Scan barcode
worldlibraries's review
5.0
This book was so fantastic, I think I now have to read every book in the series.
I would read a poem in this book, and then look up the poem on YouTube and listen to it while reading along. In many cases, there was video of Langston Hughes himself reading his poetry. It turns out Langston Hughes was the first African-American to make a living off of his writing alone. I can see why. Many of his poems, especially his jazz poems, are great fun. Other of his poems hit you right in the solar plexus because they articulate so well what it is to be a second-class child and citizen in a racist society. I had never heard the poem 'Merry-Go-Round,' before reading this book. Yowsa! In 13 lines, the awfulness of racism and segregation are laid bare.
A fun video on YouTube I watched after reading the book was a conversation between the director of Kansas City Public Library and an actor hired to play Langston Hughes for a show called 'Meet the Past.' The thirty minutes flew by. I recommend watching this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D10t7mvH4EQ
This was my favorite Langston Hughes video to watch of him reading what he called his 'lucky poem,' 'Weary Blues.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM7HSOwJw20
I can't wait to read my next title in the series: Maya Angelou!
I would read a poem in this book, and then look up the poem on YouTube and listen to it while reading along. In many cases, there was video of Langston Hughes himself reading his poetry. It turns out Langston Hughes was the first African-American to make a living off of his writing alone. I can see why. Many of his poems, especially his jazz poems, are great fun. Other of his poems hit you right in the solar plexus because they articulate so well what it is to be a second-class child and citizen in a racist society. I had never heard the poem 'Merry-Go-Round,' before reading this book. Yowsa! In 13 lines, the awfulness of racism and segregation are laid bare.
A fun video on YouTube I watched after reading the book was a conversation between the director of Kansas City Public Library and an actor hired to play Langston Hughes for a show called 'Meet the Past.' The thirty minutes flew by. I recommend watching this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D10t7mvH4EQ
This was my favorite Langston Hughes video to watch of him reading what he called his 'lucky poem,' 'Weary Blues.' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM7HSOwJw20
I can't wait to read my next title in the series: Maya Angelou!
djlanatron's review
5.0
This was my first book from this series, and thought it was very well done. I liked the suggestions, and the notes that went along with it were well done for a younger audience - enough explanation, but not too much to where the poetry gets bogged down.
qgg's review against another edition
5.0
Read with Henry. Henry tolerated reading and discussing five poems at a time and even then we had to space out our readings every few days. We discussed unfamiliar vocabulary, dialect and the common poetry features of rhythm, repetition, rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and sensory words. We noted recurring themes in Langston Hughes' poetry of soul, heart, music in the blood, dance, songs, drums, dreams, black, night, dawn, the sun, blues and jazz.
This collection has 26 poems and a 4 page biography introduction (that was too dense in it's writing for Henry to enjoy). The art was lovely and Henry did enjoy the poetry.
This collection has 26 poems and a 4 page biography introduction (that was too dense in it's writing for Henry to enjoy). The art was lovely and Henry did enjoy the poetry.
notwithoutwitness's review
4.0
Good brief intro to Hughes. Great pictures. My favorite is "I Dream a World"
I dream a world where man
No other man will scorn,
Where love will bless the earth
And peace its paths adorn.
I dream a world where all
Will know sweet freedom's way,
Where greed no longer saps the soul
Nor avarice blights our day.
A world I dream where black or white,
Whatever race you be,
Will share the bounties of the earth
And every man is free,
Where wretchedness will hang its head
And joy, like a pearl,
Attends the needs of all mankind -
Of such I dream, my world!
I dream a world where man
No other man will scorn,
Where love will bless the earth
And peace its paths adorn.
I dream a world where all
Will know sweet freedom's way,
Where greed no longer saps the soul
Nor avarice blights our day.
A world I dream where black or white,
Whatever race you be,
Will share the bounties of the earth
And every man is free,
Where wretchedness will hang its head
And joy, like a pearl,
Attends the needs of all mankind -
Of such I dream, my world!
rainbowbookworm's review
5.0
Langston Hughes's poems are snapshots of what it was like to be African American during the Harlem Renaissance. However, reading them in 2015 I can appreciate how the man was also a visionary.
wordnerd153's review
4.0
Each poem has a brief introduction to provide readers with background information and many of the trickier vocabulary words are defined at the bottom of each poem, making this very accessible to elementary readers. Interesting illustrations and a nice variety of topics make this a wonderful resource for school libraries.
whatannikareads's review
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
3.5
thought it was fine! the art is a bit simplistic and very literally depicts the poems. i think there could have been more variety in the choice of poems for this collection. appreciate the explanations but sometimes it would've been better to just have left the poem up for interpretation since the explanation didn't add much. not a bad intro for children!
beecheralyson's review
5.0
I think Langston Hughes is fast becoming one of my favorite poets. I will need to buy this book.