Sebastian's Roller Skates

by Joan de Déu Prats

Sebastian, a boy so shy he cannot talk to neighbors, teachers, or schoolmates, finds a pair of roller skates in the park, and his confidence grows as he teaches himself to skate.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, International, Self Esteem, International Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2005

About the author

Joan de Déu Prats Pijoan (Barcelona, 15 de febrer de 1962) és un escriptor català, especialitzat en històries per a nens. Ha publicat llibres com L'home invisible i Les aventures del megacapità Fonoll (ambdues a Barcanova), Els casos de l'inspector Formiga... També ha publicat una comèdia anomenada Anorak. Ha treballat de guionista a diverses sèries de televisió i ha col·laborat a l'Avui, El Periódico, El Jueves, Tretzevents, Cavall Fort, Riffi-Raffe i El Triangle.

Reviews

[Nke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and view it as a book that could possible reach out to shy children within a class.
Sebastian is a very shy boy who does not talk. He knows a lot about things in school, but is too shy to say anything. When he is spoken to - he look s down, but in his mind knows what he wants to say but doesn’t. In school it is the same story where he knows the answers, but is too shy to respond to his teacher or even talk to a girl named Esther that he likes. One day he is walking through the park and he finds a pair of roller skates. He decides to take them home and start practicing. Sebastian has little confidence in his ability until the day that he catches a runaway dog and skates through the whole park while holding on. Afterward he starts to look at people and answer their questions. He even invites Esther to go skating with him. His change in personality is a direct result of this new skill that he has acquired.
This book would be useful to read to KS1 children and lower KS2. This highlights to children that children should not be afraid to be shy and that shyness can be overcome. It can also be used for a new class to help encourage any shy children to gain confidence. The class could also discuss the importance of working hard to become proficient at doing something, and how confidence comes along with the hard work.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian's Roller Skates by Joan de Deu Prats is the story of Sebastian, a boy so shy he almost never speaks. One day Sebastian finds an abandoned pair of roller skates in the park and he tries them on. Slowly, with a little practice every day, Sebastian learns to roller skate and in turn, builds his confidence in other areas of his life.

I listened to this book while viewing the illustrations on storylineonline.net.

The illustrations were difficult to attend to because I viewed the book online. However, through the illustrations that were shown, I could see that Sebastian's thoughts were a collage of torn-up pieces of paper that turned from gray to very colorful as Sebastian became more confident and learned to speak his mind. I thought that was very creative of the illustrator Francesc Rovira.

I could imagine using this book when teaching cause and effect or character traits.

[Madison Swim-Hotchkiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian’s Roller Skates, written by Joan de Deu Prats and illustrated by Francesc Rovira, is about a young boy who is very timid and shy. When spoken to, he has a lot to say but is too shy to speak up, so he keeps to himself instead. One day, he finds a pair of skates at the park and begins to teach himself how to skate. He feels very down with himself for a while, though, as he feels that he is not learning fast enough. Then after an incident with a dog, he gains a lot of confidence, and this confidence spreads to other areas of his life.

This is an amazing children’s book, and it is one I will definitely share with my future class and future kids. It shows a very shy kid who finds something that interests him and makes him more confident in all areas of his life. Many kids are very shy but having them find something that they really like and getting them excited about it can change that. It also shows kids that confidence is key and it brings happiness to your life. Another takeaway that I feel is special is that this book promotes not ever giving up. Even though the boy was falling down on his skates a lot when he first started, he pushed through and kept with it and did not give up.

[Chelsea Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian is a young boy who struggles to find his voice and opinion through all of life’s events. When traveling home one day Sabastian comes across a pair of Roller Skates on a bench in the park. He became intrigued and decides to put them on and give them a shot. However, his first experience was not successful yet he is still determined. The next several days he returns to the Roller Skates. When he sees other children, roller skating and doing better than him, comparing himself to them his confidence become broken. One day he gains his confidence back after being drug around the park by a passing dog and becomes proud of his accomplishments. Thus, the transformation of Sebastian occurs when he now finds his voice and brings out a whole new version of himself. This book can be used in the classroom to show that all students have something draws their attention. Students each develop and learn in many ways that we just should work with them until they succeed. Importance of perseveration and determination to succeed.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a shy boy who builds his confidence as he learns how to roller skate. The book was really relatable to me, having been pretty shy as a kid. I can imagine it would be really enjoyable for kids who have this kind of personality to read, as it would be something they could connect with really well. The book's focus on working hard to complete goals little by little would be an excellent lesson and could be used well in a classroom setting to talk about the importance of sticking with things even when they go poorly or other people do better. This is a really important concept in school, where students all progress in their learning at different rates based on many factors, and many students get frustrated when they struggle. The book could also be used as an introduction to geographic features, and could be used to discuss some of the major landmarks that Sebastian mentions in his bits about geography.

[Brooklyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Grade Range: 2nd-3rd

Book Review: Growing up I was a very shy child and had a fear of talking to other kids. I always wondered if I had been put in a certain sport or had done something that would help boost my self-esteem. I think this book can help teach children that not automatically succeeding at somethings doesn’t mean it will always be like that.

