Book Detail

Langston's Train Ride

Publication Information
Author:  Burleigh, Robert Illustrator:  Jenkins, Leonard
Title:  Langston's Train Ride Date:  2004
Publisher:  Scholastic City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-439-35239-8 ISBN, hardback:  

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Young Adult:  
Picture:   Yes

General Information:
Book Type(s):    biography and autobiography, easy reading

HSE Descriptor(s):    language arts - reading

Summary:
This easy-reading picture book focuses on one episode from Langston Hughes's life--his realization that he WAS a poet. Reference is made to "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" and of the way its ideas developed.

Teaching Ideas:
Teachers will want to use this book as an introduction to Langston Hughes' body of work and more complete biographies or his autobiography The Big Sea. Students may want to focus on the writing process; this book offers an interesting glimpse into the mind of a poet. The 'slice of life' aspect is interesting. Perhaps students could develop similar slices about someone else, a process that could involve groups, Internet research, and so forth.

Teaching Strategies:
bullet Copy Change
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/copy_change.pdf
bullet Creating a Classroom Magazine
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/create_class_zine.pdf
bullet Fluency Activities
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/fluency_activities.pdf

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Ethnic Groups > African-American > well-known people > Hughes, Langston
bullet Literature and Language > figurative language > imagery
bullet Literature and Language > figurative language > symbolism
bullet Geography > environment > rivers
bullet Literature and Language > authors > Hughes, Langston
bullet Literature and Language > poetry


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