Langston’s Train Ride #23
Robert Burleigh
Leonard Jenkins, Illustrated

Burleigh, R. (2004). Langston’s train ride. New York: Orchard

Awards: Best Children’s Book of the Year

Grade Level: 1-4

Genre: Picture Book

Content Area: Social Studies

Standards: History and Social Studies

Access Features: Author’s note, afterword

Author’s Credibility: Robert is the acclaimed author of several books for young people, including Into the Woods; Earth From Above for Young Readers; Flight: The Journey of Charles Lindbergh; and Home Run. He is also a painter.

Illustrations: Bold colorful chalk illustrations

Text Structure: Descriptive

Voice: Doubt

Tone: Conversational

Summary: Langston is having trouble believing that he can be a poet as good as all the other poets that he knows. On the long train ride to visit his father, Langston comes up with some words that sound good to them. He writes the words on an envelope (father’s letter) so that he would not forget the words. This would become his first famous poet: The Negro Speaks of Rivers.

Use: I would use this book with poets and with art. The book has some beautiful illustrations. I like for my students to try their hands at drawing and sketching.

Response: This book reminded me of Francis Scott Key. When the words to the Star Spangled Banner came to his mind, Francis wrote them on an envelope just like Langston wrote his poem on an envelope.

Related Books: It’s Funny Where Ben’s Train Takes Him – Robert Burleigh
Into the Woods – Robert Burleigh