Tony Robles - Children's Book Author and Poet

Grab your dancing shoes and join Lakas and a colorful cast of street performers as they capture the spirit of Makibaka—of struggle, hope, laughter, and song. This second Lakas book is a rollicking adventure celebrating the joys and heartache of one community, and a child’s power to make a difference.

The last thing Lakas expects one fine sunny day is to meet a group of tap-dancing, drum-beating, karaoke-singing new friends. But these friends face a crisis: the Makibaka Hotel, where they live, is about to be sold. They must pack their belongings and leave their home, unless… Lakas soon leads Tick A. Boom, Firefoot, and the Karaoke King in a spirited protest against their eviction. Before long the streets of the neighborhood are reverberating with the taps, raps, and chants of Makibaka.

Author Anthony D. Robles tells a gutsy tale about one boy’s empathy and activism, and their ability to revitalize a community. Incorporating photos of protest, illustrator Carl Angel’s paintings vibrate with the rhythm of the city. With a “coin toss” ending that will spark discussion among readers, standing up for what’s right has never been so much fun.

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Eastwind 10th Anniversary (click on the thumbnails below to view larger images)

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Can a fish talk? Can it jump and play and run (especially run) just like a small boy? When Lakas and his dad go shopping, they meet a very special fish that can do all these things and more! But this fish won¹t stay put in his fish tank. Once it leaps out, a cast of unusual Manilatown characters chases it down Kearny Street and all the way to San Francisco Bay. Hoy, hoy! Will Lakas and his friends ever catch this sly and charming fish? Will Lakas' dearest wish come true?

In this bilingual English-Tagalog story set in the U.S., an all-American boy of Filipino descent, some amusing manongs—Filipino elders—and a fish with unusual faculties take off on a fanciful romp through a dreamscape of the imagination. Author Anthony Robles' irrepressibly lively characters and improbably funny adventure will delight readers. Artist Carl Angel's evocative illustrations leap off the page and pay affectionate homage to one neighborhood¹s Filipino-American past.