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45th out of 93 books
—
205 voters
I, Too, Am America
The poetic wisdom of Langston Hughes merges with visionary illustrations from Bryan Collier in this inspirational picture book that carries the promise of equality.I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Langston Hughes was a courageous voice of his time, and his authentic...more
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Langston Hughes was a courageous voice of his time, and his authentic...more
Hardcover, 40 pages
Published
May 22nd 2012
by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
(first published 2009)
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Once upon a time, I didn't like poetry. It just felt too prim and measured. I pictured Emily Dickinson sitting alone in her attic, dipping her pen into an inkwell and writing straight, perfect lines. However, I was an English Literature major, so I had to read (and analyze) poetry. I ended up taking an American Literature class one semester, and one of the assignments was that we had to memorize 15 poems. I was determined to not pick any "old white guy poems," and while researching American poem...more
Audience: I feel this would best fit students who are in grade 2-5. This would best fit them because of the poem; this book is based off a poem and pictures were added. It is a little hard to understand it you don’t read between the lines.
Appeal: This book definitely has a strong point to it. These students will like this book because of the activity they could do afterward. They need to look at the detailed pictures and reread all the words to come up with the meaning. Its not a simple book an...more
I haven't read Uptown or 2012 by Collier yet, but by comparison to his biographical work I like this one better. As a general rule, I don't like poems to be illustrated, because the illustrator usually interprets the poem for me instead of encouraging me to interpret for myself. But Collier did his work well. Here's how:
1. His choice of just one segment of the history of African Americans in the US feels narrower than the poem, which for me meant there was so much more the poem could do--so his...more
1. His choice of just one segment of the history of African Americans in the US feels narrower than the poem, which for me meant there was so much more the poem could do--so his...more
Jan 24, 2013
Barbara
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
community,
civil-rights,
cultural-identity,
families,
jobs,
ncbla2013,
picture-book,
social-justice,
social-studies,
travel
Matching the poetic lines of a poet whose words written almost a century ago still resonate with readers with the mixed media collages of an illustrator whose work so often examines civil rights and social justice themes fashions a marvelous union. Collier wraps his stunning and unique artwork around the Pullman porters and the role they played in the civil rights movement and in disseminating information. He includes an America flag throughout the illustrations, in some cases, merely a wisp of...more
Based on this beautiful poem by Langston Hughes, Collier, a three-time Caldecott Honor Recipient, captures the emotion and power of Hughes’ words perfectly. Bryan Collier has won the 2013 Coretta Scott King Book Award Illustrator Award for this lovely book.
To be sure there are many interpretations of this famous poem. Collier choses to depict the Hughes’ words in the life of a Pullman porter. These black men would ride cross-country on trains tending to wealthy white passengers. Collier uses th...more
To be sure there are many interpretations of this famous poem. Collier choses to depict the Hughes’ words in the life of a Pullman porter. These black men would ride cross-country on trains tending to wealthy white passengers. Collier uses th...more
12/30/12 ** Langston Hughes' poetry, Bryan Collier's collage illustrations; what more needs to be said?
Many thanks to my mother-in-law for the gift of this signed volume AND a signed, numbered, framed print of the cover. Even more, this book is rating high in the mock Caldecotts for this year...we'll see.
When you read the text, be sure to take time to read & re-read the illustrations. Notice the way the flag on the cover seems to create bars from behind which the African-American boy looks o...more
Many thanks to my mother-in-law for the gift of this signed volume AND a signed, numbered, framed print of the cover. Even more, this book is rating high in the mock Caldecotts for this year...we'll see.
When you read the text, be sure to take time to read & re-read the illustrations. Notice the way the flag on the cover seems to create bars from behind which the African-American boy looks o...more
This Caldecott Winner is a beautiful representation of the profound words of Langston Hughes! With as little as three words on each double page and some no words at all, it is not short on message. The poem depicts the hope of Langston that one day he will be equal to the white men that dominate his world. His accuracy that he, too, even as a black man would one day represent America was insightful and, at the time provocative. Since the writing of this poem preceded the Civil Rights movement, i...more
I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes, illustrated by Bryan Collier takes the classic Hughes poem about equality and bases the illustrations on the Pullman Porters and the role they played in the Civil Rights movement. Collier received the 2013 Coretta Scott King illustrator Award for this book.
Collier's illustrations are rendered in mixed media. The Stars and Stripes are shown and often overlaid on his collages, which focus on the Pullman Porters and their dignity, courage and actions in the Ci...more
Collier's illustrations are rendered in mixed media. The Stars and Stripes are shown and often overlaid on his collages, which focus on the Pullman Porters and their dignity, courage and actions in the Ci...more
I, Too, Am America written by Langston Hughes and illustrated by Bryan Collier is an incredible collaboration. I would recommend this book for children of younger ages, between 2-5 grades because of the easy poetry formatting of the book. The illustrations are beyond perfection and definitely capture the perspective of the author. This book has a strong appeal to it. With as little as three words on each double page and some no words at all, it is not short on the message being portrayed. The po...more
This amazing book takes a famous poem by Langston Hughes, adds illustrations by Bryan Collier and results in a masterpiece. The beautiful images tell a story in themselves. The characters are drawn with such detail and description that they leave little question about their thoughts. The reader is taken on a train ride through history and reminds us of the past. It is imperative that the children of today are aware of African American history in this country to ensure progress in cultural awaren...more
This is a gorgeous book and I was lucky to win a copy of it! You may know the poem, but will not fully appreciate it until you see what Bryan Collier has done to illustrate the words. He has kept a thread of an American flag moving through the pages of the book, some more subtle than others, weaving the story of African Americans, including Pullman porters working on trains who couldn’t eat in the dining cars themselves. The extra information at the back from Collier explains how he traces chang...more
Read the book. Then read the "illustrator's note" and then reread the book again. Stunningly beautiful, I thought - once I read the illustrator's note and, as a result, better understood Langston Hughes' context for writing the poem and Collier's artistic interpretation. Would be a great book to reread to students and then just pause to spend time looking at each two page spread of amazing art work and say, "What do you notice?" "Why did Collier choose this way to illustrate Langston's words in...more
A "Publisher's Weekly" Best Book for 2012.
