Poetry for Young People

Intuitive, Colorful, Unprecedented, Esoteric, Imaginative

Poetry for Young People by Langston Hughes

Illustrated by Benny Andrews

Edited By David Roessel & Arnold Rampersad

Published by Sterling Publishing Co., Inc Copyright 2006

Corretta Scott King Award 2007 && School Library Journal Best Book of the Year 2006 && 2007 Illustrator Honor Books as Diverse Culture and Poetry

"Hughes' stirring poetry continues to have enormous appeal for young people. In this illustrated collection of 26 poems, Andrews' beautiful collage-and-watercolor illustrations extend the rhythm, exuberance, and longing of the words--not with literal images, but with tall, angular figures that express a strong sense of African American music, dreams, and daily life--while leaving lots of space for the words to "sing America." -Booklist

Poetry for Young People is comprised of twenty six poems about African American life, including Langston Hughes and his own life growing up from 1902 to 1967. These poems discuss and portray various topics including African American music traditions, Hughes' grandmother's stories, slavery, culture, fighting for equal rights and so much more. Before each poem there is an introduction where the reader is given background about the poem and what it is pertaining to. By giving the reader an introduction to the poem, we are better able to understand the meaing that lies behind it. Each poem intrigues the reader, and each story dispenses a variety of emotions.

Reading Level: Grade 5/6

Suggested Delivery: Small group or independent read

Extras: In the beginning pages of the book we are given an introduction, which describes Langston Hughes and his life for roughly four pages. This book also given us a couple sentences at the beginning of each poem describing how this poem was created and where the inspiration came from. Throughout reading, there are some difficult and unique words given in the poem, however Langston Hughes gives us some definitions and history on the bottom of the page to help us understand.

Teachers here are some resources that may help you teach Poetry for Young People...

Key Vocabulary: bondage, Eurphrates, bosom, cameo, clashed, syncopated, pallor, ebony, melancholy, croon, dialect, atavistic, injustices, friz, avarice, wretchedness

Electronic Resources:

• PowellBooks: On this website you can buy the book, read a synopsis, read reviews, publisher comments, about the author, and even read customer and children reviews. This website could be used before or after reading to discover more information about Poetry for Young People.
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  ReadWriteThink: Teachers, here you can find lesson plans for post reading and information about any book by Langston Hughes. There are many different grade level lesson plans for on this site as well.
• LibraryPowwow: Here you can find a small bibliography, a critical review, one of Hughes poems called "Mother to Son" as well as a kid's connection and explanation of the poem. This website would be best used during or after reading.

Activities for Students:

• Before Reading: Ask students if they have read any poetry before. What is a poem? Does it have to rhyme?
• During Reading: Choose a poem and don't read the introduction sentences, ask children's to listen to the poem carefully. After you have read the poem two times, tell students they have to write a paragraph describing what the poem is about. Give supporting evidence with details from the poem. Allow them to refer back to the poem, but cover up the small introduction.
• Post Reading: Ask students to think about the poems and what makes a poem. Tell children that they will be writing their own poem about anything related to this book, particularly African Americans and what they encountered. It's important for the children not only to understand the book but to infer meaning from the text.
  

"This will be a welcome introduction to Hughes's poetry for elementary students, and it includes sufficient detail to make it useful and enjoyable for older students." School Library Journal

Hughes, L., Rampersad, A., Roessel, D. E., & Andrews, B. (2006). Poetry for Young People . New York: Sterling Pub.