BookTalk: The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

Coming Home from the life of Langston Hughes

Author/Illustrator: Floyd Cooper

Copyright: 1994

Genre: Non-fiction, biography

Appropriate for grades:  3-6

Theme: Finding a home

Background:

James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri in 1902. He became an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright and columnist. 

Summary:

This book is about the childhood of Langston Hughes when he lived with his "Gramma" and how he longed for a real home. How his life at times was lonely and sad because of the difficult times he lived in. But Langston was a dreamer and soon he found reading, poetry and writing. He discovered that his "home" was within him and the words he wrote and shared with all people. 

Quote from book:

"But the truth is, Langston never had a home like most people. Home was in him. And it was about his black family that he wrote in words that reached his own people, and all kinds of people of different races and different countries, all over the world."

Illustrations:

The beautiful illustrations in the book give a warm feeling with pinks, golds and browns. They are large pictures almost covering both pages. They depict the story of a time gone by, in soft muted tones, almost like a memory.

My Thoughts:

This is a very heartwarming story and some children may not understand all the implications, but they will enjoy the story anyway. Some children may identify with the difficulties of being separated from their parents or living in poverty. Maybe they will identify with having a dream and it will encourage them to continue to pursue that dream like Langston. The illustrations offer children a glimpse of life in a different time and they may peak their curiosity about this long ago era. I would definitely recommend this book for children in grades 3-6. 

Links:

Class Activity

Illustrator

Langston Hughes