” we are making an enormous judgment call. No human being is perfect, but when you write history for children you find yourself wanting to avoid the complicated messiness of being human in favor of the easy simplicity of mindless praise. A good picture book biography, aside from finding a subject worthy of children’s admiration, finds a balance between myth and reality. It constructs narratives from the messiness of life. While you live, there’s no set path before you. But when you write about someone famous (or someone who deserves to be famous) you have to make it seem like their life had form and structure. To do that without being boring yet full of amazing artistic and design decisions, to say nothing of an appreciation for the reality of living, is no easy matter. Drawing On Walls is the kind of book that you wish other writers of children’s nonfiction would read. Because, honestly, if the little cynical child in my head can get into the groove of the story here, maybe we need to see more books like this in the future. Many many more.
For ages 6-10.
When Keith Haring was a kid he’d draw with his dad, do art with his sisters, and eventually create a studio in a friend’s garage. Art was always a part of Keith, but he needed to find his own style. Art school was a bust (commercial art just didn’t suit him) so off he went to NYC. There, Keith worked odd jobs until he was offered his own one-man show in Soho. Yet through it all, he mentored and taught and worked with kids and their creativity. For example, with high school students he created a 488-foot mural. And when he was diagnosed with AIDS? Well, he kept working as long as he could. A biographical note, notes from the author and illustrator, and list of sources is included in the back of the book.
It must be kind of fun to write a picture book biography. Imagine all the different ways there are to tackle the subject matter. You could take a representative moment out of the subject’s life, or, better yet, childhood, and use it to explain why they were so important to the world. You could try to sum them up from childhood to adulthood. You could show them as adults, double back to childhood, then rush to their most important historical moments. The possibilities abound! In Burgess’s case, he gives you a brief glimpse of adult Keith at the start then pulls back into his childhood. Parts of the story are almost suspiciously perfect, like when you learn that Keith’s siblings were Kay, Karen, and Kristen (and they lived in Kutztown). It seems like a pretty standard way to begin, but take a look at what the author’s doing here. With Keith’s early life you see him showing his younger siblings how to make art, an act mirrored in Keith’s later life. Then, perpetually, throughout the book, Burgess takes time to bring the book back to Keith’s connection to kids. The best part of this isn’t merely the fact that it gives the book a strong theme, but also that it entices the child reader to be a part of the story. Kids reading this book are reading about a real artist, a great artist, who involved children in his public art. Keith acted like a child sometimes himself, like when he drew on the black subway panels with white chalk. But ultimately, this dedication to a through line or overarching theme also makes the book something a kid would not only want to read but also return to. Oh. And the book is poofy. You can squeeze the covers and they have a little bounce. I feel like it's important for me to mention that fact.
In his Author’s Note, Matthew Burgess mentions that when he was shopping this book around, some publishers weren’t entirely on board with his approach. “I met some skeptical responses as I began to share the idea, primarily around Keith’s homosexuality and illness. Fortunately, my publisher Claudia Bedrick, and I saw eye-to-eye about the need for greater openness in children’s books.” I read this and felt a little stunned. I mean, it’s 2020 and book publishing is always coming out with titles with LGBTQIA+ content, right? Yeah, but then I thought about it and realized something. There’s a moment in this book when Keith is riding the subway with his partner. The text reads, “A few years later, when Keith was 23, he fell in love with a deejay named Juan DuBose.” The accompanying picture shows the two men cuddling together on the subway seat. Juan’s arms are around Keith and Keith’s head is resting on Juan’s shoulder. And I stared at that image, shocked to realize that I have almost never ever seen an image with that level of tenderness between two gay people in a picture book, nonfiction or fiction, in my life. We have strong bios of gay rights activists, yes! We have books on Stonewall and collected biographies of activists. We have stories of folks like Harvey Milk and Gertrude Stein and all that stuff, absolutely. But do we ever see a single cuddle? A snuggle? A small private moment that shows that two people really and truly do care about one another? It says something about our publishing industry when love of this sort is this rare.