Caldecott contender? (Possibly.)
This picture book uses the sparsely worded poem by Langston Hughes, "I, Too, Am America," and the illustrations of Bryan Collier, to tell the story of American Pullman porters. The book would be lost on most children without some background knowledge on Pullman porters and civil rights in the United States. However, Collier interprets Hughes' poem beautifully - the American flag motif is particularly lovely. With context a...more
Caldecott contender? (Possibly.)
This picture book uses the sparsely worded poem by Langston Hughes, "I, Too, Am America," and the illustrations of Bryan Collier, to tell the story of American Pullman porters. The book would be lost on most children without some background knowledge on Pullman porters and civil rights in the United States. However, Collier interprets Hughes' poem beautifully - the American flag motif is particularly lovely. With context a...more
Collier did an amazing job of connecting Langston Hughes' amazing poem with the broad sweep of African-American history. The use of the flag, subtle in some spreads, more overt in others', was beautifully rendered and a way to unify the whole. I loved reading his explanation of the pictures and his intent in the afterword, but I think to observant eyes his meaning was always clear. He says he wants to do a book about the Pullman porters next. I can't wait to see it!
This is a beautiful book, poem by Langston Huges, with illustrations by Bryan Collier. The poem is beautiful, if sparse. I must admit that I didn't get the pictures completly until I read the illustrator's note at the end. This book will need at adult to help children to understand and appreciate it, as the references in the pictures to the Pullman Porters are not in most children's frame of reference.
The illustrations are strong enough that this would even be a great wordless book. Inspiring starting point for a discussion about the Pullman porters, Langston Hughes, African-American history, or race. The poem is so brief that stretching the text into picture book length would have been a mistake in less capable hands. Because of the depth and subtleties, recommended for grades 1-4.
I enjoyed the book, and the ideas in it were great. I just don't like it when the author/illustrator has to explain what they were trying to do at the end of the book. Readers draw their own conclusions, and when the author tells the reader what they should be seeing, and what it means, then it like a bad mime describing their act. It loses some of its appeal. I love the pictures in this book, but I could do without the explanation at the end.
Collier marries the famous poem by Hughes with the story of the African-American Pullman porters, who served the wealthy white patrons aboard trains. The poem speaks to the dream of freedom and equality that we are moving towards but have not yet attained in America. It tells of servants sent to eat in the kitchen but also that in the future that will change and no one will again be sent to eat separately. Collier’s illustrations depict the real work of the Pullman porters and the rhythm of the...more
Langston Hughes' brief, 18-line poem is introduced to a new generation of children through Bryan Collier's bold illustrations. Although the words are few, when printed alongside Collier's colorful artistry, they become even more emotional.
When led in discussion, young children will be able to comprehend the meaning of Hughes' words.
When led in discussion, young children will be able to comprehend the meaning of Hughes' words.
The artwork with the elements of the flag is fascinating. I was also unaware that the Pullman Porters discarded items they had picked up from the back of the train so that individuals along the train could experience all types of reading material. Great poem by Langston Hughes and great artwork.
I absolutely loved the illustrations to accompany this familiar poem! I enjoyed the progression of the flag throughout the book and the note by the author at the end. I'm very sad I didn't have this book when I used this poem with my class just a week or so ago. Next year!
Collage illustrations bring Langston's poem to life. Illustrator's note follows the poem. Beautiful 2 page wordless spreads, especially at the end with a mother and child depicted riding a bus with the flag transparent over the image. Must see!
This is one of the most powerful author's notes I've ever seen. I read the text of the book out loud once, without pauses. Then we read the book. Then we read the author's note (illustrator's note, I guess). Then we were blown away.
2013 CSKing Illustrator Winner
Even though Hughes' poem crosses a few pages, there are quite a few pictures without words (and the pictures can be interpreted in their own right) so I'd consider this wordless.
Even though Hughes' poem crosses a few pages, there are quite a few pictures without words (and the pictures can be interpreted in their own right) so I'd consider this wordless.
This is another Coretta Scott King Winner! It is the words of Langston Hughes...there are simple and Poignant- "Peace- Brotherhood, Non-Violent Social Change" This is a good one!
Beautiful, moving, thoroughly wonderful. Collier continues to be one of the premier illustrators of our time. Langston Hughes poetry continues to be timeless. What more can one say?
I've long loved Langston Hughes' I, Too, Am America. Bryan Collier's gorgeous collage illustrations are glorious. Read the book once, read Collier's notes, then look at the book again.
The spare words and beautiful illustrations complement each other perfectly, in particular the subtle flag motif Collier used. I love the combination of collage and painting.
I've been learning more about Langston Hughes in the last month or so. Really enjoyed using this book with 5th and 6th graders studying poetry and black history. Very moving
Feb 04, 2013
Sandy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
art-artist,
civil-rights,
communities,
differences,
history,
human-rights,
multi-cultural,
multi-age,
poetry,
pb-non-fiction
Powerful words made more so by incredibly layered collage art, a succinct introductory note, and the more elaborate and instructive illustration note at the back.
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Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, short story writer, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that "Harlem was in vogue."
More about Langston Hughes...
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Feb 18, 2013 05:48pm