Title: The Dream Keeper and Other Poems
Author: Langston Hughes
Illustrator: Brian Pinkney
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Publication Date: 1932
Genre: African American, Poetry
Audience: Gr. 3, 4, 5, 6

Overview: In this masterful collection of poems, the famous Langston Hughes brings the pages alive with his poetry. With this collection of poems republished in 1994 into this amazing book, Brian Pinkney helps the poems come alive with his black and white illustrations. Divided into categories, these poems will take the reader back to a time of disadvantage and inequality, but also of triumph and joy. A must read for the older ages!

Activity: Have the students pick a favorite poem. Since most deal with the unfairness of the time, have the students draw a picture of how it was in 1932 in their poem, and how it is now. This provides a good introduction for the Civil Rights Movement and how far we have come.

Reviewer’s Name: Sarah Keister