Picture book biographies of artists face difficulties that pic bk bios of, say, marine biologists do not. To completely imitate the style of the artist feel hackneyed. Like a low-rent version of the very person you’re attempting to celebrate. That said, nothing makes my blood boil more than a book that lauds the artistic achievements of someone without ever showing the reader the art, or at the very least the style, that made them great. What you need is a kind of odd compromise between these two extremes. Ideally, you need someone who can invoke a general feel of the original artist without looking as though they are imitating them. To choose Josh Cochran for this particular project was nothing short of inspired. The man has created a whole swath of different murals over the years, a talent he shares with Haring. As for his style, it manages to invoke Haring without replicating him. Thick black lines and busyness don’t scare him off. Heck, he relishes them! Page through this book and you see this amazing balance between the subject and the subject’s passion. In his “Illustrator’s Note”, Cochran says that when he was a student at the Art Center College of Design there was a Haring mural across the hall from the library that he’d admire. “Every time I stopped to admire the piece, I would have the same two thoughts: this is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen, and how did he make it?” It seems to me that an artist that appreciates the mastery of Haring is the ONLY kind of artist you can have illustrating this bio.
As I read through this book a couple times, I really came to admire what Cochran is able to pull off here. First and foremost, he zeroes in on a very clever way to draw your eye to Keith on every page. When Keith is present, his glasses are always prominent, and the white lenses pop out at you. For all that the pages are busy, as when he goes to NYC for the first time, Cochran has managed to avoid the inevitable Where’s Waldo-esque search that could come from trying to locate Keith on each and every spread. Now take a look at how the book is laid out. The endpapers are a mishmash of pink lines on a maroon background. Kinda Basquiat-ish, if I’m going to be honest. Turn the page and you find a pure white page of dedications facing a pure orange page of quotes. Turn the page again and now we’re on the title page and at the top is a line of children, walking to a destination. Where? Turn the page and now you, dear reader, are the canvass. Or maybe, to be more precise, you’re a wall. Keith is painting thick black lines on you while, behind him, those children we saw before are holding paintbrushes, prepping to fill in his work. So Cochran has both literally and metaphorically put you into the center of the story right from the start! And while the colors pop and the lines are big and black and thick, it’s almost as much fun to watch the design at work (scribbles spilling over a book’s gutter to start to fill the other side) as the art itself.
Any time we decide to pluck out a human from the morass of humanity and declare, “This person is worthy of celebration” we are making an enormous judgment call. No human being is perfect, but when you write history for children you find yourself wanting to avoid the complicated messiness of being human in favor of the easy simplicity of mindless praise. A good picture book biography, aside from finding a subject worthy of children’s admiration, finds a balance between myth and reality. It constructs narratives from the messiness of life. While you live, there’s no set path before you. But when you write about someone famous (or someone who deserves to be famous) you have to make it seem like their life had form and structure. To do that without being boring yet full of amazing artistic and design decisions, to say nothing of an appreciation for the reality of living, is no easy matter. Drawing On Walls is the kind of book that you wish other writers of children’s nonfiction would read. Because, honestly, if the little cynical child in my head can get into the groove of the story here, maybe we need to see more books like this in the future. Many many more.
For ages 6-10.
April 27, 2020
"The public has a right to art... Art is for everybody."
This children's book does not shy away from Harings' sexuality or how hard it was for him to make ends meet while he developed his artistry. The book also mentions the fact that he had AIDS and how he did not allow the illness to take away his zeal for life. My favorite thing about it is that is mentions Haring's international fame and the murals he was commissioned to paint abroad.
A more comprehensive biography follows the illustrated pages. It also talks about Haring's activism and interest in social causes "such as literacy, nuclear disarmament, and AIDS awareness and advocacy." Here the author also acknowledges the need for openness so that children dealing with illnesses can draw strength from Haring's example.
This children's book does not shy away from Harings' sexuality or how hard it was for him to make ends meet while he developed his artistry. The book also mentions the fact that he had AIDS and how he did not allow the illness to take away his zeal for life. My favorite thing about it is that is mentions Haring's international fame and the murals he was commissioned to paint abroad.
