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Louie #4
Regards To The Man In The Moon
Louie's unhappy because the other kids call his father "the junkman." But his father knows that it's not just "All a person needs is some imagination! And a little of that stuff can take you right out of this world!" So Louie builds the Imagination I, a spaceship fueled entirely by imagination -- and blasts off into an adventure that will dazzle children and adults alike.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
3 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Ezra Jack Keats
122 books373 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 - 30 of 89 reviews
October 19, 2022
When your dad is the junkman, you are not the most popular kid. Louie's dad says you just need some imagination. Louie and his parents build a rocket and christen it "IMAGINATION I." None of the kids are convinced except for Susie. When Louie and Susie take their first ride up into space they are surprised to find there were a couple of other kids who joined them. When the mission is threatened, can Louie bring them safely back to earth? Filled with colorful space illustrations in Ezra Jack Keats' inimitable style, this is a classic picture book worth revisiting.
November 1, 2022
I believe this was Keats' last book, and it's a beauty. The closing images in particular are stunning-- NYC skyline with World Trade Center set against the children's return from a trip to the moon. Keats died too young to know about what happened to the Trade Center, which lends additional poignance to the image. I read that this particular book was not a critical success compared to Keats' other work, but I hope it is available to children far and wide. The prose is not as poetic and word perfect as classics like The Snowy Day, but it's still a great picture book.
July 2, 2018
Regards to the Man in the Moon is a children's book written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats, which tells a story about Louie and his friend Susie who goes to space in a rocket ship powered by a child's imagination. It is the fourth book of four books in the Louie series.
The text is rather simple and straightforward. It is an endearing story about a shy boy named Louie and his friend Susie going into space on a spaceship powered by imagination. The writing has the power of a child's imagination and wonder that is done exceptionally well. The illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful – especially the illustration about space.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward, but provocative. Children are making fun of Louie for what his new father is – a garbage man. However, his newfound father scoffed at the idea, saying that with the proper imagination anything can be special – even junk. So, together with his mother, they built a spaceship fueled by imagination – only Susie believed in Louie and together the next day they blasted off. They were followed by two other kids – Ziggie and Ruthie and together the four had quite the adventure and in the end, Louie became one of the most popular kids.
For the Louie series as a whole, I rather like reading the character growth of Louie. He started out as quite the odd kid with few friends – if any. He could only really call a puppet Gussie his friend and for the most part lived in his imagination. Louie still lives in his imagination for the most part, but he isn't alone anymore – he has a new father and loads of friends.
All in all, Regards to the Man in the Moon is a wonderful children's book about how important and powerful the imagination could be – it could even take you to outer space.
The text is rather simple and straightforward. It is an endearing story about a shy boy named Louie and his friend Susie going into space on a spaceship powered by imagination. The writing has the power of a child's imagination and wonder that is done exceptionally well. The illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful – especially the illustration about space.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward, but provocative. Children are making fun of Louie for what his new father is – a garbage man. However, his newfound father scoffed at the idea, saying that with the proper imagination anything can be special – even junk. So, together with his mother, they built a spaceship fueled by imagination – only Susie believed in Louie and together the next day they blasted off. They were followed by two other kids – Ziggie and Ruthie and together the four had quite the adventure and in the end, Louie became one of the most popular kids.
For the Louie series as a whole, I rather like reading the character growth of Louie. He started out as quite the odd kid with few friends – if any. He could only really call a puppet Gussie his friend and for the most part lived in his imagination. Louie still lives in his imagination for the most part, but he isn't alone anymore – he has a new father and loads of friends.
All in all, Regards to the Man in the Moon is a wonderful children's book about how important and powerful the imagination could be – it could even take you to outer space.
April 1, 2017
The Louie books are weird.
January 26, 2020
Power of Imagination
Our thoughts and imagination are very powerful and capable of making manifest our beliefs, limitations, perceived capacities, and limitations. Great wealth is not necessary to have a rich interior life.
Our thoughts and imagination are very powerful and capable of making manifest our beliefs, limitations, perceived capacities, and limitations. Great wealth is not necessary to have a rich interior life.
July 18, 2024
I don't know why I never heard of this before - my boys and I would have loved this when they were young. Exciting, with art that one can spend a lot of time looking at. And also it would have been so good for us, making it clear just why imagination is so important (it can make the most mundane into something wonderful, and can also help solve problems). Highly recommended as good for all.
Christina Katerina & the Box
Not a Stick
Not a Box
are three that I love that are also inspirational. Please add your favorites to the comments, and remind me to find or make a Listopia.