[Hannah Kalberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book about a young boy with social anxiety - until he found something that broke him out of his quiet shell. This realistic fiction book brings light to the little things that can help someone be who they truly are, in this boy's case, a pair of roller skates! This is a great book for children who have so much to say but are afraid to speak up. I know I could have used this story when I was younger!

[Courtney Baird · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book you can read to any age kids. I love the way it shows that you have to find out who you are and shows students to find their own voice! This is a book I would read at the beginning of the semester to show studnts to speak up, and even though they might be shy it's better to find your voice and use it.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the illustrations did not make sense with the text. However, I did like how the character developed and grew some confidence by doing something he liked. I could use this to teach the class that you can sometimes find your confidence by finding a hobby, activity, sport, etc..

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sylvester is a very shy boy. This story is essentially about Sylvester finding his joy. His joy is that thing that helps Sylvester overcome his shyness. Sylvester was very lucky and found his joy easily. Read by Caitlin Wachs on Storyline Online.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storylineonline video

[Breea Holdcroft · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great example of practice makes perfect. Since Sebastian is such a shy child it is neat he is able to use the roller skates as an outlet and come out of his shell more and more.

[Shweta Kesari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story for shy children.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story.

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

S/O to @ for visiting me today. 🌟🌏💫🛼

[Abby Hadley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic fiction
2nd - 4th grade reading level
Sebastian is a very relatable character. I love how he came out of his shell. This is a very encouraging book! Perfect for read alouds!

[Leigh Garth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great fiction book. We all know those sly kiddos that lack self confidence. Most of the time they have lots of knowledge just to scared they might not get it right. Sebastian is one of those sly kiddos. He didn't talk much at all. He might respond on the inside, but not much came out for anyone to hear. One day walking through the park he found a pair of roller skates. He sat down and put them on. He wasn't very good at first. He would leave them back on the bench and come back the next day for practice. He was slowing getting the hang of it when a dog raced by with his leash attached but no owner. Sebastian was able to grab the leash. The dog took him for a ride. He finally stopped. Much to Sebastian surprise that even after all that he was still upright! Do you think this might of boosted his confidence? Read to find out!

Sometimes when we don't think about things and just do it, we realize we can! This would be great to read to your students to show we gain confidence in all we do.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in Catalan as Els patins d'en Sebastian in 2003 in Spain.
First American edition 2005.
Beautiful rendering about how one key experience (learning to roller skate) changes one shy boy's whole way of engaging with the world.

[Daniella Variale · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about Sebastian, a shy boy who learns confidence when he teaches himself how to roller skate. The book is orientated horizontally to best capture his roller skating adventures through a large park, his most notably trip being his climactic skate with a dog.
The images in the book have a muted color pallet. Color is used to enhance our understanding of Sebastian’s transformation and overall character. For example, the skates Sebastian uses to learn to skate are blue. Often the color blue communicates being passive and serene. This reflects Sebastian’s personality at the beginning of the book. When Sebastian goes to buy new skates, he buys red ones. Red is associated with being active, and I also think it represents confidence because it is a color that stands out and cannot be ignored. This color reflects Sebastian’s new attitude at the end of the book.
The character placement in the illustrations is also used to reflect Sebastian’s personality. At the beginning of the book, Sebastian is always partially hidden behind something, such as the elevator door, the barber, or even a classmate at school. This shows his shy nature. However, after he begins to learn to skate, we see Sebastian’s full image, which represents his surge of confidence as he breaks out of his shell.
The story structure includes rising action, a climax, and falling action. The story also has a coda, which takes the readers back to the beginning to see how things have changed and reminds the readers of the theme of new-found confidence. Just as the beginning of the story exemplifies Sebastian’s shyness in conversations with his neighbors, barber, school teacher, and Ester, it returns to these people at the end of the story to show his outgoing interactions with them in order to display his new-found confidence.
I enjoyed this story because I think it has a great theme about finding confidence in yourself. Sebastian also reveals a smaller theme. He is an example of the success that can be found when we never give up. He continued to try to learn how to skate, even though he falls many times. I think this is a charming book to read to a class, and may even encourage or inspire shy students to try outwardly engaging with their peers.


I read this story online: http://www.storylineonline.net/sebast...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sweet story of a very shy boy named Sebastian who learns confidence and finds his voice through an abandoned pair of roller skates. The illustrations are a combination of a colorful, whimsical, cartoon-like pictures and collage. The book was originally published in Spain under the title, “Els patins d’en Sebastia.” Both the author and illustrator are from Spain. The impressively, according to the back flap of the cover, the author’s works have been translated into many different languages including Italian, Korean, English and even Braille! The multicultural aspect is subtle and apparent only in the Spanish words included in the illustrations and collage pieces. Of course these would not be considered multicultural elements in the native country of the author and illustrator, but to those of us reading the translated editions of the book in countries other than Spain, this gives the reader a glimpse into the world of the shy protagonist growing up in what is presumably Spain.