A more comprehensive biography follows the illustrated pages. It also talks about Haring's activism and interest in social causes "such as literacy, nuclear disarmament, and AIDS awareness and advocacy." Here the author also acknowledges the need for openness so that children dealing with illnesses can draw strength from Haring's example.
February 2, 2025
Lots to love about this picture book biography filled with bold lines, bright color, and a beautiful life.
I must admit that I didn't know Keith Haring by name until I read this. But as soon as I started getting to know him, I realized that his art is very recognizable - yes, I know those iconic lines!
This is the kind of book that made me want to know more. Not in an "it left me wanting" kind of way, but in the "I'm inspired to learn more" way that I love.
I think both author and illustrator did an outstanding job here.
"What I hope to offer is a glimpse of Keith the human being. An immensely generous person who held childhood and children at the center of his life, and an extraordinary artist whose spirit still inspires, still delights, still transmits his irrepressible energy of openness, freedom, and joy."
-Matthew Burgess, Author's Note
"There is nothing that makes me happier than making a child smile." (Keith Haring)
"Keith understood kids and they understood him."
I must admit that I didn't know Keith Haring by name until I read this. But as soon as I started getting to know him, I realized that his art is very recognizable - yes, I know those iconic lines!
This is the kind of book that made me want to know more. Not in an "it left me wanting" kind of way, but in the "I'm inspired to learn more" way that I love.
I think both author and illustrator did an outstanding job here.
"What I hope to offer is a glimpse of Keith the human being. An immensely generous person who held childhood and children at the center of his life, and an extraordinary artist whose spirit still inspires, still delights, still transmits his irrepressible energy of openness, freedom, and joy."
-Matthew Burgess, Author's Note
"There is nothing that makes me happier than making a child smile." (Keith Haring)
"Keith understood kids and they understood him."
July 27, 2025
I remember coming across some of KH’s art in the 80’s including the cover of A Very Special Christmas album. So exuberant and fun and bold. I was immediately a fan. I’m glad to have this great little picture book to give me some essential information on his life.
Look up the work he did on the Berlin wall. Keith believed in the unity of all human beings, so he painted a long chain of interconnected figures.
And the Pisa church of Sant’ Antonio
People paused as they rushed from here to there. For Keith, this was what art was all about – the moment when people see it and respond. Maybe it makes them smile. Maybe it makes them think. Maybe it inspires them to draw or dance or write or sing.
“In a way it’s as important to communicate to one person, to a 10-year-old person that’s growing up, as it is to try to make any big effect on the entire world.” — Keith Haring.
His belief that art is for everybody.
He always made time for children. Keith understood kids and they understood him. There was an unspoken bond between them. He said, “ children know something that most people have forgotten. Children possess a fascination with their everyday existence that is very special and would be very helpful to adult adults if they could learn to understand and respect it.”
“I appreciate everything that has happened, especially the gift of life I was given that has created a silent bond between me and children. Children can sense this “thing” in me.
Look up the work he did on the Berlin wall. Keith believed in the unity of all human beings, so he painted a long chain of interconnected figures.
And the Pisa church of Sant’ Antonio
People paused as they rushed from here to there. For Keith, this was what art was all about – the moment when people see it and respond. Maybe it makes them smile. Maybe it makes them think. Maybe it inspires them to draw or dance or write or sing.
“In a way it’s as important to communicate to one person, to a 10-year-old person that’s growing up, as it is to try to make any big effect on the entire world.” — Keith Haring.
His belief that art is for everybody.
He always made time for children. Keith understood kids and they understood him. There was an unspoken bond between them. He said, “ children know something that most people have forgotten. Children possess a fascination with their everyday existence that is very special and would be very helpful to adult adults if they could learn to understand and respect it.”
“I appreciate everything that has happened, especially the gift of life I was given that has created a silent bond between me and children. Children can sense this “thing” in me.
December 18, 2020
Cochran’s illustrations in this juvenile biography aren’t Harings but are pretty evocative of his style. They made me happy, as Haring’s art does.
