Bibliography: Hughes, Langston. (2006). Poetry for Young People. Eds. David Roessel and Arnold Rampersad. New York: Sterling Publishing. 48 pps.
Genre: Poetry
Awards:
Coretta Scott King Award
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, 2006.
Washington Post Book World Top 10 for Children, 2006.
Synopsis: Poetry for Young People provides the reader with a introduction to the poetry of Langston Hughes. The book begins with an introduction that offers a short biography of Hughes and his career. Following the introduction, 26 of Hughes's poems are presented and accompanied by colorful illustrations by artist Benny Andrews. Each poem is introduced with a short blurb that describes an aspect of the poem such as where Hughes found the inspiration for a particular poem, the theme of the poem, the structure of the poem, etc. The editors include factual information at the bottom of the pages of many selections that provide definitions of words in the poem or information on places or people that are featured in the poem.
Review: Editors David Roessel and Arnold Rampersad include several great Langston Hughes poems in Poetry for Young People. Their selections include short poems that illustrate a variety of themes including life's hardships, music, dance, identity, dreams, and injustice. Hughes incorporates African-American culture, African themes, social and political commentary, and cultural dialects into his works that offer young readers a unique view at poetry. Furthermore, these themes and literary devices offer several topics of discussion for classes and material for poets.
These poems are great for various-aged readers and are especially great for younger readers who may not be well versed in poetry. The short poems offer a great starting point for many readers, and the themes, structures, and styles hold the attention and thought of older readers. I recommend Poetry for Young People for readers age 12+.
Genre: Poetry
Awards:
Coretta Scott King Award
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, 2006.
Washington Post Book World Top 10 for Children, 2006.
Synopsis: Poetry for Young People provides the reader with a introduction to the poetry of Langston Hughes. The book begins with an introduction that offers a short biography of Hughes and his career. Following the introduction, 26 of Hughes's poems are presented and accompanied by colorful illustrations by artist Benny Andrews. Each poem is introduced with a short blurb that describes an aspect of the poem such as where Hughes found the inspiration for a particular poem, the theme of the poem, the structure of the poem, etc. The editors include factual information at the bottom of the pages of many selections that provide definitions of words in the poem or information on places or people that are featured in the poem.
Review: Editors David Roessel and Arnold Rampersad include several great Langston Hughes poems in Poetry for Young People. Their selections include short poems that illustrate a variety of themes including life's hardships, music, dance, identity, dreams, and injustice. Hughes incorporates African-American culture, African themes, social and political commentary, and cultural dialects into his works that offer young readers a unique view at poetry. Furthermore, these themes and literary devices offer several topics of discussion for classes and material for poets.
These poems are great for various-aged readers and are especially great for younger readers who may not be well versed in poetry. The short poems offer a great starting point for many readers, and the themes, structures, and styles hold the attention and thought of older readers. I recommend Poetry for Young People for readers age 12+.
2 comments:
48 pages?? So, were you looking for the shortest books possible?? Kidding. I think Langston Hughes is a great jumping off point for young readers. He's accessible, yet very powerful in a compact space. With poetry, especially at a younger age, I think it's important for students to be able to finish reading a poem without getting lost; Hughes' shorter poems work great in this respect. If you want, I can suggest some poetry books that are a little lengthier :)
Julia, Thanks for the referral for a good poetry book for students who struggle in this genre. (And I think it's weigh cool that you found a good book that is only 48 pages long.) Tonya
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