Author: Robert Burleigh
Illustrator: Leonard Jenkins
Publisher: Scholastic 2005.
Langston's Train Ride is a realistic portrayal of the reflective thoughts and creative thinking Langston Hughes may have had while traveling by train to see his father who abandoned him when he was young. Hughes imagines what life was like for his ancestors as he passes through several states. This book doesn't just touch on the historical significance of "my people" as Hughes says, but it also reflects on the thoughts and struggles of a writer. This story highlights the importance of observing and paying attention to little details to gain inspiration to write. Hughes also expresses how essential it is to record those insightful thoughts that come to you - anywhere - so they are not forgotten. I really enjoyed hearing his thoughts as he crafts his poetry.
The vibrant illustrations depict what the view of the world from a train window would look like through the eyes of a poet. However, not all of these images are picture perfect. The illustrations stay true to the time period and show realistic snapshots of "tar-paper shacks and broken down sheds where my people - the Negro people - live." A scene from the Harlem Renaissance is also accurately depicted on the first page of the book showing the style and look of the people lingering the streets.This picture book conveys the message of staying determined to reach one's goals, and having faith in oneself.
The illustrations in this book were beautiful! I think that is really captures history as well the time in which Langston Hues lived, which is the inspiration for his poems. This would be a great book to introduce poetry and the expressive language used in poetry. I think it would due interesting to look deepening into the like of Langston Hughes after reading this to students and then have students pick one of his poems to analyze and share.
ReplyDelete