Happy New Year! I don’t know about you, but I feel that the holiday celebrations flew by much too quickly. To keep the party going, I’m featuring a Perfect Picture Book that’s sure to help your spirits soar.
Title: There was a Party for Langston
Written By: Jason Reynolds
Art By: Jerome Pumphrey & Jarrett Pumphrey
Publisher/Date: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Caitlyn Dlouhy Books/2023
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: Langston Hughes, African-American authors, poetry, party, dancing, non-fiction
Opening:
There was a party for Langston at the library. A jam in Harlem to celebrate the word-making man – Langston, the king of letters whose ABC’s became drums, bumping jumping thumping like a heart the size of the whole wide world.
Brief Synopsis:
The story of a celebration in honor of Langston Hughes at the Schomburg Center of the New York Public Library.
Links to Resources:
- Check out the Activity Kit with a printable crown and party invitations;
- Learn about Langston Hughes and his writing;
- Are you a word-making person? Try writing a poem about something you like, someone you admire, or a topic of your choice;
- Find more awesome activities at Only Picture Books.
Why I Like this Book:
With language befitting its subjects, the poet Langston Hughes and the opening party for his namesake auditorium at the Schomburg Center of the New York Public Library, Reynolds will have you, and your kids, dancing along. Reynolds’ text is pure poetry, with a musicality befitting the celebratory tone of this picture book. As our toes tap along to the beat, we’re also learning about young Langston, his writing dreams, attempts to silence his voice, the party itself, and several illustrious African-American writers. I love how Reynolds showcases the works of Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka and credits Hughes as their inspiration. It made me wonder how many young writers Reynolds will inspire through his own words and this story.
The Pumphreys created the stunning artwork for There was a Party for Langston using handmade stamps that they edited digitally. Like Reynolds’ text, the artwork evokes movement and dancing. I love how words are woven throughout the illustrations. And I especially love how the Pumphreys showed how “all the books on the shelves were listening” by including headshots of African-American authors on book spines watching the party goers “shimmying, full of dazzle”. Check out the front endpapers to discover more African-American writers and the back endpapers to view some of Langston Hughes’ works.
There was a Party for Langston has received many starred reviews and appeared on many best of 2023 picture book lists. Rightfully so. I strongly encourage you to find a copy of this book and prepare to join the party.
A Note about Craft:
In a note from the author, Reynolds indicates that the idea for There was a Party for Langston began when he saw a photo of two of his “favorite word makers, Maya Angelou and Amiri Baraka…dancing.” Note that the original photo appears as back matter. I love that it was a photograph that spurred this word maker to think about how and why these fellow authors celebrated, as the joy evident in that photo shines clearly throughout the book. This is Reynolds’ debut picture book.
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
Wander, Ponder, Write 