Langston's Train Ride
Author: Robert Burleigh
Illustrator: Leonard Jenkins
Grade Level: 3-7
Genre: Non-Fiction
Awards: NAACP Image Award (2005)
Summary: This book takes the reader through Langston Hughes' writing of his 1921 poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." This poem is what sparked Langston's journey in becoming a writer. While on his way to see his father, Langston was inspired to write. This story depicts what may have taken place during the train ride to prompt Langston's writing of his poem.
Evaluation: The writing was powerful, but the illustrations made a lasting impression. I think students would love to read this book and see how illustrations can play a huge role in the story itself. This is a book I would love to read with my future students.
The age appropriateness is between third and seventh grade. The vocabulary isn't too difficult and there aren't too many words on each page. One thing to know is that there are excerpts from Hughes' poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." Some younger students who have not worked with poems yet may need to have a lesson on poems before reading this book independently.
You could use this book to introduce Langston Hughes to your class. Before you read any of his poems, you could do a read aloud with this book to show how this train ride sparked his passion for writing. As a pre-reading activity, you could have students come up with the story based on the illustrations alone. After students have a chance to share their stories, you could then read the book to them.
The age appropriateness is between third and seventh grade. The vocabulary isn't too difficult and there aren't too many words on each page. One thing to know is that there are excerpts from Hughes' poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." Some younger students who have not worked with poems yet may need to have a lesson on poems before reading this book independently.
You could use this book to introduce Langston Hughes to your class. Before you read any of his poems, you could do a read aloud with this book to show how this train ride sparked his passion for writing. As a pre-reading activity, you could have students come up with the story based on the illustrations alone. After students have a chance to share their stories, you could then read the book to them.
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