Review Detail

There Was a Party for Langston is based on a photograph the author saw of Maya Angelou and Amiria Baraka dancing at the grand opening of a library wing named after Langston Hughes. The awe that the author feels for Langston Hughes is conveyed through the words and illustrations in a fun style where the words are part of the illustrations. This book centers on a moment in time and does not read like a typical biography. This book would be fantastic for older students who can then explore the writing of Langston Hughes and the other authors highlighted. Overall, this does not delve deeply into Langston Hughes's life but does create a sense of excitement and inspiration to explore his words for yourself. The illustrative style conveys the sense of joy and wonder that is found at a dance and transfers that perfectly into wanting to use this book as a springboard of discovery for Langston Hughes's works.