And since I can’t visit NYC right now, it reminded me of the amazingly alive and diverse city.
I’ve been in Pisa twice. The first time I happened upon the Haring mural by chance and was stupefied by my discovery. The second time I pushed an art-indifferent friend to see it with me. So fun in a city known for art of another age!
And since I can’t visit NYC right now, it reminded me of the amazingly alive and diverse city.
I’ve been in Pisa twice. The first time I happened upon the Haring mural by chance and was stupefied by my discovery. The second time I pushed an art-indifferent friend to see it with me. So fun in a city known for art of another age!
February 8, 2025
i love keith haring so much
January 23, 2023
read this at the montreal fine arts museum - love the illustrations
September 24, 2021
Exposes young [and young at heart] readers to the acclaimed artist, Keith Haring, who died of AIDS at the age of 31. His groundbreaking vision in art is his lasting legacy to all generations.
August 24, 2023
I've read quite a few artist biography children's books in my time: Degas, Kandinsky, Kusama, Hokusai, Kahlo, Kahlo again, the list goes on and on. This one is special.
The artwork was fabulous. It captures the vibrancy and vivaciousness that Keith Haring's work exudes. Children could easily understand the look of Haring's work without a lot of outside examples. The drawings of Keith were my favorite because it really felt like I was looking at his spirit.
What makes this book really special was the "controversial" facts about Keith's life that were discussed. The book states matter of factly that he fell in love with a man and later on that he had AIDS. Both are written about in age appropriate terms. I read a review that said because of these topics mentioned, this wouldn't be appropriate for children. How is this any different than the mention of Diego Rivera in literally all Frida Kahlo books? Would it be inappropriate to mention he was sick with cancer? A gay relationship is just a relationship and AIDS, while absolutely tragic, is just another illness. I applaud the author and their publisher for having the guts to be unflinching in their depiction of both, for both are key topics in the life of Keith Haring.
The artwork was fabulous. It captures the vibrancy and vivaciousness that Keith Haring's work exudes. Children could easily understand the look of Haring's work without a lot of outside examples. The drawings of Keith were my favorite because it really felt like I was looking at his spirit.
What makes this book really special was the "controversial" facts about Keith's life that were discussed. The book states matter of factly that he fell in love with a man and later on that he had AIDS. Both are written about in age appropriate terms. I read a review that said because of these topics mentioned, this wouldn't be appropriate for children. How is this any different than the mention of Diego Rivera in literally all Frida Kahlo books? Would it be inappropriate to mention he was sick with cancer? A gay relationship is just a relationship and AIDS, while absolutely tragic, is just another illness. I applaud the author and their publisher for having the guts to be unflinching in their depiction of both, for both are key topics in the life of Keith Haring.
May 4, 2024
4,5 🌟
I needed a break from my big fantasy books so I picked up this amazing graphic novel. I'm glad I did.
It's addressed to children, but everybody who wants to know a little more about Keith Haring's life will enjoy this short novel. The illustrations are very beautiful and bright and fit perfectly with K. Haring's drawing style.
It's an homage to an artist who loved children and thought that art is for everybody. He was also an important figure to the LGBTQIA people and was very avant-garde for its time.
I needed a break from my big fantasy books so I picked up this amazing graphic novel. I'm glad I did.
It's addressed to children, but everybody who wants to know a little more about Keith Haring's life will enjoy this short novel. The illustrations are very beautiful and bright and fit perfectly with K. Haring's drawing style.
It's an homage to an artist who loved children and thought that art is for everybody. He was also an important figure to the LGBTQIA people and was very avant-garde for its time.
September 26, 2020
The book is larger than life because Haring was larger than life and if the picture book does one thing it's showcase his passion and talent and the light he brought into the world though he died at 31. This also introduces not only art and street art, but also how AIDS affected Haring.
The vivid artwork jumps off the page as I'm sure it did in real life though I've never seen any of his art and wish I could. It's a moving tribute.