This would be a wonderful book to use in a K-3 classroom to show how a painfully shy child can gain confidence in the most unlikely of ways. The fact that is an international book can be shared with the students to demonstrate that kids in other countries deal with the same sorts of things as kids here in the United States.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I viewed this book on storylineonline.net

Sebastian’s Roller Skates is a story about a very shy little boy named Sebastian who gains confidence when he learns how to roller skate. The story begins with Sebastian being afraid to answer adults when they ask him simple questions even though he knows the answers. In school it is the same story where he knows the answers, but is too shy to respond to his teacher or even talk to a girl named Esther that he likes. One day he is walking through the park and he finds a pair of roller skates. He decides to take them home and start practicing. Sebastian has little confidence in his ability until the day that he catches a run away dog and skates through the whole park while holding on. Afterward he starts to look at people and answer their questions. He even invites Esther to go skating with him. His change in personality is a direct result of this new skill that he has acquired.
This book would be useful to read to kindergarten through second grade. The class could discuss the importance of working hard to become proficient at doing something, and how confidence comes along with the hard work. Teachers could also work on life skills like looking people in the eye when you talk to them.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian’s Roller Skates by Prats, Joan de Déu
Publisher and Date: Kane/ Miller, (original edition) 2003 and (American edition) 2005
Ages 5-9

Summary: Sebastian is a likeable but shy boy. When Sebastian is asked a question about his day or at school, he would simply answer “fine”. However, an old pair of roller skates and a dog on the loose made Sebastian break out of his shell.

Review: As I was reading this story I couldn’t help but think about many of the students in my class who are quiet and oftentimes shy. I think many students would be able to relate to Sebastian. I would love to read this book to students and have them talk about a time they broke out of their shell and how it made them feel. This story allows for the reader to make a lot of inferences about how Sebastian is feeling. This would also facilitate students to have meaningful discussions about the similarities between Spain and the U.S. Students will find Sebastian’s clothes and daily routine are not all that different from their own.

[Tess Gatof · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! For someone who used to be shy as a child, this book really resonated with me. It tells the story of a young boy named Sebastian who at first, is a very shy boy with great potential. One day he finds an old pair of roller skates that he picks up from the park to start teaching him how to skate. He gets better and better as the days go on, and soon enough, this new found love for skating helps him conquer other fears such as talking to neighbors in his building, answering questions in school, or asking a cute girl to play with him. Prats does a fantastic job of showing how it is ok to be scared, but that fear can also be overcome by finding strengths and sharing those strengths with others. I highly recommend this book to anyone who may have a child in their classroom that is a bit shy or scared to come out of their shell. All around, a great read!

[Deanna Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book!! So many children will need to be recommended this book as so many children are shy. I, myself, could have read this book as a child as I was quite shy also. When children find their "thing" they feel better about themselves and do and say things no one ever thought they had in them. I would love to have this book in my classroom for that shy student who I know has things to say, but can't find it within him or herself to say those things. And what's even more special about the book is that the girl that he liked was also shy and he introduced her to his "thing." I love how Sebastian returned his skates to the park to help someone else out, what a refreshing thought that so many people in the world could hear now.

[Megan Breslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about a little boy who is to shy to talk, though he has a great deal to say till he discovers a pair of skates in the park and learns to skate. This would be a good book to read to your class at the beginning of the year when many students have a great deal to say but are shy. Students could also write about their own experiences and how learning to do something gave them confidence.

[Sheniece · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book put such a huge smile on my face when I first heard it because Sebastian reminds me so much of myself. Sebastian was a shy kid who didn't have enough courage to speak up for himself. Eventually after learning how to skate and saving a dog he got out of his shyness. He began to speak up for himself by saying what was on his mind. I think this would make an excellent read aloud for students. Students that are shy will appreciate hearing this story too.

[Lde212_06 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to use in the classroom to show children how benefits of developing self-confidence. In the story Sebastian had things that he want to do and say, but always held back and never expressed himself. Through roller skating he was able to find his outlet and a way to unlock his self-confidence. I think this is also a great story to read to your kids about determination and perseverance. I can also teach a meaningful lesson about not giving up.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebastian is a very shy little boy and though he has lots to say, he never can manage to get it out. One day on his walk home from school he comes across a pair of roller skates on a park bench. He tries them, but falls down and thinks maybe they are not for him. But the next day they are still there, so he gives them another shot. After lots of practice, Sebastian teaches himself to skate and in the end gains the confidence to speak up too.

Nice, unique illustrations.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute picture book about a little boy who is shy and doesn't say much, but after finding rollerskates in the park and learning to rollerskate gets the confidence to say everything he wants to.

See and hear this story read by Caitlin Wachs with animated illustrations and background music at http://www.storylineonline.net/

[Tom M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book whose storyline is okay, but it's the artwork that makes this book so great. Francesc Rovira's interpretation of Sebastian's world combines color drawings and collage to show both Sebastian's world and how it expands as he overcomes his shyness. (I want to read more books illustrated by him!)