The Block

by Langston Hughes, Romare Bearden (Illustrator), Bill Cosby (Introduction)

Thirteen poems about the New York City neighborhood of Harlem are teamed with the collage painting, The Block, a celebration of the bustle of Harlem, from the corner grocery store to the local Baptist church.

Genres: Poetry, African American, Art, Picture Books, Multicultural Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Through poetry, prose, and drama, American writer James Langston Hughes made important contributions to the Harlem renaissance; his best-known works include Weary Blues (1926) and The Ways of White Folks (1934).

People best know this social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist James Mercer Langston Hughes, one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry, for his famous written work about the period, when "Harlem was in vogue."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langsto...

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like Hughes' poems, this is a great book. The illustrations compliment the poems and where Hughes came from. This would be great for a read aloud in the older grades (jr high or high school) when covering the Harlem Renaissance. The picture book quality may make poetry more approachable to students who are overwhelmed by it.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. Fabulous collage illustrations by Romare Bearden bring to life Langston Hughes poetry.

[Jeimy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect pairing of art and poetry... The introduction, written by Bill Cosby, was good, but it's Bill Cosby and in 2022 that is not okay anymore.

[Hans Ostrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful children's book, with poetry by Hughes and illustration (collages) by Romare Bearden. Splendid.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romare Bearden's art paired with Hughes' poems - what's not to like? My favorites are "To be Somebody" and "Theme for English B." The page editing and framing of each poem isn't the best, but the masterpieces present is worth checking out this book.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collage by Romare Bearden, with complementary poems by Langston Hughes. Bearden was influenced by the Cubists, and it shows in his collages.

My wife and I saw a Bearden exhibit at the High Museum in Atlanta a few years ago. We both really like his work.

[chester mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading poems and langston hughes is a good poet

[Deb Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to share poetry and Harlem with the readers. The art is wonderful.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art in this book was really nice. This is a great book for poetry and in sure many will enjoy it.

[Leorah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this books several times and used to use it with my high school English students.
Fabulous poetry, and wonderful art.