The vivid artwork jumps off the page as I'm sure it did in real life though I've never seen any of his art and wish I could. It's a moving tribute.
September 28, 2025
read for class/a project. quite enjoyed this and teared up at the end, 30 is so young to die :( and also crazy how much impressive stuff he was doing at my age… anyways. i liked the art style and i thought the story was super meaningful for a children’s nonfiction book. 1) casual queerness of a real person 2) casual AIDS discussion and 3) it esp worked bc keith haring rlly cared about supporting and working with kids, so it’s lovely that a kids book exists about him
July 5, 2023
This is a really good mini-biography of Keith Haring, whose art I see often on shirts, tote bags, posters, and especially tote bags but whose story I knew very little about. Understanding the connection between his personal connection between art, life, and dance makes his art even more compelling than before. Burgess does a wonderful job of introducing various ideas or moments in Haring's work that you can (and I did) dig further into after reading. Cochran's images are quite good as well, with a style that evokes, but does not replicate, Haring's. I'm a fan of this book and would recommend it as a brief summary of Haring's life.
January 20, 2024
Keith Haring has been my artist hero since I was a kid. This picture book, which focuses on his relationship with kids, is a clear and thoughtful way to honor his memory and share his legacy. I appreciated the end notes, which also mention the difficulty of getting a kids book featuring a gay artist published.
June 11, 2020
Such a beautiful, colourful, joyful book.
November 23, 2020
So so so so beautiful! The energy in this book!!! The scenes in NYC are absolutely breathtaking! Such queer vibes! ::sigh:: Wish he had been here on earth longer! 😭😭😭
January 17, 2022
Bright and bold, just like the artist. I'm so glad there are high-quality biographies for young children now.
April 29, 2023
Just perfect! Keith would love this book, it captures his energy perfectly x
October 9, 2024
I wish there had been photos of his real art at the back.
July 4, 2025
Класний комікс, класне мистецтво, тепер хочу футболку від Гарінґа)
Людина справді талант та «вибрана Всесвітом»!
Людина справді талант та «вибрана Всесвітом»!
December 10, 2024
Would've preferred more illustrations using Haring's own art, but I understand that that may not have been possible. The style of the art used is definitely in keeping with the spirit of Haring's art and the text is great. Very informative while easy to digest.
February 28, 2021
This book is an absolute delight. The illustrations really convey the vibrancy of Haring's work without being straight imitation. The book itself is oversized, letting the pictures stretch out over that larger space but the text is still wonderfully concise! The book doesn't omit or elide the queer parts of his life (yay!) but the primary focus is still his work. I think it's a little too long to read in a normal story time but if I were doing a family program just about Keith Haring I think this would be an excellent choice.
Also the cover is kind of squishy?? Pretty cool.
Also the cover is kind of squishy?? Pretty cool.
February 19, 2022
One of the best picture book biographies I have ever read—and my 8yo, who has been subjected to a lot of them—agrees. Honestly a masterclass in how to write for children without shying away from topics like Haring's sexuality and death from AIDS. Absolutely terrific.
April 17, 2020
Such a joyful read. Reading about the life of “the kid from Kutztown who had longed to draw on the walls” certainly tugs at your heart string. The details in the writing, illustration, and design don’t go unnoticed. This is a time for the human unity and connection that Keith Haring strived to convey in his art. This story calls on us all to love our lives and follow our dreams. Thank you for this thoughtful story. Keith is a hero that all children/humans can look up to and this book is a beautiful tribute to his life.
October 7, 2020
Truly devoted to the idea of public art, Haring created murals wherever he went. Often seen drawing in white chalk on the matte black paper of unused advertising space in the subway, Haring's iconic pop art and graffiti-like style transformed the New York City underground in the 1980s. A member of the LGBTQ community, Haring died tragically at the age of thirty-one from AIDS-related complications. This honest, celebratory book honors Haring's life and art, along with his very special connection with kids.