Christina Katerina & the Box
Not a Stick
Not a Box
are three that I love that are also inspirational. Please add your favorites to the comments, and remind me to find or make a Listopia.
September 26, 2018
As far as the pictures themselves go, I dig. Some of the coloring techniques used were super appealing to me. I can't exactly pinpoint what the author did specifically to make these watercolored illustrations unique, but I did feel that they were unique to an extent. Each picture was very detailed, and in the middle of the book, there were a couple pictures with little to no words which was cool, just to take in the pictures without otherwise distracting words. I like that very much.
There was a lot of dialogue which was very refreshing because, in many of my picturebook experiences, there is limited dialogue. With the story revolving around imagination, it was nice to see kids talking about what they saw and felt. It made the story that much more relatable and ultimately that much more immersive. There were multiple characters while the books before this had 1 to 2 usually which certainly stood out to me.
Overall, it was a pretty good read.
There was a lot of dialogue which was very refreshing because, in many of my picturebook experiences, there is limited dialogue. With the story revolving around imagination, it was nice to see kids talking about what they saw and felt. It made the story that much more relatable and ultimately that much more immersive. There were multiple characters while the books before this had 1 to 2 usually which certainly stood out to me.
Overall, it was a pretty good read.
February 5, 2021
Regards to the Man on the Moon is a story about the magic of our imagination. Louie is determined to allow his imagination take him to wondrous places and he does not let other kids convince him otherwise. In the beginning, I found myself wondering how this book could be considered a part of the fantasy genre. Everything appears to be realistic and “normal”. Once Louie and his friend Susie finish constructing their spaceship there is a shift in the overall feel of the book. The characters are lifted off to a different world. Where they can explore space and all the unknowns it has to offer. The text is simple and encourages young readers to engage their own imagination.
This story takes the reader into an alternate reality where two different groups of young children can take off into space. They can zoom around planets and pass by space rocks that look like monsters. This is a fun book to read students. They will enjoy the colorful illustrations and hopefully it help them embrace their own imagination.
This story takes the reader into an alternate reality where two different groups of young children can take off into space. They can zoom around planets and pass by space rocks that look like monsters. This is a fun book to read students. They will enjoy the colorful illustrations and hopefully it help them embrace their own imagination.
December 23, 2019
Other than Sn0wy Day, I had not read any of Ezra Jack Keats work. But what I notice is that he is an amazing illustrator. Although this book is from 1981, these illustrations look ultra-modern. I wonder if the book was reprinted with new illustrations. Ezra uses mixed media and what I believe are oil pastels and/or oil paint. There is a bit of an oily quality to the illustrations. The book is also very colloquial as there is dialogue between the father and son and then the son with his friends. The father is a “junk man” who has a bit of that casual California hippiness vibe to his speech, speaking to his child more like a friend. (I can imagine him saying, “Chill out man. Tell your friends that they need some imagination. Maybe you’re too far out for them.”). The book ends a little too abruptly and predictably but I still appreciated the adventure.
December 3, 2020
Louie is unhappy when his friends call his dad the junkman. But his father has a secret: he knows it just takes imagination for that stuff to take a person right out of this world.
Louie gets to work building Imagination I . . . a spaceship fueled solely by imagination . . . and blasts off to an amazing adventure.
This book, from Caldecott Medal winner Ezra Jack Keats, is a Reading Rainbow selection that celebrates the young reader’s inventiveness with a fantastical tale of inspiration, friendship, and creativity. The target audience is first and second graders, ages five through nine. With its colorful, chimerical illustrations of planets and outer space, the touching tale dazzles both the eyes and the imagination. Young readers are sure to return to this story again and again.
Highly recommended.
Louie gets to work building Imagination I . . . a spaceship fueled solely by imagination . . . and blasts off to an amazing adventure.
This book, from Caldecott Medal winner Ezra Jack Keats, is a Reading Rainbow selection that celebrates the young reader’s inventiveness with a fantastical tale of inspiration, friendship, and creativity. The target audience is first and second graders, ages five through nine. With its colorful, chimerical illustrations of planets and outer space, the touching tale dazzles both the eyes and the imagination. Young readers are sure to return to this story again and again.
Highly recommended.
February 3, 2024
Louie's father, Barney, is a standup guy. And a junkman.
Barney inspires Louie to build a spaceship out of some of that junk: Imagination I. What an adventure begins!
Barney tells him:
All a person needs is some imagination! And a little of that stuff can take you right out of this world.
A great spaceship adventure follows for Louie and his friend Susie.
