Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes
Edited by David Roessel and Arnold Rampersad
Illustrated by Benny Andrews
Sterling, 2006
ISBN: 1-4027-1845-4
Twenty-six of Langston Hughes’s poems are collected in this vibrantly illustrated contribution to Sterling Publishing’s Poetry for Young People series. It was the first in the critically acclaimed series devoted to an African-American poet and focuses on poems that reflect Hughes’ experiences as an African-American – poems about race, family, segregation, and African heritage infused with the rhythm of the blues.
Informative Introduction to the Life of Langston Hughes
A brief introductory biography, written Arnold Rampersad, professor of English at Stanford University, and David Roessel, noted poetry scholar, provides context for teachers and parents who plan to read the book aloud to young children, but is too sophisticated for most young readers. For those young readers, the editors have written short – one or two sentences – introductions to each individual poem. These notes offer insight into Hughes’s state of mind, the historical context, or the inspiration for each poem.
Andrews's Illustrations Match the Tone of Hughes's Poems
Benny Andrews received a well-deserved 2007 Coretta Scott King award for the illustrations that accompany each poem. While the poems can certainly stand on their own, the illustrations add another dimension, particularly for elementary aged readers. The bright colors, exaggerated size, and movement found in the pictures match the optimism and rhythm of Hughes’s poetry and make the book accessible to primary grade students.
In “I, Too,” Hughes stakes a claim for African Americans, stating that “I, too, sing America./I am the darker brother.” The exaggerated length and outstretched arms of the man Andrews painted to illustrate the poem signify someone ready to embrace the American dream – and for it to embrace him.
Another example of Andrews’s grasp of the material he was illustrating is the picture accompanying “Homesick Blues.” Hughes writes that “Ever time de trains pass/I wants to go somewhere.” The muted background and dark train trailing puffs of smoke in the illustration convey the loneliness expressed in the words, but the man playing the saxophone finds comfort in music, just as Hughes did.
Youngest Readers will Benefit from Reading with an Adult
The publisher recommends the book for ages 8 and up. While middle school aged children will definitely enjoy the poems, elementary aged children will get the most out of the book if read aloud to by an adult. Hughes’s poems, with their emphasis on musical rhythms, repetition, and oral language are best enjoyed read aloud anyway. An engaged adult can also aid children to discuss and digest the more sophisticated social, cultural, and political themes found in the work.
Nicole Fravel - Ms. Fravel is an educator, curriculum developer, and parent with over 15 years of experience in elementary and early childhood ...
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