November 13, 2022
I found this book on Dr. Quiroa's Wakelet and it was recommended on the Lambda Literary website. This book has won the Eureka Gold Award for nonfiction. This book is a biography about Keith Haring and his artistic journey through life. I loved how easy it was to read and would recommend it to young reader about ages 5-9. The heavier topics like aids and death at a young age are stated matter of factly and I think the author made it easy to process by not adding a bunch of details. The text was so creatively put on the page and it was embedded with the illustrations. I read it digitally but would loved to see how the physical copy of the book was divided, since some of the images looked like they were in the "center" of a page. This would be great to talk to students about making your mark, following your dreams, and doing what you love.
July 5, 2020
I have long been a fan of Keith Haring’s work. I was thrilled to see multiple biographical picturebooks coming out about his life—this one especially. When I spotted it at my local indie bookstore today I snagged it! (I was masked and physically distanced!) I appreciate how lovingly crafted this text is and how Haring’s life and art emerges from the page. It has a beautifully honest and thoughtfully child friendly inclusion of Haring’s illness and death from AIDS—simply stated and with no stigma, as it should be. I had a swell of emotion and was moved to tears.
February 12, 2023
An exciting introduction to artist Keith Haring that not only echoes his distinctive thick, black undulating lines, but also resounds with his love of books, particularly The Art Spirit by Robert Henri, and how reading biographies of other artists sustained him throughout his life. His love of and work with children was also a lovely discovery:
Children know something that most people have forgotten. Children possess a fascination with their everyday existence that is very special and would be very helpful to adults if they could learn to understand and respect it.
I also enjoyed the review and deeper look into muralist and illustrator Josh Cochran’s "ebullient" art illustrations in this oversized picture book via Maria Popova's wonderful blog The Marginalian .
Popova also highlights this lovely quote by author Burgess about Haring's constant attention and connection to children:
But no matter how busy he became or where in the world he went, he always made time for children.
Keith understood kids and they understood him.
There was an unspoken bond between them.
And since children often asked him to draw on their t-shirts, skateboards, and jeans, he always kept a black marker handy.
The very morning after I read this book, a student came into my library to pick up his literature circle book. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with three unmistakeable Haring illustrations. I said, "That's a Keith Haring sweatshirt!" and he nodded with a smile.
I also, like Burgess, think of those A Very Special Christmas album covers by Haring and wonder if they allowed me to also think outside my small, rural existence in the 80s, long before a global world and vibrant, unexpected art was on my radar. I think this biography could have that kind of impact now on children of all ages who are looking for their own inspiration.
Children know something that most people have forgotten. Children possess a fascination with their everyday existence that is very special and would be very helpful to adults if they could learn to understand and respect it.
I also enjoyed the review and deeper look into muralist and illustrator Josh Cochran’s "ebullient" art illustrations in this oversized picture book via Maria Popova's wonderful blog The Marginalian .
Popova also highlights this lovely quote by author Burgess about Haring's constant attention and connection to children:
But no matter how busy he became or where in the world he went, he always made time for children.
Keith understood kids and they understood him.
There was an unspoken bond between them.
And since children often asked him to draw on their t-shirts, skateboards, and jeans, he always kept a black marker handy.
The very morning after I read this book, a student came into my library to pick up his literature circle book. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with three unmistakeable Haring illustrations. I said, "That's a Keith Haring sweatshirt!" and he nodded with a smile.
I also, like Burgess, think of those A Very Special Christmas album covers by Haring and wonder if they allowed me to also think outside my small, rural existence in the 80s, long before a global world and vibrant, unexpected art was on my radar. I think this biography could have that kind of impact now on children of all ages who are looking for their own inspiration.
January 27, 2021
Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring is a children's picture book written by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Josh Cochran. In this picture book biography about artist and muralist Haring, Burgess and Cochran relate their subject's path to focusing his inexorable drive.
Keith Allen Haring was an American artist whose pop art and graffiti-like work grew out of the New York City street culture of the 1980s. Much of his work includes sexual allusions that turned into social activism. He achieved this by using sexual images to advocate for safe sex and AIDS awareness.