WHY I LOVE BOOKS BY EZRA JACK KEATS
In his books children from humble backgrounds have big achievements, noble lives. Also, Keats does both words and pictures. His collage-and-paint artwork -- like the words he writes -- are FIVE STAR magnificent.
Barney inspires Louie to build a spaceship out of some of that junk: Imagination I. What an adventure begins!
Barney tells him:
All a person needs is some imagination! And a little of that stuff can take you right out of this world.
A great spaceship adventure follows for Louie and his friend Susie.
WHY I LOVE BOOKS BY EZRA JACK KEATS
In his books children from humble backgrounds have big achievements, noble lives. Also, Keats does both words and pictures. His collage-and-paint artwork -- like the words he writes -- are FIVE STAR magnificent.
August 3, 2024
I don't know why I don't remember it from my childhood as Ezra Jack Keats was a favorite. Reading it now, I found it delightful and loved the imagination the children employed and the imagination Keats used in making those collage illustrations -- I know I would have wanted a pink bathtub-turned-spaceship like that so desperately after I read this ;-) And the other message is just wonderful, that we should have respect for "the junkman" and his family -- just many layers of awesome in this hidden gem!
September 17, 2018
Regards to the Man in the Moon, Is taking children to a new level of using their imagination and relating it to the Man in the Moon. The illustrations in the text help illustrate the content and help keep the excitement of the reader as they use their imagination. This is a fun/ adventurous story to read to children.
Randi T (3703)
Randi T (3703)
October 16, 2019
I think this book was actually pretty intriguing. Specifically because of the attractive illustrations and supportive message it sends to readers. This book had a great way to inspire children it reminds me of how Sponge-bob was able to turn a small cardboard box into a magical thing with his imagination.
March 17, 2020
The illustrations are amazing from in the splurges of colors that take you out through outer space just from a so called junk yard. Imagination really does take you on an adventure from your worries or simply looking at something in a better way. I love it, it reminds me when I was kid having the best time of my life merely by using my imagination.
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May 26, 2021My pleasure in admiring the beautiful illustrations by Keats was inversely proportional to what I thought of the story. Maybe if I was 8 years old or younger, I'd like it, but I can't imagine myself liking it even when I was a child. And I didn't understand why the story started with Louie, if it was Susie who dominated the narrative. She even appears more than him on the cover. o.o
June 2, 2023
IMAGINATION I & 🍪
Ezra Jack Keats' Collection of Books are so electrifying with his unique pictures most of all. His books were lengendary Masterpiece and, just saddened me when his book, "The Snowy Day" made the Banned Books list in Schools. 2022. It has been an Honor to finally have Time to read most of his Collection. And will complete it in is Entirety.
Ezra Jack Keats' Collection of Books are so electrifying with his unique pictures most of all. His books were lengendary Masterpiece and, just saddened me when his book, "The Snowy Day" made the Banned Books list in Schools. 2022. It has been an Honor to finally have Time to read most of his Collection. And will complete it in is Entirety.
November 18, 2017
The neighbourhood kids make fun of Louie's dad, calling him the "junkman", so his dad shows Louie it's not really junk at all. It can be anything you want to imagine, so Louie and his parents build something that inspires imagination.
July 3, 2019
Florence really enjoyed this book and so did I. The power of imagination is celebrated here. “I like the bit where they use their imagination” said Flo when we finished. I couldn’t agree more. I’ll seek out more of Ezra Jack Keats’ illustrated works now as the watercolors go superbly with the text.
March 25, 2021
This book celebrates imagination and adults gently fostering imagination in children.
It also embraces the idea that those from a low economic status value children and community.
Loved it! Highly recommended for 3 and up.
It also embraces the idea that those from a low economic status value children and community.
Loved it! Highly recommended for 3 and up.
August 3, 2017
See... la gráfica está buena... la historia no está mal... la tipografía no me gustó.
May 9, 2018
boring and choppy. No flow to the story. Even my kiddo was bored.
December 3, 2020
The girls loved the space illustration and Louie’s imagination.
January 21, 2021
Final in the Louie series and this is a great book thinking about imagination.
The series as a whole was great and Keats continue to ,make me content!
The series as a whole was great and Keats continue to ,make me content!
March 3, 2021
Pretty good story about imagination and friends.
June 23, 2021
Imagination powers their journey.
December 15, 2021
Great book
February 28, 2022
One of the first books I read with my mom as a kid. Inner-city kids with imagination turn trash into treasure and explore the universe :)
September 20, 2023
A beautiful ode to the power of imagination.
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August 12, 20242301
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews