The Dream Keeper and Other Poems

Rating:
Summary: Words Come Alive
Review: Hughes' words come to life in this book of poetry. This collection, originally issued in 1932, is as powerful as it was seventy years ago. As an added bonus, there are seven new poems for the reader to enjoy. The struggle and celebration of the African-American experience is apparent here. Brian Pinkney's black-and-white scratchboard illustrations add life and expression to the poems. Hughes' classic collection is appealing and inspirational. This astonishingly wonderful set of poems is definitely a collection that would spark the interest of children learning about poetry. Hughes' gift of lively words live on!

Rating:
Summary: Words Come Alive
Review: Hughes' words come to life in this book of poetry. This collection, originally issued in 1932, is as powerful as it was seventy years ago. As an added bonus, there are seven new poems for the reader to enjoy. The struggle and celebration of the African-American experience is apparent here. Brian Pinkney's black-and-white scratchboard illustrations add life and expression to the poems. Hughes' classic collection is appealing and inspirational. This astonishingly wonderful set of poems is definitely a collection that would spark the interest of children learning about poetry. Hughes' gift of lively words live on!

Rating:
Summary: "Every race beneath the sun."
Review: Since April is National Poetry Month, this would be a nice gift for a child who loves poetry. Langston Hughes died the year I was born, 1967 but his writing will live on through this book of poetry.

Hughes poems express the feelings and experiences of us all. He is well known for the poetry showing the joys and pain of African-American people. His love of writing began with his love of reading. As a lonely child, he was comforted by reading. His first poem was published in Cleveland. He continued to write over 800 poems.

The Dream Keeper is a collection of poems just for kids. I love the poem entitled: The Kids in School with Me. In this poem he describes American kids from many races (Polish, Spanish, Russian, Grecian, Chinese) and how America is made up of "Every race beneath the sun, But our motto for graduation was: One for All and All for One!"

I enjoyed this poem because it shows so well that there is room for everyone, no matter what race. I think this poem promotes social harmony and has a wonderful "sing-song" type rhyme to it.

"And the kid across from me-Just American kids together-The kids in school with me."

Another book I love is called: Tides of Memory. It is a wonderful book of poems for adults which truly will make you realize how human we all are. It explores all aspects of life.

Rating:
Summary: Essential Langston Hughes for Children
Review: The Dream Keeper and Other Poems is essential for anybody trying to share the beauty of Langston Hughes with children. The poems in this collection rank among Hughes' finest. Pinkney's illustrations compliment the imagery of the poetry wonderfully. Children and adults will become true Langston Hughes fans after reading this introductory book.