Burgess' text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Via straightforward language, Burgess describes Haring discovering Robert Henri's The Art Spirit in college, encountering the large paintings of Pierre Alechinsky, and recognizing a common impulse in dancers at the West Village's Paradise Garage to give inspiration to his art. Backmatter includes a biographical note, author’s and illustrator's notes back up the book, supplementing the broad strokes of the text with finer detail and more individual perspectives on Haring's personal, political, and artistic legacies. Cochran uses a thick black line to suggest Haring's creations, and renders figures in a Haring-esque style without seeming gimmicky.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It is a biography not of Haring's life, but his artistic influences in Robert Henri, Pierre Alechinsky, and the dancers at the West Village's Paradise Garage. It also features his love for children and always made time for them – especially when it comes to creating art.
All in all, Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring is an inspired, and inspiring, continuation of Haring's intention.
Keith Allen Haring was an American artist whose pop art and graffiti-like work grew out of the New York City street culture of the 1980s. Much of his work includes sexual allusions that turned into social activism. He achieved this by using sexual images to advocate for safe sex and AIDS awareness.
Burgess' text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Via straightforward language, Burgess describes Haring discovering Robert Henri's The Art Spirit in college, encountering the large paintings of Pierre Alechinsky, and recognizing a common impulse in dancers at the West Village's Paradise Garage to give inspiration to his art. Backmatter includes a biographical note, author’s and illustrator's notes back up the book, supplementing the broad strokes of the text with finer detail and more individual perspectives on Haring's personal, political, and artistic legacies. Cochran uses a thick black line to suggest Haring's creations, and renders figures in a Haring-esque style without seeming gimmicky.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It is a biography not of Haring's life, but his artistic influences in Robert Henri, Pierre Alechinsky, and the dancers at the West Village's Paradise Garage. It also features his love for children and always made time for them – especially when it comes to creating art.
All in all, Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring is an inspired, and inspiring, continuation of Haring's intention.
March 4, 2021
"Burgess describes Haring discovering Robert Henri's The Art Spirit in college ("He felt as if the book was speaking directly to him"), encountering the large paintings of Pierre Alechinsky (he was "blown away"), and recognizing a common impulse in dancers at the West Village's Paradise Garage ("For Keith, drawing and painting were like dancing. He called it 'mind-to-hand flow'"). Cochran uses a thick black line to suggest Haring's creations, and renders figures in a Haring-esque style without seeming gimmicky. Of interest to young readers are Haring's frequent efforts to involve children in mural-making projects. The story, including a respectful acknowledgement of Haring's death from AIDS, makes the subject seem immediate and real--and presents a compelling vision of answering the call to create." --Starred Review, Publishers Weekly
I would love to be a teacher because I love children and I think that not enough people respect children or understand how important they are. I have done many projects with children of all ages. --Keith Haring
Truly devoted to the idea of public art, Haring created murals wherever he went.
From Matthew Burgess, the much-acclaimed author of Enormous Smallness, comes Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring. Often seen drawing in white chalk on the matte black paper of unused advertising space in the subway, Haring's iconic pop art and graffiti-like style transformed the New York City underground in the 1980s. A member of the LGBTQ community, Haring died tragically at the age of thirty-one from AIDS-related complications. Illustrated in paint by Josh Cochran, himself a specialist in bright, dense, conceptual drawings, this honest, celebratory book honors Haring's life and art, along with his very special connection with kids.
I would love to be a teacher because I love children and I think that not enough people respect children or understand how important they are. I have done many projects with children of all ages. --Keith Haring
Truly devoted to the idea of public art, Haring created murals wherever he went.
From Matthew Burgess, the much-acclaimed author of Enormous Smallness, comes Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring. Often seen drawing in white chalk on the matte black paper of unused advertising space in the subway, Haring's iconic pop art and graffiti-like style transformed the New York City underground in the 1980s. A member of the LGBTQ community, Haring died tragically at the age of thirty-one from AIDS-related complications. Illustrated in paint by Josh Cochran, himself a specialist in bright, dense, conceptual drawings, this honest, celebratory book honors Haring's life and art, along with his very special connection with kids.
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